It 'twas the night before Christmas
And all through the house
Not a creature was stirring
Not even a mouse
The stockings were hung
By the chimney with care
In hopes that St. Nicholas
Soon would be there
The children were nestled
All snug in their wee little beds
While visions of sugarplums
Danced in their wee little heads
And ma in her kerchief
And pa in his cap
Had just settled down
For a long winter's nap
When out on the lawn
There arose such a clatter
I sprang from my bed
To see what was the matter
Away to the window
I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters
Threw up the sash
Then what to my wandering eyes
Should appear
But a miniature sleigh
And eight tiny reindeer
With a little ol' driver
So lively and quick
That I knew right away
That it must be St. Nick
More rapid than eagles
His courses they came
He whistled and shouted
And called them by name
Now Dasher
Now Dancer
Now Prancer
Now Vixen
On Comet
On Cupid
On Donner
An' Blitzen'
To the top of the porch
To the top of the wall
Dash away, dash away
Dash away
Dash away all
So, up to the housetop
The courses they flew
With a sleigh full of toys
And St. Nicholas too
And then in a twinkling
I heard on the roof
All the clattering noise
Of each galloping hoof
All bundled in fur
From his head to his foot
His clothes were all tarnished
With ashes and soot
I drew in my head and
Was turning around
When down the chimney
He came with a thud
A bag full of toys
He had flung on his back
And he looked like a little old peddler
Opening his pack
His eyes how they twinkled so gay
His dimples how merry are they
His cheeks were like roses when kissed by the sun
His nose like a cherry all wrinkled with fun
His drawl little mouth
Was drawn up like a bow
The beard on his chin
Was as white as the snow
The stump of a little old pipe
He held tight in his teeth
And the smoke went around and around and around his head
Like a wreath
He was so jolly and plump
A right jolly old, jolly old elf
And I laughed and I laughed and I laughed
When I saw him in spite of myself
He had a broad face (ho, ho, ho)
And a little round belly (hee, hee, hee)
That shook when he laughed (ha, ha, ha)
Like a bowl full of jelly (ha, ha)
He gave me a wink of his eye
And a twist of his head
I chuckled and smiled
I knew all the while
I had nothing to dread
He spoke not a word
But went straight to his work
He filled all the stockings
Then turned with a jerk
An' laying a finger
Aside of his nose
An' giving a nod
Up the chimney he rose
He sprang to his sleigh
To his team gave a whistle
An' away they all flew
Like the down of a thistle
But I heard him exclaim
As he drove out of sight
"Merry Christmas to all
And to all goodnight"
'Tis the night after Christmas
And all through the house
Not a creature is stirring
Not even a mouse
The presents are scattered
And broken I fear
And St. Nicholas
Won't come again for a year
The children are nestled
All snug in their wee little beds
While memories of sugarplums
Dance in their wee little heads
While ma in her kerchief
While pa in his cap
Are settled at last
For a long winter's nap
Goodnight