'Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.' He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,Īnd away they all flew like the down of a thistle.īut I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,Īnd filled all the stockings then turned with a jerk,Īnd giving a nod, up the chimney he rose Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,Īnd I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself Ī wink of his eye and a twist of his head, That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly. He had a broad face and a little round belly, The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,Īnd the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,Īnd the beard of his chin was as white as the snow His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His eyes - how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,Īnd his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot Ī bundle of toys he had flung on his back,Īnd he looked like a peddler just opening his pack. The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.Īs I drew in my hand, and was turning around,ĭown the chimney St.

Nicholas too.Īnd then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky, Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!'Īs dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! On, Comet! On Cupid! On, Donder and Blitzen! 'Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen! More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,Īnd he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name With a little old driver, so lively and quick, When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,īut a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer, Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below, The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, Had just settled down for a long winter's nap, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads Īnd mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, The children were nestled all snug in their beds, The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Clement c moore poem