The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore.

'Twas the night before Christmas, when 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 Santa soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

while visions of sweeties danced in their heads.

And Mum in her pyjamas and Dad 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 and threw up the sash.

The moon shining down on the new-fallen snow,

gave the lustre of midday to objects below,

when, what to my wandering eyes should appear,

but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so full of banter,

I knew in a moment it must be Santa!

More rapid than eagles his reindeer they came,

and he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

'Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!

Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!'

Faster and faster and faster they fly,

a blur of Santa and sleigh zooms through the sky.

So up to the housetop the reindeer they flew,

with the sleigh full of toys, and Santa Claus too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

the prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

down the chimney Santa came with a bound.

He was dressed all in red, from his head to his foot,

and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes—how they twinkled! His dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

and the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

A merrier man you never could meet,

full of such fun from his head to his feet.

He had a broad face and a round little belly,

that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly. Ho, ho, ho!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

and I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

and filled all the stockings, and then turned with a jerk.

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

and away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight:

'Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!'