The Night Before Christmas - Original Version

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 St. Nicholas soon would be there
 The children were nestled, all snug in their beds
 While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads
 And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap
 Had just settled down for a long winter's nap
 When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter
 I sprang from the 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 on the breast of the new-fallen snow
 Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below
 When, what to my wondering eyes should appear
 But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer
 With a little old driver, so lively and quick
 I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick
 More rapid than eagles his coursers 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, Donder and Blitzen!
 To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
 Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
 As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly
 When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky
 So up to the house-top the coursers they flew
 With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too
 And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
 The prancing and pawing of each little hoof
 As I drew in my hand, and was turning around
 Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound
 He was dressed all in fur, 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
 The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth
 And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath
 He had a broad face and a little round belly
 That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly
 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, 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"