T 'was 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 Saint Nicholas
soon would be there
The children were nestled
all snug in their beds
While visions of sug ar plums
danced in their heads
And Ma in her kerchief
and I in my cap
Had just settled down for a long winter nap
When out on the lawn
there arose such a clatter
I sprang from my bed
to see what was the matter
The moon on the crest
of the new -fallen snow
Gave a luster of midday
to objects below
Then what to my wondering
eye s 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
A round little face and a round little belly
That shook when he laughed
like a bowl full of jelly
His eyes how they twinkled,
his dimples how merry,
his cheeks were like roses,
his nose like a cherry.
He spoke not a word,
but went straight to his work.
He filled all the stockings,
then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside at his nose
Then giving a nod up the chimneys
He sprang to his sleigh,
to the team gave a whistle
And away they all flew
like the down on a thistle
But I heard him explain,
as he drove out of sight,
Merry Christmas to all,
Merry Christmas to all,
Merry Christmas to all,
Merry Christmas to all,
Merry to all, to all,
And to all, a good night