[ti:A Visit From St Nicholas]
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[00:05.13]’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
[00:09.82]Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
[00:13.62]The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
[00:16.99]In hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there.
[00:20.73]The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
[00:23.97]While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
[00:27.80]And mamma in her ’kerchief, and I in my cap,
[00:30.79]Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap;
[00:35.57]When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
[00:38.98]I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
[00:41.92]Away to the window I flew like a flash,
[00:44.92]Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
[00:48.49]The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
[00:51.54]Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
[00:55.55]When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
[00:58.67]But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
[01:04.76]With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
[01:08.42]I knew in a moment it must be Saint Nick.
[01:11.43]More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
[01:14.74]And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
[01:18.40]“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
[01:22.57]On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
[01:27.44]To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
[01:30.27]Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”
[01:35.01]As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
[01:38.12]When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
[01:41.05]So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
[01:43.84]With the sleigh full of toys, and Saint Nicholas too.
[01:47.74]And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
[01:51.37]The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
[01:55.35]As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
[01:58.86]Down the chimney Saint Nicholas came with a bound.
[02:02.48]He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
[02:06.24]And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
[02:10.21]A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
[02:12.95]And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
[02:16.67]His eyes — how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
[02:20.36]His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
[02:26.21]His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
[02:29.92]And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
[02:34.45]The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
[02:37.25]And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
[02:41.67]He had a broad face and a little round belly,
[02:45.30]That shook, when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.
[02:49.01]He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
[02:52.16]And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.
[02:55.78]A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
[02:58.67]Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
[03:02.54]He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
[03:06.46]And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
[03:10.43]And laying his finger aside of his nose,
[03:13.38]And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.
[03:16.63]He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
[03:20.49]And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
[03:23.96]But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
[03:30.01]“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”