HOME | DD

Description
'Twas the night before Christmas, in the starlit fog
Not a creature was stirring, not even Odd's dog
The stockings were hung by the bedrooms with care
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be right there

The children were nestled, all snug in their bed
While visions of Kankrelats danced in their heads;
Suzanne in her PJs, and I in my own,
Had just settled down; yes, to rest our bones,

When out near the gates 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 luster of mid-day to objects below
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer

With the little old driver, so lively and quick
I knew immediately, "it must be St. Nick!"
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came
And he called forth, and shouted, and called each by name

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Miss Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Miss Blitzen!
To the top of the dorms! to the top of the wall!
Now come away! come away! come 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 rooftop the coursers they flew
With the sleigh full of Gifts, and St. Nick too

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the dorm roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof
As I drew in my head, 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 Gifts he had flung on his back
And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack

His eyes—how they twinkled, his smile 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 call
And away they all flew like the leaves in the fall
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight
"Merry Christmas, little Warriors, and to all a good night."

Description
'Twas the night before Christmas, in the starlit fog
Not a creature was stirring, not even Odd's dog
The stockings were hung by the bedrooms with care
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be right there

The children were nestled, all snug in their bed
While visions of Kankrelats danced in their heads;
Suzanne in her PJs, and I in my own,
Had just settled down; yes, to rest our bones,

When out near the gates 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 luster of mid-day to objects below
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer

With the little old driver, so lively and quick
I knew immediately, "it must be St. Nick!"
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came
And he called forth, and shouted, and called each by name

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Miss Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Miss Blitzen!
To the top of the dorms! to the top of the wall!
Now come away! come away! come 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 rooftop the coursers they flew
With the sleigh full of Gifts, and St. Nick too

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the dorm roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof
As I drew in my head, 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 Gifts he had flung on his back
And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack

His eyes—how they twinkled, his smile 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 call
And away they all flew like the leaves in the fall
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight
"Merry Christmas, little Warriors, and to all a good night."