'Twas The Night Before Christmas

By Clement C. Moore

Illustrated from Drawings By F.O.C. Darley

New York: James G. Gregory, Publisher.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1862 by James G. Gregory, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern District of New York.

'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.

Older children preparing their stockings for Saint Nicolas's arrival, while Mother tends to baby.

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 our brains 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.

Saint Nicolas arriviving in his sleigh, pulled by eight tiny reindeer.

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!

Saint Nicolas's sleigh decending upon a rooftop.

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!

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 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 Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

Saint Nicolas giving a little wink before assending the chimney.

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!

Saint Nicholas leaving the house in his sleigh, wishing a Happy Christmas to all.

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, as he drove out of sight,
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!

A festive punch bowl and table arrangement, with the greeting, 'Merry Christmas to all', above it.

ISBN: 9781604332377 1604332379

Learn more about this poem at Wikipedia

Lovingly recreated so that I could read it to my children every Christmas Eve.

St. Nicholas font designed by Scriptorium Fonts.