| Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house |
| |
| Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; |
| |
| The stockings were hung bythe chimney with care, |
| |
| In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; |
| |
| The children were nestled all snug in their beds, |
| |
| And mama in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, |
| |
| Had just settled down for a long winter's nap, |
| |
| When out onthe lawn there arose such a clatter, |
| |
| I sprang from the bed to see what wasthe matter. |
| |
| Away tothe window I flew like a flash, |
| |
| Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. |
| |
| The moon onthe breast ofthe 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! |
| |
| Tothe top ofthe porch! to the top ofthe 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 tothe 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 onthe 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. |
| |
| 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, |
| |
| Andthe beard of his chin was as white asthe snow; |
| |
| The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, |
| |
| Andthe 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 allthe thestockings; then turned with a jerk, |
| |
| And laying his finger aside of his nose, |
| |
| And giving a nod, upthe 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, |
| |
| " Christmas to all, and to all a good-night. |
| |
| stir | | to move,movement |
| hung | | to fasten or attach (a thing) so that it is supported only from above or at a point near its own top |
| chimney | | a vertical structure that allows the passage of smoke |
| nestle | | to lie close and snug |
| snug | | warmly comfortable or cozy |
| nap | | to sleep for a short time |
| clatter | | noise |
| tore | | rip |
| lustre | | radiance of beauty, excellence |
| sleigh | | large |
| reindeer | | large deer |
| rapid | | with high speed |
| dash | | to move with violence; rush |
| hurricane | | very big rain and wind storm |
| obstacle | | something that obstructs or hinders progress. |
| courser | | a thing suitable for running or chasing |
| prance | | to dance or move in a lively or spirited manner |
| paw | | to strike or scrape with the paws or feet |
| hoof | | an encasing protecting the foot of an animal such as horse |
| St Nicholas | | another name for Santa clause |
| tarnish | | to ruin, make dirty or destroy |
| soot | | a black dirty substance |
| bundle | | several objects or a quantity of material gathered or bound together |
| dimple | | a small, natural hollow area or crease seen when smiling |
| stump | | the lower end of a tree or plant left after the main part falls or is cut off |
| pipe | | smoking utensil |
| wreath | | a circular band of flowers, foliage, or any ornamental work, for adorning the head or for any decorative purpose |
| plump | | well filled out or rounded in form |
| elf | | a magical being |
| thistle | | a prickly plant |