'Twas the night before the night before Christmas, when all through the house
I was un-hiding Christmas presents, though not the cat's present of a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that presents soon would be there.
The children were supposed to be all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads; And Mommy with her tea, and I with my cup, Had just started wrapping more up!  |
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the floor 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 lustre of mid-day to objects below, When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny mouse-deer.  |
With a little old driver, so furry with paws, I knew in a moment it must be Ansel Claus. More rapid than eagles his mouses 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! 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 Ansel Claus too.  And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my hand, and was turning around, Down the chimney Ansel Claus came with a bound.  He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his fur was all matted with ashes and soot; A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack. .JPG) His eyes -- how they twinkled! His whiskers how merry! His ears were like bells, his nose like a berry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the fur on his chin was as white as the snow;  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 paw aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the 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 meow, as he drove out of sight, "HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!" |
No comments:
Post a Comment