Twas the Night Before Christmas-ThePlatters

'Twas the night before Christmas and 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 would soon be there The children were all nestled, all snug in their beds while Visions of sugarplums danced in their heads And momma in her kerchief and I in my cap Had just settled down for a long winter's nap When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter I sprang from my 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 midday to objects below When what to my wandering eyes should appear But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer! With a little ol' driver so lively and quick I knew in a moment, it must be St. Nick! More rapid than eagles, his courses they came As he whistled and shouted and called them by name "Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer and Vixen On Comet, on Doner, an' Blitzen To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall Now dash-away, dash-away all And as dry leaves that before the wild hurricanes fly When they meet with an obstacle mount sky So up to the housetop the courses they flew With a 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 Ands 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 sprung on his back And he looked like a, 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 drawl 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 circled his head like a wreath He had a broad little face and a, a little round belly That shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly He was chubby and plump, and a, a right jolly old elf 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, and then turned with a jerk An' laying a finger aside side his nose An' giving a nod up the chimney he rose He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle An' away they all flew like the down of a thistle But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight "Merry Christmas to all, Merry Christmas to all And to all a goodnight"