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 , And the beard on 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 bowl full 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 whistle , And away they all flew like the down of a thistle .
But I heard him exclaim , ere he drove out of sight —
“ Happy Christmas to all
, and to all a good night
!”