The Young Chronicle: For 4th Graders December 19th, 2014 | Page 4

YOUNG CHRONICLE

November 28th, 2014

A Visit from St. Nicholas: BY CLEMENT CLARKE MOORE
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds;

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap,

And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!

I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow;

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

Gave a lustre of midday to objects below,

And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath;

When what to my wondering eyes did appear,

He had a broad face and a little round belly

But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer,

That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.

With a little old driver so lively and quick,

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick.

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now Prancer and Vixen!

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donner and Blitzen!

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

So up to the housetop the coursers they flew

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight—

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too—

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

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