The Young Chronicle: For Grade 3 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;
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains 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.

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 pedler just opening his pack.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

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

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

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

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

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

Gave a lustre of midday to objects below,

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

When what to my wondering eyes did appear,
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer,
With a little old driver so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by
name:

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.
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He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

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

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head

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

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

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

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

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

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

As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

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

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

So up to the housetop the coursers they flew

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

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

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!”