'Twas the Night Before Christmas - Harry Simeone

It was 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

Soon would be there

The children were nestled

All snug in their wee little beds

While visions of sugarplums

Danced in their wee little heads

And mama in her kerchief

And papa in his 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

Threw up the sash

Then what to my wandering eyes

Should appear

But a miniature sleigh

And eight tiny reindeer

With a little OL driver

So lively and quick

That I knew right away

That it must be St Nick

More rapid than eagles

His courses they came

He whistled and shouted

And called them by name

Now Dasher

Now Dancer

Now Prancer

Now Vixen

On Comet

On Cupid

On Donner

An Blitzen

To the top of the porch

To the top of the wall

Dash away dash away

Dash away

Dash away all

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

All the clattering noise

Of each galloping hoof

All bundled in fur

From his head to his foot

His clothes were all tarnished

With ashes and soot

I drew in my head and

Was turning around

When down the chimney

He came with a thud

A bag full of toys

He had flung on his back

And he looked like a little old peddler

Opening his pack

His eyes how they twinkled so gay

His dimples how merry are they

His cheeks were like roses when kissed by the sun

His nose like a cherry all wrinkled with fun

His drawl little mouth

Was drawn up like a bow

The beard on his chin

Was as white as the snow

The stump of a little old pipe

He held tight in his teeth

And the smoke went around and around and around his head

Like a wreath

He was so jolly and plump

A right jolly old jolly old elf

And I laughed and I laughed and I laughed

When I saw him in spite of myself

He had a broad face ho ho ho

And a little round belly hee hee hee

That shook when he laughed ha ha ha

Like a bowl full of jelly ha ha

He gave me a wink of his eye

And a twist of his head

I chuckled and smiled

I knew all the while

I had nothing to dread

He spoke not a word

But went straight to his work

He filled all the stockings

Then turned with a jerk

An laying a finger

Aside of 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

And to all goodnight

This the night after Christmas

And all through the house

Not a creature is stirring

Not even a mouse

The presents are scattered

And broken I fear

And St Nicholas

Won't come again for a year

The children are nestled

All snug in their wee little beds

While memories of sugarplums

Dance in their wee little heads

Mama in her kerchief

Papain in his cap

Are settled at last

For a long winter's nap

Goodnight