2020-12-24

A Visit from St. Nicholas/The Night Before Christmas

By Clement Clarke Moore

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring(ˈstəriNG), not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney(ˈCHimnē) with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled(ˈnesəl) all snug(snəɡ) in their beds;

While visions of sugar-plums(pləm) danced in their heads;

And mamma in her ‘kerchief(ˈkərCHəf), and I in my cap,

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

When out on the lawn(lôn) there arose(əˈrōz) such a clatter(ˈkladər),

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

Away to the window I flew(flo͞o) like a flash,

Tore(tôr) open the shutters and threw up the sash(saSH).

The moon on the breast(brest) of the new-fallen snow,

Gave a lustre(ˈləstər) of midday(ˈmidˌdā) to objects below,

When what to my wondering eyes did appear,

But a miniature(ˈmin(ē)əCHər) sleigh(slā) and eight tiny rein-deer(ˈrānˌdir),

With a little old driver so lively and quick,

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

More rapid(ˈrapəd) than eagles(ˈēɡəl) his coursers(ˈkôrsər) they came,

And he whistled(ˈ(h)wisəl), and shouted, and called them by name:

“Now, Dasher(ˈdaSHər)! now, Dancer! now Prancer(prans) and Vixen(ˈviksən)!

On, Comet(ˈkämət)! on, Cupid(ˈkyo͞opəd)! on, Donner(ˈdänər) and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch(pôrCH)! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”

As leaves(lē) that before the wild hurricane(ˈhəriˌkān) fly,

When they meet with an obstacle(ˈäbstək(ə)l), mount to the sky;

So up to the housetop the coursers(ˈkôrsər) they flew(flo͞o)

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

And then, in a twinkling(ˈtwiNGkliNG), I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing(pô) of each little hoof(ho͝of).

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

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

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