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The Night Before Christmas ILLUSTRATED WITH SIX COLOR PLATES AND NUMEROUS BLACK AND WHITE DRAWINGS CHARLES E.GRAHAM & CO. -NET YORK: and all9 through the house a . 0u 0 Wo U The Night Before Christmas 'f'P4S the night beforeChristmas, and all through the house Not a creature was stirring- not even a mouse; 0110 The stockings were hung L CD and >MOK 1The Baldwin Library ---o Univcrsity RmBJ Thodia S In the hope that St. Nicholas u g soon would be there. 0 0 0 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 the bed to see what was the matter. ) . 0 "" .... D I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. 0 '0 The moon on -the breast S of the new-fallen sno Tore open the shutters 0 0 oo _b= 0 i 0r Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below- When, what to my wondering eyes should appear But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer, With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. More rapid than eagles his 0 i coursers they came, 0 And he whistled and shouted n and called them by name: ------,-. ., * i I 00 '=- ,0 0 "Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now Prancer! now Vixen! On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Dunder and Blixen! To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall! 08 Now, dash away! dash away! i 0 dash away all!" ] L- L) t =/ OO CDo o C) 0 00 C) O* 0 ~ 0i.~J As dry leaves before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky, So up to the house-top the coursers 0 they flew, 0 0 O' SWith a sleigh full of toys, 0 and St. Nicholas, too. 0 I =) V:oC5 = 00 IUI ar ~ ;'"'':':" ' T~:Lc,, IC''~ L: r ~- ' c-- c:) -oo c-C ------- I heard on the roof - 0 0 o The prancing and pawing 0 of each tiny hoof, 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, o o 00 0 "- 00 L CD=)C: C= C=) CD I5LU 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 pedlar o just opening his .pack. His eyes-how they twinkled! 0 0 "his dimples-how merry! 0 OC = _____ ~ c~c~ C=O C 0 CD """" C- OO C'" O 0 0 His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry; His droll little mouth was drawn up in 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. 0 0 0 He was chubby and plump, 0 a right jolly old elf, 0 L(= CDC) l- ~> ~> i -ti--- L ... <- >f> -- i < ' A .1 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 0 I had nothing to dread. 0 SHe spoke not a word, but went 0 0 straight to his work, -LC( L) I0-I D-i And And filled all the stockings- L then turned with a jerk, laying his finger c 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: "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night! Clement C. Moore. THE END. -0 0 0 0 0' 0 - |