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Twas the Night Before Christmas (A Visit From St. Nicholas)

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<h1>Twas the Night Before Christmas</h1> <h3>A Visit from St. Nicholas</h3> <h4>By Clement C. Moore</h4> <p><span class="dropcapb"> </span><span class="dropcap">T</span> was the night before Christmas, when all through the house<br/> Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;<br/> The stockings were hung by the chimney with care<br/> In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;<br/><br/></p> <div class="figright"><ANTIMG src="images/img006a.jpg" alt="Sleeping Mouse" title="Sleeping Mouse" /></div> <div class="figcenter"><ANTIMG src="images/img007.jpg" alt="Stockings in the Fireplace" title="Stockings in the Fireplace" /></div> <p><span class="dropcapc"> </span><span class="dropcap">T</span>he children were nestled all snug in their beds,<br/> While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;<br/> And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap,<br/> Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap,<br/><br/></p> <div class="figcenter"><ANTIMG src="images/img009.jpg" alt="The children were nestled" title="The children were nestled" /></div> <p><span class="dropcapd"> </span><span class="dropcap">W</span>hen out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,<br/> I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.<br/> Away to the window I flew like a flash,<br/> Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.<br/><br/></p> <div class="figcenter"><ANTIMG src="images/img011.jpg" alt="He sprang from the bed" title="He sprang from the bed" /></div> <p><span class="dropcapb"> </span><span class="dropcap">T</span>he moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow<br/> Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,<br/> When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,<br/> But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,<br/><br/></p> <div class="figcenter"><ANTIMG src="images/img013.jpg" alt="what to my wondering eyes should appear" title="what to my wondering eyes should appear" /></div> <div class="figcenter"><ANTIMG src="images/img014a.jpg" alt="Flying Birds" title="Flying Birds" /></div> <div class="figright"><ANTIMG src="images/img014b.jpg" alt="Flying Birds" title="Flying Birds" /></div> <p><span class="dropcapd"> </span><span class="dropcap">W</span>ith a little old driver, so lively and quick,<br/> I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.<br/> More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,<br/> And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:<br/><br/></p> <div class="figleft"><ANTIMG src="images/img014c.jpg" alt="Flying Birds" title="Flying Birds" /></div> <div class="figcenter"><ANTIMG src="images/img015a.jpg" alt="Fig. 103" title="Fig. 103" /></div> <p><span class="dropcapf"> </span><span class="dropcap">N</span>ow, <b><i>Dasher!</i></b> now, <b><i>Dancer!</i></b> now, <b><i>Prancer</i></b> and <b><i>Vixen!</i></b><br/> On, <b><i>Comet!</i></b> on, <b><i>Cupid!</i></b> on, <b><i>Donder</i></b> and <b><i>Blitzen!</i></b><br/> To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!<br/> Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"<br/></p> <div class="figcenter"><ANTIMG src="images/img016.jpg" alt="Reindeer sleigh on the roof" title="Reindeer sleigh on the roof" /></div> <div class="figcenter"><ANTIMG src="images/img017.jpg" alt="Reindeer sleigh on the roof" title="Reindeer sleigh on the roof" /></div> <div class="figcenter1"><ANTIMG src="images/img018a.jpg" alt="Blustering leaves" title="Blustering leaves" /></div> <div class="figright"><ANTIMG src="images/img018b.jpg" alt="Blustering leaves" title="Blustering leaves" /></div> <p><span class="dropcapg"> </span><span class="dropcap">A</span>s dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,<br/> When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;<br/> So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,<br/> With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too.<br/><br/></p> <div class="figcenter"><ANTIMG src="images/img019a.jpg" alt="Blustering leaves" title="Blustering leaves" /></div> <div class="figright"><ANTIMG src="images/img019b.jpg" alt="Blustering leaves" title="Blustering leaves" /></div> <p><span class="dropcaph"> </span><span class="dropcap">A</span>nd then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof<br/> The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.<br/> As I drew in my head, and was turning around,<br/> Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.<br/><br/><br/><br/></p> <p><span class="dropcapi"> </span><span class="dropcap">H</span>e was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,<br/> And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;<br/> A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,<br/> And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.<br/><br/></p> <div class="figcenter"><ANTIMG src="images/img021.jpg" alt="He looked like a peddler" title="He looked like a peddler" /></div> <p><span class="dropcapj"> </span><span class="dropcap">H</span>is eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!<br/> His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!<br/> His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,<br/> And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;<br/><br/></p> <div class="figcenter"><ANTIMG src="images/img023.jpg" alt="The beard of his chin was as white as the snow" title="The beard of his chin was as white as the snow" /></div> <p><span class="dropcapk"> </span><span class="dropcap">T</span>he stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,<br/> And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;<br/> He had a broad face and a little round belly,<br/> That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.<br/><br/></p> <div class="figcenter"><ANTIMG src="images/img025.jpg" alt="He had a broad face and a little round belly" title="He had a broad face and a little round belly" /></div> <p><span class="dropcapl"> </span><span class="dropcap">H</span>e was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,<br/> And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;<br/> A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,<br/> Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;<br/><br/></p> <div class="figcenter"><ANTIMG src="images/img027.jpg" alt="He filled all the stockings" title="He filled all the stockings" /></div> <p><span class="dropcapi"> </span><span class="dropcap">H</span>e spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,<br/> And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,<br/> And laying his finger aside of his nose,<br/> And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;<br/><br/></p> <div class="figcenter"><ANTIMG src="images/img029.jpg" alt="up the chimney he rose" title="up the chimney he rose" /></div> <p><span class="dropcapj"> </span><span class="dropcap">H</span>e sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,<br/> And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.<br/> But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,<br/> <b><i>"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."</i></b><br/></p> <div class="figcenter"><ANTIMG src="images/img031.jpg" alt="he drove out of sight" title="he drove out of sight" /></div> <div class="figcenter1"><ANTIMG src="images/img032.jpg" alt="Little bear" title="Little bear" /></div> <div class="figcenter1"><ANTIMG src="images/cover2.jpg" alt="end cover" title="end cover" /></div> <SPAN name="endofbook"></SPAN> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />

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