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Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
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Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
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The stockings were hung bythe chimney with care,
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In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
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The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
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And mama in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
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Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
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When out onthe lawn there arose such a clatter,
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I sprang from the bed to see what wasthe matter.
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Away tothe window I flew like a flash,
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Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
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The moon onthe breast ofthe new-fallen snow
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Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
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When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
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But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
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With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
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I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
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More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
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And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
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" Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
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On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
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Tothe top ofthe porch! to the top ofthe wall!
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Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!
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As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
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When they meet with an obstacle, mount tothe sky,
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So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
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With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
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And then, in a twinkling, I heard onthe roof
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The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
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As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
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Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
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He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
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And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
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A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
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And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
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His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
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His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
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His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
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Andthe beard of his chin was as white asthe snow;
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The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
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Andthe smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
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He had a broad face and a little round belly,
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That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
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He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
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And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
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A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
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Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
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He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
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And filled allthe thestockings; then turned with a jerk,
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And laying his finger aside of his nose,
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And giving a nod, upthe chimney he rose;
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He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
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And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
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But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
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" Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.
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