In hopes that St. Nicholas soon
would be there;
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 my bed to see
what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like
a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw
up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the
new-fallen snow,
Gave a lustre of midday to
objects below,
When what to my wondering
eyes did appear,
But a miniature sleigh and eight
tiny rein-deer,
With a little old driver so lively
and quick,
I knew in a moment he must be
St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his
coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted,
and called them by name:
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer!
now Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid!
on, Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the
top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away!
dash away all!"
As leaves that before the wild
hurricane fly,
When they meet with an
obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the housetop the
coursers they flew
With the sleigh full of toys, and
St. Nicholas too—
And then, in a twinkling, I heard
on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each
little 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,
And his clothes were all
tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on
his back,
JOY FEELINGS | DECEMBER ISSUE
280