THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

[Music] [Applause] [Music] was the night before christmas when all through the house not a creature was stirring not even a mouse the stockings were hung by the chimney with care in hopes that saint nicholas soon would be there [Music] the children were nestled all snug in their beds while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads [Music] and mama 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 sand the moon on the breast of the new fallen snow gave the lustre of midday to objects below [Music] when what to my wondering eyes should appear for a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer [Music] [Applause] [Music] with a little old driver so lively and quick i knew in a moment it must be saint nick more rapid than eagles his coursers they came and he whistled and shouted and called them by name now dasher now dancers now prancer and vixen on comet on cupid on donder and blitzen to the top of the porch to the top of the wall now cast away passed away that's the way all as dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly when they meet an obstacle mount to the sky so up to the house top the coursers they flew with a sleigh full of toys and saint nicholas too [Music] and then in a twinkling i heard on the roof the prancing and pouring of each little [Music] hook as i drew in my head and was turning around town the chimney saint 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 and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack his eyes how they twinkled his dimples how merry his cheeks were like roses his nose like a cherry [Music] his droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow and the beard on his chin was as white as the snow [Laughter] [Music] oh the stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth and the smoke had encircled his head like a wreath [Music] [Laughter] he had a broad face and a little round belly that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly [Music] he was chubby and plump a right jolly old elf and i laughed when i saw him in spite of myself [Music] a wink of his eye and a twist of his head soon gave me to know i had nothing to dress he spoke not a word but went straight to his work and filled all the stockings then turned with a jerk [Music] so [Music] and laying his finger aside of his nose and giving a nod up the chimney heroes he sprang to his sleigh to his team gave a whistle and away they all flew like the down of a thistle [Music] me but i heard him exclaim every drove out of sight happy christmas to all and to all a good night you