The Night Before Christmas (Rackham)

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the houseNot a creature was stirring, not even a Mouse;The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,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 trom the 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 snowGave the lustre of midday 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 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!”

[[File:The Night Before Christmas-1915-001.jpg|right|frameless|250px]]</div>\n<div style=\"margin-top:4em;margin-left:-4em;\">{{initial|{{color|#d10000;|'''A'''}}}}nd then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof \nThe prancing and pawing of each little hoof. \nAs I drew in my head, and was turning around, \nDown the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound. \n\n{{initial|{{color|#d10000;|'''H'''}}}}e was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, \nAnd his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; \nA bundle of Toys he had flung on his back, \nAnd he looked like a pedlar just opening his pack.\n</div>"}}' id="mwpA">

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roofThe 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,And he looked like a pedlar just opening his pack.

[[File:The Night Before Christmas-1915-026.jpg|left|frameless|250px]]</div>\n<div style=\"margin-top:2em;margin-right:-4em;\">{{initial|{{color|#d10000;|'''H'''}}}}is eyes{{--}}how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! \nHis cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! \nHis droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, \nAnd the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;\n\n{{initial|{{color|#d10000;|'''T'''}}}}he stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, \nAnd the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath; \nHe had a broad face and a little round belly, \nThat shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.\n</div>"}}' id="mw1g">

His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,And the beard of 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;He had a broad face and a little round belly,That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.

[[File:The Night Before Christmas-1915-029.jpg|right|frameless|250px]]</div>\n<div style=\"margin-top:4em;margin-left:-4em;\">{{initial|{{color|#d10000;|'''H'''}}}}e was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf\nAnd I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself; \nA wink of his eye and a twist of his head \nSoon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. \n\n{{initial|{{color|#d10000;|'''H'''}}}}e spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, \nAnd filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, \nAnd laying his finger aside of his nose, \nAnd giving a nod, up the chimney he rose; \n</div>"}}' id="mw9w">

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elfAnd I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;A wink of his eye and a twist of his headSoon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,And laying his finger 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,

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,