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,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

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 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!

As dry LEAVES that before the wild hurricane fly, when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,with the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

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!"

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.

The MOON on the breast of the new-fallen snow gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,I sprang from 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 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 down for a long winter's nap,