Wonderful Christmastime

'twas 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 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 down for a long winter's nap,

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 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,
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! Dunder and blixem!
To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all! "

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.

And then, in a twinkling, i heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As i drew in my hand, 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 peddler just opening his pack.

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.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And i laughed when i saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon 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,
"happy christmas to all, and to all a good-night! "

 

Recently I came in possession of a childhood memory. But then there was the problem of what to do with it. I had considered having it framed, but where would I hang it? Then I remembered that our doors are metal and Pan has a stack of really strong magnets. The banner is just long and wide enough to cover the window (though I really need a better shot of it). It's going to be a great addition to our family traditions and I need to start thinking about something similar for the front door, don't you think?