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'twas the night before christmas and all through the house |
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Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse |
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The stockings were hung by the chimney with care |
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In the hopes that st. nicholas soon would be there |
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The children were nestled all snug in their beds |
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While visions of sugar plums danced in their heads. |
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Mom in her kerchief and i in my cap |
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Had just settled down for a long winter's nap. |
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When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter |
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I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter |
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Away to the window i flew with a flash |
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Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash |
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The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow |
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Gave a luster of mid-day to objects below. |
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When what to my wondering eyes should appear |
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But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer |
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With a little old driver so lively and quick |
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Well i knew in a moment, it must be st. nick |
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More rapid than eagles, his coursers they came |
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And he whistled and he shouted and he called them by name |
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"on dasher, on dancer, on prancer and vixen |
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On comet, on cupid, on donner and blitzen! |
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To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall |
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Now, dash away, dash away, dash away all!" |
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As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly |
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When they meet to an obstacle mount to the sky |
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So up to the rooftop the coursers they flew |
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With a sleigh full of toys and st. nicholas too. |
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And then in a twinkling, i heard on the roof |
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The prancing, the pawing of each little hoof |
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As i drew in my head and was turning around |
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Down the chimney st. nicholas came with a bound |
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He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot |
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And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot |
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A bundle of toys he had flung on his back |
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And he looked like a peddler just op'ning his pack |
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His eyes, how they twinkled, his dimples, how merry |
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His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry |
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His droll little mouth was drawn up in a bow |
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And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow |
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The stump of a pipe, he held tight in his teeth |
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And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath |
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He had a broad face and a little round belly |
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That shook when laughed (ho, ho, ho, ho) like a bowl full of jelly (ho, ho, ho, ho) |
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He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf |
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And i laughed when i saw him in spite of myself |
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A wink of his eye and a twist of his head |
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Soon gave me to know i had nothing to dread |
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He spoke not a word but went straight to his work |
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And filled all the stockings and turned with a jerk |
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And laying a finger to the side of his nose |
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And giving a nod up the chimney he rose |
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He sprang to his sleigh, and to his team gave a whistle |
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And away they all flew like the down of a thistle |
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But i heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight |
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"merry christmas to all and to all..goodnight |
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Goodnight." |
