Children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads and mama in her kerchief.

And I, in my cap had just settled their brains 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 luster of mid day to objects below when, what, to my wondering eyes did appear, but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer with 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 a xdrive 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 two on.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof, the 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 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 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 bowl full of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf.

And I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself.

Ah, 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 and went straight to his work, 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 Now of a FISA.

I heard him exclaim here he drove out of sight, Christmas to all.