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Dedication Page

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the houseNot a creature was moving, not even a mouse;The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

Mabel was nestled all snug in her bed,While visions of sugar-plums danced in her head;Mummy in her armchair, and she on her lap,Had rested her head for a long winter's nap--

When out in the gardenthere rose such a clatter,She sprang from her bed to see what’s the matter,Away to the window Mabel flew like a flash,Tore open the shuttersand threw up the sash.

The moon, twinkling softly on the new-fallen snow,Shone on the rooftops and the chimneys below;

When, what to her wondering eyes should appear,But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny rein-deer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,Mabel knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.Santa Claus, they call him, with helpers he 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 Blitzen--To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall!Now, dash away, dash away, dash away all!"

So, up to the house-top and the chimneys they flew,With a sleigh full of toys--and Santa Claus too.

And then in a twinkling she heard on the roof,The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.As Mabel got up and was turning around,Down the chimney Santa came with a bound.

He was dressed all in red 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 was humming a tune while he opened his pack;His eyes how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry;

His long, red hat was hanging low,And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow;He had a broad face, and a little round bellyThat shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.

He was chubby and plump--a right jolly old elf;Mabel laughed when she saw him in spite of herself.A wink of his eye, and a twist of his head,Soon made her think she 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;Mabel heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight,"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"