Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore ~ Full Audiobook [christmas]

[00:00:01] Speaker A: Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore. 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 our 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 lustre of midday to objects below when what to my wondering eye 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 Saint 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, Donder and Blitzen. 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 a 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 head and was turning around down the chimney. St. Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed in all 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 pedlar just opening his sack. 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 had 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. 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 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. [00:03:25] Speaker A: End of poem.