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Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
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The stockings were hung by the chimney with care in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
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The children were nestled, all snug inthier beds, while visions of sugarplums danced in thier heads. And momma in her kerchief and I in my cap, had just settled down for a long winters 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 should appear, but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.
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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 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 the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholaus 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. Nicholaus came, with a bound.
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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, amd 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 a finger aside of his nose, and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.
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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 GOODNIGHT!"
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