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 Mama in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap
had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
When out on the roof there arose such a clatter !!!! . . . .
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash . . .
tore open the shutter, 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 eyes 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 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!!!
As dry leaves that before wild hurricanes 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 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 on 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 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 that 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 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!”
From my family to yours, I wish you all a very blessed and joyous Christmas as we all
celebrate with our own special traditions, the birth of Jesus Christ Our Lord and Savior.
NOTE: The poem, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas was written by Clement Clarke Moore
Merry Christmas Shirley! Your porch is beautiful and I especially love your hanging ornaments!
gorgeous! love how you hung those big ornaments from your ceiling. love the pic of your girl and your navitity. merry christmas.
I love your porch all decorated for the holiday. That is one place I was lazy this year. Just the lighted garland around the door. No one on my street hardly decorated outside this year.
Beautiful post! LOVE your porch decorations, especially the hanging ornaments, and the trees beside the doorway. Best “decoration” of all is your sweet nativity scene. Wishing you and your family a joyous Christmas.
I love seeing that sweet, smiling face of your precious granddaughter. Enjoy Christmas with her and have a blessed new year! I look forward to reading your blog in the new year. Your house is always beautiful no matter the season.
Your porch is beautiful! Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Merry Christmas, Shirley! May the Lord bless you and your family!
The porch is perfectly decorated to welcome your guests into your home. Merry Christmas to you and Tom. On a side note, you would not be able to decorate your porch like that here…we have had 50 mile an hour wind gusts for the past few days. We may be rewarded with a white Christmas.
Dear Shirley! How beautiful your porch looks! I really love those hanging ornaments from the ceiling. You have a Nativity on the porch? Oh, how marvelous. Merry Christmas to you and your family, sweet friend.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia 😉
i LOVE, love your porch and especially the hanging ornaments! They are truly the icing on the cake! I wish our weather was milder here. Your topiary is looking so pretty with the icy branches and the red too! Wishing you a very merry and blessed Christmas. Have FUN with Gray!!!! She is SO adorable! XO
Your porch looks so beautiful Shirley!Merry Christmas! For some reason my blog feed stopped working yesterday and takes forever to load. Wish me luck on fixing it!
Merry Christmas!!
Merry Christmas to you and yours! 🙂
Your porch is so festive and inviting, as if the rest of your house. Your granddaugher is adorable. Merry Christmas!
Shirley, your porch is stunning! Merry Christmas to you and your family!
xo
Susan
MERRY CHRISTMAS, Shirley!
beautiful!!! Merry Christmas my friend xoxo
Merry Christmas to you and your family Shirley. The picture of your grand daughter is just so sweet! Had to be content with visiting with mine on Skype today…sigh
However, very happy that our son was able to come and spend a few days with us. Very thankful for that.
As usual love all your decorations.
Take care
Merry Christmas to you and yours. Your porch is stunning – love it!. Your sweetie is so cute.
I enjoyed every minute with my Kelly – she is growing up so fast.
Mary
Hope you had a great Christmas! Your front porch is so pretty all decked out for Christmas. I love the ornaments hung from the ceiling. You and I both have the same black lantern too. Mine is on my porch as well.
Beautiful Shirley, all of your holiday decor is so warm and welcoming!
xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
what a beautifully decorated home!
You have a lovely home and a very cute elf. Happy New Year.
Madonna
What a great idea to hang Christmas balls on the outside… Love it…