Visit From Saint Nicholas, A

<h1>A Visit From Saint Nicholas</h1> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/illo_png3.jpg" width-obs="446" height-obs="594" alt="image" title="image" /></div> <p class="center">NEW YORK:<br/> JAMES G. GREGORY, PUBLISHER.</p> <div><br/></div> <p class="center">Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1862 by JAMES G. GREGORY, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the<br/> Southern District of New York.</p> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/illo_png4.jpg" width-obs="325" height-obs="386" alt="image" title="image" /></div> <p class="center"><span class="smcap">N. ORR, Engraver.</span></p> <p class="center"><span class="smcap">C.A. ALVORD, Printer.</span></p> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/illo_png5.jpg" width-obs="806" height-obs="541" alt="image" title="image" /> </div> <h2>A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS.</h2> <div class='center'> <table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="stanza"> <tr><td align='left'> Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house<br/> Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;<br/> The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,<br/> In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;<br/> The children were nestled all snug in their beds,<br/> While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;<br/> And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap,<br/> Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap&mdash;<br/> </td></tr> </table></div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/illo_png6.jpg" width-obs="800" height-obs="519" alt="image" title="image" /></div> <div class='center'> <table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="stanza"> <tr><td align='left'> When out on the lawn there rose such a clatter,<br/> I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter,<br/> Away to the window I flew like a flash,<br/> Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.<br/> The moon, on the breast of the new-fallen snow,<br/> Gave a lustre of mid-day to objects below;<br/> When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,<br/> But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny rein-deer,<br/> With a little old driver, so lively and quick,<br/> I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.<br/> More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,<br/> And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;<br/> </td></tr> </table></div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/illo_png7.jpg" width-obs="809" height-obs="527" alt="image" title="image" /></div> <div class='center'> <table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="stanza"> <tr><td align='left'> "Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!<br/> On! Comet, on! Cupid, on! Dunder and Blitzen&mdash;<br/> To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall!<br/> Now, dash away, dash away, dash away all!"<br/> As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,<br/> When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,<br/> So, up to the house-top the coursers they flew,<br/> With a sleigh full of toys&mdash;and St. Nicholas too.<br/> And then in a twinkling I heard on the roof,<br/> The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.<br/> As I drew in my head, and was turning around,<br/> Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.<br/><br/><br/> </td></tr> </table></div> <div class='center'> <table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="stanza"> <tr><td align='left'> He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot,<br/> And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;<br/> A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,<br/> And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack;<br/> His eyes how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!<br/> His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry;<br/> </td></tr> </table></div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/illo_png8.jpg" width-obs="492" height-obs="447" alt="image" title="image" /></div> <div class='center'> <table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="stanza"> <tr><td align='left'> His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,<br/> And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow;<br/> The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,<br/> And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath.<br/> He had a broad face, and a little round belly<br/> That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.<br/> </td></tr> </table></div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/illo_png9.jpg" width-obs="796" height-obs="520" alt="image" title="image" /></div> <div class='center'> <table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="stanza"> <tr><td align='left'> He was chubby and plump&mdash;a right jolly old elf;<br/> And I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself.<br/> A wink of his eye, and a twist of his head,<br/> Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.<br/> He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,<br/> And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,<br/> And laying his finger aside of his nose,<br/> And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.<br/> He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,<br/> And away they all flew like the down of a thistle;<br/> But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,<br/> "<span class="smcap">Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!</span>"<br/> </td></tr> </table></div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/illo_png10.jpg" width-obs="354" height-obs="346" alt="MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL" title="MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL" /></div> <SPAN name="endofbook"></SPAN> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />