The Night Before Christmas
‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house. Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung, by the chimney with care. In the hope that Saint Nicholas, soon would be there.
The children were nestled, all snug in their beds. While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads.
And mama in her kerchief, and I in my cap. We 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 horizon, of the new fallen snow. It gave the luster of midday, to objects below.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear? 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, Now Vixen! On Comet, On Cupid! On Dunder and Blixen!”
“To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall! Now Dash away, Dash away, Dash away, all!”
As dry leaves before, the wild hurricane fly. When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the housetop, the coursers they flew. With the sleigh full of toys, and Saint Nicholas too.
And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof, the prancing, and pawing, of each tiny hoof.
As I drew in my head and was turning around, down the chimney Saint 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 in 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 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 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, as he drove out of sight, “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”
1) At the beginning of the poem, everyone is:
a) at a Christmas party
b) wrapping Christmas presents
c) asleep
2) What did the father see when he looked out the window?
a) a shooting star
b) a sleigh and reindeer
c) an airplane
3) Where did St. Nick land?
a) on the roof
b) in the backyard
c) in the driveway
4) How did St. Nick get into the house?
a) through the front door
b) through a window
c) down the chimney
5) St. Nick and the father
a) filled the stockings together
b) didn’t talk at all
c) had a long conversation
6) As St. Nick was leaving, he told everyone
a) sweet dreams
b) drive safely
c) Merry Christmas to all