Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 December 1887 — ST. NICHOLAS’ VISIT. [ARTICLE]

ST. NICHOLAS’ VISIT.

Twas the ' night; before Christmas, an<l 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 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 hCr ’kerchief, and I !in my «ep. Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap. When out on the lawn Jthere arose such a Clatter, * sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I Sew like a flash, Tore open the shutters aud threw up the sash: The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow » Qave the luster of mid-day to objects below; When what to my wandering 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 thau eagles his coursers they came, A-nd he whistled and shouted, and called them by name-. Now, Dasher! now, Dancer now, Prancer and Vixen! Ou, Comet! on, Cupid! on Druder pnd Blixen! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wail! Now dash avay! dash away! dash away all! As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly. • • When they, meet with ah obstacle, mount to the sky, So up to the house top with 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 pawning of each little hoof; As 1 drew in my head, and was turning around, Dawn 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 bumdle of toys he had swung on his back, And he looked like a peddler just opening his psek. , His syes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! His oheeks were like roses, his lips like a ehorry! Bus droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard of his ohin was as white as the snow: The stump of a pipe he held tight in this teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath; He had a broad faee and a little round belly, That shook when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself ; - ~ A wiuk 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 liis work. And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk, And laying his finger aside of his nose.l And giving a nod, up ibe chimney he He sprang, to the sleigh, to his team gav« a whistle, •And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exolaim, ere he drove out of sight: ‘Merry Christinas!/) to all, and to all a good sight.” • —Clement C. Moore.