'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; -- PETE SEEGER

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads; -- AMY WHITE
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap, -- AL PETTEWAY

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. -- PETER MAYER
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. -- TOM PAXTON

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below, -- LEON BIBB
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer, -- ERIC BIBB

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. -- ALISON BROWN
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name; -- DAVID HOLT

"Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN! -- RICK DAUGHERTY
On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONNER and BLITZEN! -- BILL ZORN
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!" -- ALEX HASSELEV of THE LIMELITERS

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky, -- LEON REDBONE
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too. -- JOHN FLORIDIS

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. -- DAVE CARTER
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. -- TRACY GRAMMER

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; -- BILL STAINES
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack. -- ALEX BEVAN

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! -- AMY "BOB" ENGELHARDT
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow; -- BILL LESTOCK & VICKY CHEW

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath; -- GRACE GRIFFITH
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly. -- TOM CHAPIN

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself; -- RHONDA VINCENT
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread; -- JOHN GORKA

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, -- JOHN McCUTCHEON
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose; -- LIVINGSTON TAYLOR