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| - from: [1] Project Gutenberg's Twas the Night before Christmas, by Clement C. Moore This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Title: Twas the Night before Christmas A Visit from St. Nicholas Author: Clement C. Moore Illustrator: Jessie Willcox Smith Release Date: November 22, 2005 [EBook #17135] [Date last updated: January 1, 2006] Language: English Character set encoding: ASCII *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS *** Produced by Janet Blenkinship, Suzanne Shell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at Twas The Night Before Christmas (or "A Visit From Saint Nicholas") by By Clement C. Moore 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 mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, 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 breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the lustre of mid-day 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, Donder 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 the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky; So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, With the 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 of 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 bowlful 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 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."
- "Twas the Night Before Christmas" was a poem by Clement C. Moore, an American. He was inspired to write it after he saw Santa Claus, the Third Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith talking outside his window in New York City, 1822. (PROSE: A Visit from Saint Nicholas)
- This is a classic across the planes of existance, taken and redone for our own world. Since it was written, it has become a part of school libraries across all of Valhalla. Twas the Night Before Christmas 'Twas the night before Christmas and all 'cross the MUD All the players were waiting to spill lots of blood. Their weapons and armour were in good repair Hoping the pole would soon be in Udgaard Square. Nikolai was nestled all snug in his bed While vision of newbies danced in his head. The Serpent curled up, Fenris in it's lap, Had just settled in for a pre-Christmas nap. When all around town there arose such a clatter, We all sprang to attention to see what was the matter. Kindred there first, then AoH in a flash, Then UC and DS both arrived at a dash. A great circle was melted in new-fallen snow In the middle burned brimstone with a sulpurous glow. And then what to our mortal eyes should appear, But a demon infernal, snacking on a reindeer! With a pointy long tail that I'd never forget-ah I knew right away that it must be Etna. Surrounded by smoke and billowing flame, She sneered at us all, and called us by name. "Now Kutter! Now Doggy! Now Krantos and Xar! Now Gwymon! Now Smitus! Casavir and Agar! Would you all just stop driving me up the wall? Now dash away before I give Tiamat a call." Though everyone else, they did wisely fly I hid myself away, and I'm still not sure why. She finished the reindeer, and with a howl or two She summoned another from the Xiyang Zoo. When she was done, picked her teeth with a hoof While I remained hidden, and Etna aloof. She searched intently a spot on the ground, Then grinned satified at what she had found. She was dressed all in fire, from her head to her foot, And all that she touched turned to ashes and soot. Her fiery hair licked the length of her back, And her tailed flicked about looking for someone to smack. Her eyes - how they burned! Her lips like a cherry, Her ears kind of pointy, her aura quite scary! Her evil fanged mouth was drawn up like a bow, Dibbling blood down her chin and onto the snow. The stump of a leg she still held in her teeth And smoke circled round her like a sulphury wreath I stifled a sneeze, because brimstone is quite smelly, Etna looked over my way, and my knees turned to jelly. She then rolled her eyes, and ignored the elf, After laughing at me, and mocking my self. A wink of her eye and a turn of her head Filled me with feelings of peril and dread. She spoke not a word, but went straight to work, Turned that leg to the Pole with a shake and a jerk. With the touch of her finger, and words only she knows The Pole lit up brightly, and coloured the snows. A step she took back, and with a satisfied grin, Shouted "There you all go! The Pole is now in!" And the last thing she said ere she poofed out of sight, "Merry Christmas to all! Now get out there and fight!"
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