A story for the young and young at heart...

'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the , not a creature was stirring, not even a ; the were hung by the with care, in hopes that soon would be there; the were nestled all snug in their , while visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads; and mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, had just settled down for a long winter's nap, when out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, tore open the and threw up the sash. The on the breast of the new-fallen gave the luster of mid-day to objects below, when, what to my wondering should appear, but a miniature , and eight tiny , with a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be . More rapid than 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 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 full of toys, andtoo. And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof the prancing and pawing of each little . As I drew in my , and was turning around, down the St. Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur, from his to his , 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 -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! his cheeks were like , his like a ! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a , and the beard of his chin was as white as the snow; the stump of a he held tight in his , and the smoke it encircled his head like a ; he had a broad face and a little round belly, that shook, when he laughed like a full of . He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old , and I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself; a of his eye and a twist of his , 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 ; then turned with a jerk, and laying his aside of his, and giving a nod, up the he rose; he sprang to his , to his team gave a whistle, and away they all flew like the down of a . But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,