It was Christmas Eve, and not a creature stirred in the whole house, not even a mouse; the stockings hung carefully by the fireplace, in the hope that Saint Nicholas would soon come;
The children lay snug in their beds, their eyes filled with the promise of sweet plums; and Mama, with her headscarf, and I, with my cap, had just settled down for a long winter's sleep.
When such a commotion arose outside on the lawn, I jumped out of bed to see what was going on. I ran to the window in a flash, threw open the shutters, and pushed the sash up.
The moon on the freshly fallen snow gave the things below the brilliance of midday, when—what did my astonished eyes behold?—a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.
With a small, old driver, so lively and nimble, I knew in an instant that it must be Santa Claus. Faster than an eagle, his racehorses came galloping, and he whistled, shouted, and called them by name:
"Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen! Up, Comet! Up, Cupid! Up, Thunder and Lightning! On the porch! On the wall! Now race away! Race away! Race away, all of you!"
Like dry leaves flying before a raging hurricane, rising into the sky upon impact with an obstacle, the horses flew right up to the roof, with the sleigh full of toys and Santa Claus himself.
And then, in a flash, I heard the hopping and scraping of little hooves on the roof. When I ducked my head and turned around, Santa Claus came bounding down the chimney.
He was wrapped in fur from head to toe, and his clothes were stained with ash and soot; he had thrown a bundle of toys over his back, and he looked like a peddler opening his rucksack.
His eyes—how they sparkled! His dimples—how cheerful! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His funny little mouth was drawn like a bow, and the beard on his chin was as white as snow;
He held the stub of a pipe tightly between his teeth, and the smoke enveloped his head like a wreath; he had a broad face and a small, round belly that wobbled when he laughed like a bowl of jelly.
He was plump and round, a truly funny old elf, and I had to laugh when I saw him, against my will; a wink and a turn of the head soon let me know that I had nothing to fear;
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!
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