Paper Puppet Playhouse presents
Twas The Night Before Christmas
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 momma in her kerchief and I in my cap
Had just settled down for a long winters' nap
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter
I sprang from my 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 luster 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 angels his coursers they came
And he whistled and he shouted and called them by name
Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer, and Vixen
On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner, and Blitzen
To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall
Now dash away, dash away, dash away all
So up to the house top the 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 pawing of eight little hooves
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 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
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!
Ho ho ho!
Merry Christmas