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rprfwm wty j jfmmi ii m j ij tt yr w x r rpwas thenight beore christmas when all through a the house not a creature was slirring 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 sugarplums danced in their heads and mamma in her kerchief and i in my cap had just settled our brains for a long winters 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 newfallen snow gave the lustre of rhidday 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 housetop 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 goodnight clemen clarke moore 17791863 the home in new york to jjjjpg which c c wrote visit from st nicholas christmas everywh everywhere everywhere christmas tonight christmas in lands of the firtree and pine christmas in lands of the palmtree and vine christmas where snow peaks stand solemn and white christmas where cornfields stand sunny and bright christmas where children are hopeful and gay christmas where old men are patient and gray christmas where peace like a dove in his flight broods oer breve men in the thick of the fight everywhere everywhere christmas tonight for the christchild who comes is the master of all no palace too great no cottage too small phillips brook 18351693 a christmas toast iips now christmas is come lets beat up the drum and call all our neighbors together and when they appear lt us make them such cheer as will keeo out the wind and the weather washington irving 17131159 wtim ceremonies for christmas i j xjme bring with a v noise my merry merry boys the christmas log to the firing while my good dame she bids ye all be free and drink to your hearts desiring with the last years brand light the new block and for vj success in his spending on your psaltries play that sweet luck may come while the log is atending drink now the strong beer cut the white loaf here the while the meat is ashredding for the rare mincepie and the plums stand by to fill the paste thats akneading robert herrick 15911674 thexqrphaws christmastree i1 an orphan boy with weary feet on christmas eve alone benighted went through the town from street to street to see the clustering candles lighted in homes where happy children meet before each house he stood to mark the pleasant rooms that shone so fairly the tapers lighted spark by spark till all the trees were blazing rarely and sad his heart was in the dark- he wept he clasped his hands and cried ah every child tonight rejoices their christmas presents all divide around their trees with merry voices but christmas is to me denied once with my sister hand in hand at home how did my tree delight me no other tapers shone so grand but all forget me none invite me here lonely in the strangers land will no one let me in to share the light to take some corner nigh it in all these houses cant they spare a spot where i may sit in quiet a little seat among them there will no one let me in tonight i will not beg for gift or token i only ask to see the sight and hear the thanks of others spoken and that will be my own delight he knocked at every door and gate he rapped at windowpane and shutter but no one heard and bade him wait or came the welcome in to utter their ears were dull to outer fate each father looked with eyes that smiled upon his happy children only their gifts the mothers heart beguiled to think of them none saw the lonely forgotten boy the orphan child o christchild holy kind and dear i have no father and no mother nor friend save thee to give me cheer be jhou my hep there is none other since all forget me wandering here the poor boy rubbed his hands so blue his little hands the frost made chilly his tattered clothes he closer drew and crouched within a corner stilly and prayed and knew not what to da then suddenly there shone a light along the street approaching nearer another child in garments white spake as he came and clearer deare his voice made music in the night i am the christ have thou no fearl i was a child in my probation and children unto me are near i hear and heed thy supplication though all the rest forget thee here my saving word to all i bear and equally to each tis given i bring the promise of my care here in the street beneath the heaven as well as in the chambers there and here poor boy thy christmastree will i adorn and so make glimmer through all this open space for thee that those within shall twinkle dimmer for bright as thine they cannot be the christchild with his shining hand then pointed up and lo the lustres that sparkled there he saw it stand a tree oerhung with starry clusters on all its branches wide and grand so far and yet so near the night was blazing with the tapers splendor what was the orphan boys delight how beat his bosom warm and tender to see his christmastree so bright it seemed to him a happy dream then from the starry branches bending the angels stooped and through the gleam they lifted him to peace unending they folded him in love supreme the orphan child is now at rest no fathers care he needs nor mothers upon the christchilds holy breast all that is here bestowed on others he there forgets where all is best bayard taylor 1 8251 878 after rueekert vsssm k glows the christmas treeqml tf7here grows the christmas tree the green deeprooted christmas tree by what brave toil in what rich soil can spring the blooming christmas tree is it from prairies broad and deep where future harvests softly sleep and flocks of acres far and free lie level as a waveless sea or is it where a breezeskein twines between the loftyplumaged pines or where sweet stealthy languor roves among the southland orange groves or blooms it best mid city homes with wealths unnumbered spires and domes or is it where through changeful day the mountain shadows creep and play and swift a gleaming sunflood rides along the tall cliffs dappled sides high grows the christmas tree the aweet loveplanted christmas tree whereer extends the hand of friends wherever heartcaressings be distributed by bint return what bears the christmas tree the bright richfruited christmas tree what gather they expectantgay who throng around the christmas tree leaves picked by loveinstructed art from off the branches of the heart fruits culled from every tree and vine where zephyrs fly and sunbeams sbne whateer can brightenfo our gaze the trembling dawn of childhood days whateer can feed more clear and high the flame of youths expectant eye whateer can make more richly good the blood of man and womanhood or bid old age look smiling round at gems of earth joy newly found whateer cansay while strength endure my life has love and help for yours rich glows the christmas tree the heartprotected christmas tree with tokens dear that bring more near gods earthlent love to you and me will coritton 18431912 radical itfflerry geniiemfa tfaaa 1 -i- a 8636 itgmb bfflsnia god rest you merry gentlemen let nothing you dismay for jesus christ our saviour was born upon this day to save us all from satans power when we were gone astray o tidings of comfort and joy for jesus christ our saviour was born on christmas day- in bethlehem in jewry this blessed babe was born and laid within a manger upon this blessed morn the which his mother mary nothing did take in scorn from god our heavenly father a blessed angel came and unto certain shepherds brought tidings of the same how that in bethlehem was born the son of god by name fear not then said the angel let nothing you affright this day is born a saviour of virtue power and might fio frequently to vanquish all the friends of satan quite the shepherds at these tidings rejoiced men in mind and left their flocks afeeding in tempest storm and wind and went to bethlehem straightway this blessed babe to find but when to bethlehem they came whereat this infant lay they found him in a manger where oxen feed on hay his mother mary kneeling unto the lord did pray now to the lord sing praises all you within this place and with true love and brotherhood each other now embrace this holy tide of christmas all others doth deface o tidings of comfort and joy for jesus christ our saviour was born on christmas day unknown 1 heard the bells on christmas day their old familiar carols play and wild and sweet the words repeat of peace on earth goodwill to men and thought how as the day had come the belfries of all christendom had rolled along the unbroken song of peace on earth goodwill to men till ringing singing on its way the world revolved from night to aay a voice a chime a chant sublime of peace on earth goodwill to men then from each black accursed mouth the cannon thundered in the south and with the sound the carols drowned of peace on earth goodwill to men it was a if an earthquake rent the hearthstones of a continent and made forlorn the households born oljeace on earth goodwill to men and in despair i bowed my head there is no peace on earth i said for hate is strong and mocks the song of pee oi earth goodwill to men then pealed the bells more loud and deep god is not deed nor doth he sleep the wrong shall fail the right prevail with peace on earth goodwill to men henry wsdtwerth longfellow 1i071m2 k k k ir fr k tx l k si