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’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house |
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As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, |
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He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, Clement C. Moore, |
Image of first newspaper publication of A Visit from St. Nicholas
ACCOUNT OF A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS
From the Troy (N.Y.) Sentinel, Dec. 23, 1823, p. 3.
This introduction was probably written by the editor of the Troy Sentinel, Orville L. Holley, according to Clifton Fadiman.—JBH
We know not to whom we are indebted for the following description of that unwearied patron of children—that homely, but delightful it personification of parental kindness—Sante Claus, his costume and his equipage, as he goes about visiting the fire-sides of this happy land, laden with Christmas bounties; but, from whomsoever it may have come, we give thanks for it. There is, to our apprehension, a spirit of cordial goodness in it, a playfulness of fancy, and a benevolent alacrity to enter into the feelings and promote the simple pleasures of children, which are altogether charming. We hope our little patrons, both lads and lasses, will accept it as proof of our unfeigned good will toward them —as a token of our warmest wish that they may have many a merry Christmas; that they may long retain their beautiful relish for those unbought, homebred joys, which derive their flavor from filial piety and fraternal love, and which they may be assured are the least alloyed that time can furnish them; and that they may never part with that simplicity of character, which is their own fairest ornament, and for the sake of which they have been pronounced, by authority which none can gainsay, the types of such as shall inherit the kingdom of heaven.
For the Sentinel.
ACCOUNT OF A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS.
’Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro’ 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 danc’d in their heads,
And Mama 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 sprung 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 rein-deer,
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 call’d them by name:
"Now! Dasher, now! Dancer, now! Prancer, and Vixen,
"On! Comet, on! Cupid, on! Dunder and Blixem; [sic]
"To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
"Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves 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 dress’d all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnish’d with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys was flung on his back,
And he look’d 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 laugh’d, like a bowl full of jelly:
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laugh’d 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 fill’d all the stockings; then turn’d with a jirk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.
He sprung 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.—
A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS
by Clement C. Moore, LL.D.
With Original Cuts,
DESIGNED AND ENGRAVED by [Theodore C.] Boyd,
New York:
Henery Onderdonck,
10 John-street.
[1848].
Title Page
Verso
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1847, by Wm. H. Onderdonk, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New. York.
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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; |
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When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, |
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"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! |
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As I drew in my head, and was turning around, |
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The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, |
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And laying his finger aside of his nose, |
“HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT”
A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS
PARALLEL TEXTS
This is a parallel presentation of the three texts of the poem A Visit from St. Nicholas. It will be seen that aside from minor punctuation and spelling differences, the texts are exactly the same. The one place where there is any real difference is the names of the last two reindeer.—JBH.
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NEWSPAPER [1823] |
BOOK [1848] |
MANUSCRIPT [1862] |
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’Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro’ the house, |
TWAS the night before Christmas, when all through the house |
’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house |
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Not a creature seas stirring, not even a mouse; |
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; |
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; |
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The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, |
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, |
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, |
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In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; |
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; |
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; |
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The children were nestled all snug in their beds, |
The children were nestled all snug in their beds, |
The children were nestled all snug in their beds; |
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While visions of sugar plums danc’d in their heads, |
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads; |
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads; |
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And Mama in her ’kerchief, and I in my cap, |
And Mamma in her ’kerchief, and I in my cap, |
And mamma in her ’kerchief, and I in my cap, |
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Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap— |
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap; |
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap; |
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When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, |
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, |
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, |
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I sprung from the bed to see what was the matter, |
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. |
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. |
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Away to the window I flew like a flash, |
Away to the window I flew like a flash, |
Away to the window I flew like a flash, |
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Tore open the shutters, and threw up the sash. |
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. |
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. |
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The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow, |
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow, |
The moon, on the breast of the new-fallen snow, |
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Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below; |
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below, |
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below, |
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When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, |
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, |
When what to my wondering eyes should appear, |
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But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny rein-deer, |
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny rein-deer, |
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny rein-deer, |
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With a little old driver, so lively and quick, |
With a little old driver, so lively and quick, |
With a little old driver, so lively and quick, |
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I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. |
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. |
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. |
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More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, |
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, |
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, |
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And he whistled, and shouted, and call’d them by name: |
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name; |
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name; |
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"Now! Dasher, now! Dancer, now! Prancer, and Vixen, |
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen |
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! |
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"On! Comet, on! Cupid, on! Dunder and Blixem; |
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen! |
On Comet! on, Cupid! on Donder and Blitzen! |
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"To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! |
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! |
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! |
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"Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!" |
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!" |
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!" |
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As dry leaves before the wild hurricane fly, |
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, |
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, |
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When they-meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky; |
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky; |
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky; |
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So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, |
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, |
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, |
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With the sleigh full of Toys—and St. Nicholas too: |
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too. |
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too. |
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And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof |
And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof, |
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof |
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The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. |
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof— |
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof— |
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As I drew in my head, and was turning around, |
As I drew in my head, and was turning around, |
As I drew in my head, and was turning around, |
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Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound: |
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound |
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. |
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He was dress’d all in fur, from his head to his foot, |
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, |
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, |
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And his clothes were all tarnish’d with ashes and soot; |
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; |
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; |
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A bundle of toys was flung on his back, |
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back, |
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back, |
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And he look’d like a peddler just opening his pack: |
And he looked like a pedlar just opening his pack. |
And he look’d like a pedlar just opening his pack. |
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His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry, |
His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry! |
His eyes—how they twinkled! His dimples how merry! |
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His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry; |
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! |
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! |
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His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, |
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, |
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow |
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And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow; |
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow; |
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow; |
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The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, |
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, |
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, |
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And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. |
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath; |
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath; |
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He had a broad face, and a little round belly |
He had a broad face and a little round belly, |
He had a broad face and a little round belly |
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That shook when he laugh’d, like a bowl full of jelly: |
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly. |
That shook, when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly. |
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He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, |
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, |
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf. |
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And I laugh’d when I saw him in spite of myself; |
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself, |
And I laughed, when I saw him, in spite of myself; |
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A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, |
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, |
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, |
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Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. |
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread; |
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread; |
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He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, |
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, |
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, |
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And fill’d all the stockings; then turn’d with a jirk, |
And fill’d all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, |
And fill’d all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, |
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And laying his finger aside of his nose |
And laying his finger aside of his nose, |
And laying his finger aside of his nose, |
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And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. |
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose; |
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose; |
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He sprung to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, |
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, |
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, |
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And away they all flew like the down of a thistle: |
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. |
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. |
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But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight |
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, |
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, |
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Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.— |
“HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT” |
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night." |
A Visit From St. Nicholas. 1823. Hermetic Cloud, https://hermeticcloud.com/library/moore-a-visit-from-st-nicholas/. Public-domain text reproduced in full; markup only.
A Visit from St. Nicholas, from a manuscript copy written by Clement C. Moore in 1862. Typed by John Bruno Hare, 2007. Public domain text.