| --- | old.txt | Tuesday, December 23, 1823 @ 00:00:00 |
| +++ | new.txt | Sunday, Smarch 24, 19?? @ 00:00:00 |
The Night before Christmas
A Visit from Saint Nicholas
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through thro' the house
not house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
in In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
while While visions of sugar plums danced danc'd in their heads.
heads,
And Mama in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
had Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap.
nap-
When out on the roof lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
tore Tore open the shutter, shutters, and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
gave new fallen snow,
Gave the lustre of midday mid-day to objects below,
when, below;
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but But a miniature sleigh minature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.
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, eagles his coursers they came,
and And he whistled whistled, and shouted shouted, and called call'd them by name:
"Now Dasher! Now Dancer!
Now, Prancer "Now! Dasher, now! Dancer, now! Prancer, and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid!
On, Donner Vixen,
"On! Comet, on! Cupid, on! Dunder and Blitzen!
To Blixem;
"To the top of the porch!
To to the top of the wall!
Now "Now dash away! Dash dash away!
Dash dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
when When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky
so sky;
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
with With the sleigh full of toys, Toys - and St. Nicholas too.
too:
And then, then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
the The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head head, and was turning around,
down Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
bound:
He was dressed dress'd all in fur, from his head to his foot,
and And his clothes were all tarnished tarnish'd with ashes and soot.
soot;
A bundle of toys he had was flung on his back,
and And he looked look'd like a peddler just opening his pack.
pack:
His eyes--how eyes - how they twinkled! His dimples, his dimples how merry!
merry,
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
cherry;
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
and And the beard on of his chin was as white as the snow.
snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
and And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face face, and a little round belly,
that belly
That shook when he laughed, laugh'd, like a bowl full of jelly.
jelly:
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
and And I laughed laugh'd when I saw him, him in spite of myself.
myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
soon Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
and filled And fill'd all the stockings, stockings; then turned turn'd with a jerk.
jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
and nose
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.
He sprang sprung to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew flew, like the down of a thistle.
thistle:
But I heard him exclaim, 'ere ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy sight-
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!" night.