11/16/2019
Twas the night before Santa Parade, when all through downtown
Not a store was stirring, not even a cafe;
The lights were hung by the poles with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of floats danced in their heads;
and Mayor Paterson in his cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
When out on the street there arose such a clatter,
Mayor Paterson sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window he 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 his wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
He 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, DONNER and BLITZEN!
To the top of the Princess! to the top of Concession!
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 Princess Street the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, he heard on the street
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As he drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the Streets 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 he laughed when he saw him, in spite of himself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave him to know he had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And waved at all the kids; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, down the street he goes;
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 SANTA PARADE TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!
