The Night Before Christmas

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  "source_title": "The Night Before Christmas",
  "tts_title": "The Night Before Christmas",
  "title": "The Night Before Christmas",
  "slug": "the-night-before-christmas",
  "url": "https://fairytalez.com/the-night-before-christmas/",
  "collection": "Clement C. Moore",
  "published_date": "December 22, 2015",
  "regions": [
    "North American"
  ],
  "reading_level": "Easy",
  "read_time": null,
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  "body": [
    "Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house,",
    "Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.",
    "The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,",
    "In the hope 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;",
    "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 new-fallen snow",
    "Gave the lustre of midday 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! Now, Vixen!",
    "On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Dunder and Blixen!",
    "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 tiny 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 pedlar 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 in a bow,",
    "And the beard on 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 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,",
    "“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight!”",
    "{Note: You can read an illustrated version of this story, plus other Christmas fairy tales, in our collection Christmas Tales: The Night Before Christmas and 21 Other Illustrated Christmas Stories , now available for Amazon Kindle and in paperbakc}",
    "🎧 Want to hear this story?"
  ],
  "body_text": "Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house,\n\nNot a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.\n\nThe stockings were hung by the chimney with care,\n\nIn the hope that St. Nicholas soon would be there.\n\nThe children were nestled all snug in their beds,\n\nWhile visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.\n\nAnd mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap,\n\nHad just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap;\n\nWhen out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,\n\nI sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.\n\nAway to the window I flew like a flash,\n\nTore open the shutters and threw up the sash.\n\nThe moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow\n\nGave the lustre of midday to objects below—\n\nWhen what to my wondering eyes should appear\n\nBut a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.\n\nWith a little old driver so lively and quick,\n\nI knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.\n\nMore rapid than eagles his coursers they came,\n\nAnd he whistled and shouted and called them by name—\n\n“Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer! Now, Vixen!\n\nOn, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Dunder and Blixen!\n\nTo the top of the porch, to the top of the wall!\n\nNow, dash away! Dash away! Dash away! All!”\n\nAs dry leaves before the wild hurricane fly,\n\nWhen they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,\n\nSo up to the house-top the coursers they flew\n\nWith the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas, too.\n\nAnd then in a twinkling I heard on the roof\n\nThe prancing and pawing of each tiny hoof.\n\nAs I drew in my head, and was turning around,\n\nDown the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.\n\nHe was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot,\n\nAnd his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;\n\nA bundle of toys he had flung on his back,\n\nAnd he looked like a pedlar just opening his pack.\n\nHis eyes—how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry!\n\nHis cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry;\n\nHis droll little mouth was drawn up in a bow,\n\nAnd the beard on his chin was as white as the snow.\n\nThe stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,\n\nAnd the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath.\n\nHe was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,\n\nAnd I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.\n\nA wink of his eye, and a twist of his head,\n\nSoon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.\n\nHe spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,\n\nAnd filled all the stockings—then turned with a jerk,\n\nAnd laying his finger aside of his nose,\n\nAnd giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.\n\nHe sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,\n\nAnd away they all flew, like the down of a thistle;\n\nBut I heard him exclaim ere he drove out of sight,\n\n“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight!”\n\n{Note: You can read an illustrated version of this story, plus other Christmas fairy tales, in our collection Christmas Tales: The Night Before Christmas and 21 Other Illustrated Christmas Stories , now available for Amazon Kindle and in paperbakc}\n\n🎧 Want to hear this story?",
  "clean_body": [
    "Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house,",
    "Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.",
    "The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,",
    "In the hope 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;",
    "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 new-fallen snow",
    "Gave the lustre of midday 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! Now, Vixen!",
    "On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Dunder and Blixen!",
    "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 tiny 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 pedlar 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 in a bow,",
    "And the beard on 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 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,",
    "\"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight!\"",
    "Note: You can read an illustrated version of this story, plus other Christmas fairy tales, in our collection Christmas Tales: The Night Before Christmas and 21 Other Illustrated Christmas Stories , now available for Amazon Kindle and in paperbakc"
  ],
  "clean_text": "Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house,\n\nNot a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.\n\nThe stockings were hung by the chimney with care,\n\nIn the hope that St. Nicholas soon would be there.\n\nThe children were nestled all snug in their beds,\n\nWhile visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.\n\nAnd mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap,\n\nHad just settled our brains for a long winter's nap;\n\nWhen out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,\n\nI sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.\n\nAway to the window I flew like a flash,\n\nTore open the shutters and threw up the sash.\n\nThe moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow\n\nGave the lustre of midday to objects below -\n\nWhen what to my wondering eyes should appear\n\nBut a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.\n\nWith a little old driver so lively and quick,\n\nI knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.\n\nMore rapid than eagles his coursers they came,\n\nAnd he whistled and shouted and called them by name -\n\n\"Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer! Now, Vixen!\n\nOn, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Dunder and Blixen!\n\nTo the top of the porch, to the top of the wall!\n\nNow, dash away! Dash away! Dash away! All!\"\n\nAs dry leaves before the wild hurricane fly,\n\nWhen they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,\n\nSo up to the house-top the coursers they flew\n\nWith the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas, too.\n\nAnd then in a twinkling I heard on the roof\n\nThe prancing and pawing of each tiny hoof.\n\nAs I drew in my head, and was turning around,\n\nDown the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.\n\nHe was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot,\n\nAnd his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;\n\nA bundle of toys he had flung on his back,\n\nAnd he looked like a pedlar just opening his pack.\n\nHis eyes - how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry!\n\nHis cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry;\n\nHis droll little mouth was drawn up in a bow,\n\nAnd the beard on his chin was as white as the snow.\n\nThe stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,\n\nAnd the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath.\n\nHe was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,\n\nAnd I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.\n\nA wink of his eye, and a twist of his head,\n\nSoon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.\n\nHe spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,\n\nAnd filled all the stockings - then turned with a jerk,\n\nAnd laying his finger aside of his nose,\n\nAnd giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.\n\nHe sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,\n\nAnd away they all flew, like the down of a thistle;\n\nBut I heard him exclaim ere he drove out of sight,\n\n\"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight!\"\n\nNote: You can read an illustrated version of this story, plus other Christmas fairy tales, in our collection Christmas Tales: The Night Before Christmas and 21 Other Illustrated Christmas Stories , now available for Amazon Kindle and in paperbakc",
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    "Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house,",
    "Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.",
    "The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,",
    "In the hope 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;",
    "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 new-fallen snow",
    "Gave the lustre of midday 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! Now, Vixen!",
    "On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Dunder and Blixen!",
    "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 tiny 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 pedlar 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 in a bow,",
    "And the beard on 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 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,",
    "\"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight!\"",
    "Note: You can read an illustrated version of this story, plus other Christmas fairy tales, in our collection Christmas Tales: The Night Before Christmas and 21 Other Illustrated Christmas Stories , now available for Amazon Kindle and in paperbakc"
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