'Twas the night before $#*@!~g Christmas, when all through the $#*@!~g house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a $#*@!~g mouse;
The $#*@!~g stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that $#*@!~g St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their $#*@!~g beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their $#*@!~g heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my $#*@!~g cap,
Had just settled down for a $#*@!~g long winter's nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the $#*@!~g bed to see what was the $#*@!~g matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the $#*@!~g sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to $#*@!~g objects below,
When, what to my wondering $#*@!~g eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight $#*@!~g tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a $#*@!~g moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than $#*@!~g eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and $#*@!~g Vixen!
On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and $#*@!~g Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! $#*@!~g dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild $#*@!~g hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the $#*@!~g sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of $#*@!~g toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little $#*@!~g hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas $#*@!~g came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his $#*@!~g foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with $#*@!~g ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his $#*@!~g pack.
His eyes -- how they twinkled! his $#*@!~g dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a $#*@!~g cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the $#*@!~g snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his $#*@!~g teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a $#*@!~g wreath;
He had a broad $#*@!~g face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a $#*@!~g bowlful of jelly.
He was $#*@!~g chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of my $#*@!~g self;
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 $#*@!~g work,
And filled all the $#*@!~g stockings; then turned with a $#*@!~g jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his $#*@!~g nose,
And giving a nod, up the $#*@!~g chimney he rose;
He sprang to his $#*@!~g sleigh, to his team gave a $#*@!~g whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy $#*@!~g Christmas to all, and to all a good-$#*@!~g-night."