The Night Before Christmas Read online

  The Night Before Christmas illustrations copyright © 2007 by Becky Kelly, LLC.

  All rights reserved. Printed in China.

  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of reprints in the context of reviews.

  For information write Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC, an Andrews McMeel Universal company, 1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

  E-ISBN: 978-0-7407-8723-2

  www.beckykelly.com

  www.andrewsmcmeel.com

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  for my father, Robert L. Wilson

  Twas the night before Christmas,

  when all through 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

  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 my 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 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 and Vixen!

  On, Comet! on, Cupid! on,

  Donder and Blitzen!

  To the top of the porch!

  to the top of the wall!

  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 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 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 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 had a broad face

  and a little round belly,

  That shook when he laughed,

  like a bowl full of jelly.

  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,

  In her watercolor illustrations Becky Kelly captures the magic of her youth in West Virginia. A popular greeting card artist, Becky has won a devoted following throughout the country.

  Becky creates her watercolors in a beautiful sunlit studio, her illustrations inspired by the surrounding snowfall, silvery trees, and dark green pines laden with snow. If you look closely, you might even find a local chipmunk or bunny appearing in some of her work.

  www.beckykelly.com

 

 

  Becky Kelly, The Night Before Christmas

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