Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
in hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads.
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 sleigh full of toys
And Saint 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 circled
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.
And mama 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 rose 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 a luster 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! Dunder and Blitzen, to the top of the porch,
to the top of the wall,
Now, dash away, dash away, dash away all!"
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 spring to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew, like the down of the thistle.
But I heard him exclaim ere he drove out of sight,
"MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!"
This traditional story was taken from a 1896 linen book, The Night before Christmas.
The little blonde lass decorating the tree is a doll I created last year, it's about 14" tall
and has all porcelain parts.
She has french glass paper weight eyes and her pale blonde wig was made from mohair.
I found her rose bud print vintage night gown at a doll show and it fit her perfectly!
The Christmas tree is decorated in antique garlands, vintage brooches, earrings and lockets.
The tiny little nutcracker ballerinas, I made using Sculpey poly clay and old scraps of fabrics.
And I will give a tutorial on how to create some of your very own after the Holidays.
Don't worry we will go step by step and you will see it's not very hard at all!
Last but not least sitting beneath the tree are antique toys from my collection, I'm especially fond of the multi color
celluloid swan and the frozen Charlotte in her cotton eyelet dress!
