THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS T'was 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 hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads, And Ma in her kerchief and I in my cap, Had just settled down for a long winter's nap. When out in 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 shutters and threw up the sash. And what to my wondering eyes did 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 Saint Nick. More rapid than eagles his reindeer they came. He whistled and shouted and called them by name: "Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now Prancer! Now Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall Dash away, dash away, dash away all!" Up to the house-top the reindeer they flew With a sleigh full of toys and Saint Nicholas, too. And then in a twinkling I heard on the roof All the clattering noise of each galloping hoof. All bundled in fur, from his head to his foot, His clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney Saint Nicholas came with a bound. A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack. 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 good night!" THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS Poem by Clement Moore 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� T'was 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 hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads, And Ma in her kerchief and I in my cap, Had just settled down for a long winter's nap. When out in 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 shutters and threw up the sash. And what to my wondering eyes did 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 Saint Nick. More rapid than eagles his reindeer they came. He whistled and shouted and called them by name: "Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now Prancer! Now Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall Dash away, dash away, dash away all!" Up to the house-top the reindeer they flew With a sleigh full of toys and Saint Nicholas, too. And then in a twinkling I heard on the roof All the clattering noise of each galloping hoof. All bundled in fur, from his head to his foot, His clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney Saint Nicholas came with a bound. A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack. 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 good night!" Find words in the poem which have the same or similar meaning as the words underlined in the sentences below. 1. Nothing was moving in the house. ________________ 2. We were all comfortably settled in our beds. ________________ 3. There was an awful noise in the street. ________________ 4. The sled was pulled by reindeer. ________________ 5. The little boy was full of life. ________________ 6. The socks were filled with toys. ________________ 7. The coins were blackened with age. ________________ 8. The toy house was filled with tiny furniture. ________________ Find words in the poem which fit best into the blanks below. The length of words are shown in brackets ( ). 1. The windows had _______________ on them to help keep out the cold. (8) 2. The little girl gave a _______ of her head to show that she understood. (3) 3. The fire-place was filled with _________. (5) 4. An old ____________ walked along the street selling popcorn and chestnuts. (7) 5. His hand made a sudden _______ when he touched the hot frying pan. (4) THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS Poem by Clement Moore (original version) 1) T'was 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 Saint Nicholas soon would be there. 2) The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugarplums danced through their heads, And Mama in her kerchief and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap. 3) 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 shutters and threw up the sash. 4) The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow Gave a lustre of mid-day to objects below. When what to my wondering eyes did appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer; With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment he must be Saint Nick. 5) More rapid than eagles his coursers they came. 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 Dash away, dash away, dash away all!" 6) As 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 a sleigh full of toys and Saint Nicholas, too. And then in a twinkling I heard on the roof All the prancing and pawing of each little hoof. 7) As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney Saint 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. 8) 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. 9) 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 round little belly That shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly 10) 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 11) 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. 12) 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 Christmas to all and to all, good night!"