[0:00] [music]
[0:07] [music]
[0:10] It was the night before Christmas when
all through the house, not a creature
[0:13] was stirring, not even a mouse.
>> The stockings were hung by the chimney
[0:17] with care in hopes that St. Nicholas
soon would be there.
[0:20] » The children were nestled all snug in
their beds [music] while visions of
[0:24] sugar plums danced in their heads. And
mama and her kchief and I in my cap had
[0:31] just settled down [music] for a long
winter's nap.
[0:35] » When out on the lawn there arose such a
clatter, I sprang from my bed to see
[0:39] what was the matter.
>> Away to the window I flew like a flash,
[0:44] tore open the shutters and threw up
[music] the sash.
[0:47] » The moon on the breast of the new fallen
snow gave the luster of midday to
[0:53] objects below.
When, what, to my wondering eyes should
[0:59] appear but a miniature sleigh and a tiny
reindeer.
[1:03] » With a little old driver so lively and
quick, I knew in a moment it [music]
[1:08] must be Saint Nick. More rapid than
eagles his courses they came. And he
[1:14] whistled and shouted and called them by
name. Now Dasher, now Dancer, now
[1:20] Prrenon [music] and Vixen. on comet, on
cubit, on Donner and Blitzen.
[1:26] » To the top of the porch, to the top of
the wall. Now dash away, dash away, dash
[1:30] away all as dry [music] leaves that
before the wild hurricane fly. When they
[1:36] meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the housetop, the courses they
[1:42] flew, with the sleigh [music] full of
toys, and St. Nicholas, too.
[1:45] » And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the
roof the [music] prancing and pawing of
[1:49] each little hoof. As I drew in my head
and was turning around down the chimney,
[1:54] St. Nicholas [music] came with a bound.
He was dressed in all fur from his head
[1:58] to his foot, and his clothes were all
tarnished [music] with ashes and stood.
[2:02] A bundle of toys he had flung on his
back, and he looked like a peddler just
[2:08] opening his pack. His eyes, how they
twinkled, [music] his dimples, how
[2:15] merry. His cheeks were like roses, his
nose like a cherry. His droll little
[2:21] mouth was drawn up like a bow, and the
beard on his chin was as white as the
[2:26] snow.
>> The stump of a pipe he held tight in his
[2:30] teeth, and the smoke in his circle, his
head like a wreath. He had a broad face
[2:35] and a little round belly that shook when
he laughed like a bowl full of jelly.
[2:40] [music] He was a chubby and plump, a
right jolly old elf, [music] and I
[2:46] laughed when I saw him in spite of
myself. A wink of his eye, and a twist
[2:51] of his head, soon gave me to know I had
nothing to dread.
[2:55] » He spoke not a word, but went straight
to his work, and filled all the
[2:58] stockings, then turned with a jerk.
>> And laying his finger aside of his nose,
[3:04] and giving a nod, up the chimney he
rose. He sprang to his sleigh and to his
[3:08] team gave a whistle and away they all
flew like the down of a thistle.
[3:12] » But I heard him exclaim here. He drove
out of sight, "Merry Christmas to all
[3:16] and to all a good night." Merry
Christmas from your family here at West
[3:21] Colombia and happy new year.