When all by the hearth,
Not a creature was dressed -- not even a scarf.
We sat in our stockings, heads hung in despair.
For St. Nick was coming, and what would we wear?
The children were longing to nestle in bed,
My parents -- so tired they were bobbing their heads.
And I in my kerchief, and Joe in his cap,
Drew close to the fire -- all too cold to nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I urged Joe to find out what was the matter.
Away to the window he spun like a globe,
Tore open the sash and threw on a robe.
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 fleece from his head to his toe,
Pajamas covered with polar bears in the snow.
A bundle of jammies he had flung on his back,
And he looked like the Sandman just opening his pack.
He was sleepy and plump, a right dreamy old elf,
And I yawned when I saw him, in spite of myself.
A wink of his eye, and a pat of his breast
Then gave me to know I would soon get to rest.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And dressed us in PJs, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his head,
And giving a nod, he sent us to bed.
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 linked to this site,
"Order here for next Christmas; now you'll find them half-price!"
