The Night Before Christmas - Illustrated and narrated children story
текст песни

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature(создание) was stirring(stir - шелохнуться), not even a mouse.
The stockings(чулки) were hung by the chimney(дымоход) with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled(прижаться) all snug (уютно) in their beds,
While visions(видение) of sugar-plums(слива) danced in their heads.
And mamma in her kerchief(косынка), and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap(дремать).

When out on the lawn(газон) there arose such a clatter(стук),
I sprang(соскочил) from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore(сорвать) open the shutters and threw up the sash(рама, свотрка).

The moon on the breast(грудь) of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre(лоск, блеск) of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh(санки), and eight tiny reindeer(олень).

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(скакуны) they came,
And he whistled(свистеть), and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch(крыльцо, веранда)! to the top of the wall!
Now dash(рывок) away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane(ураган) fly,
When they meet with an obstacle(препятствие, помеха), mount(восходить, взобраться, крепление) 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(мерцание, мгновение), I heard on the roof
The prancing(гарцевать, скакать) and pawing(лапать) of each little hoof(копыто).
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound(граница, предел).

He was dressed all in fur(мех), from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished(тусклый) with ashes and soot(сажа).
A bundle(связка) of Toys he had flung(fling - швырять) on his back,
And he looked like a peddler(разносчик), just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled(мерцали)! his dimples(ямочки) how merry!
His cheeks(щека) were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll(забавный) little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin(подбородок) 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 bowlful 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,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!