Saturday, December 01, 2007

A Visit from St. Nicholas

A Visit from St. Nicholas

A Visit from St. Nicholas
A Visit from St. Nicholas By Clement Clarke Moore, Illustrated by Florence Wyman Ivins (1881-1948). Published 1921 Atlantic Monthly Press (first published in 1823)

These images (or other media files) are in the public domain because their copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1923 are now in the public domain In the United States,

These inages however may not be in the public domain in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris), in this case 1948, and that most commonly runs for a period of 50 to 70 years from that date. If your use will be outside the United States please check your local law.

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 St. Nicholas soon would be there- The children were nestled all snug in their beds While visions of sugar-plums danced through their heads; And Mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, fáadjust settled our brains for a long winter's nap, 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 the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow.

Gave a lustre of midday to objects below. When what to my wondering еyes 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 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, Donder and Blixen! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away, all!" As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly', When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky So up to the housetop the coursers they flew , With the sleigh full of toys , and St. 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 be had flung on his back, A nd he looked like a pedler 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 encircled 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. fíe 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, 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."

Designed by Bruce Rogers and printed by William Edwin Rudge, Mount Vernon, N. T. 'the text is that of the original (1837) edition, woodcuts are by Florence Wyman Ivins.

You may download a Public Domain copy of A Visit from St. Nicholas complete with all illustrations in PDF format here A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore

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