(As read by Cassie and Adeline)
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
What? Where?
No where, there's no mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
Where are the stockings?
Right there.
Oh.
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds.
Are those the kids?
Yes.
Is that the mommy and daddy?
No, those are more kids.
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
Who is that?
That's the baby.
And Mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap;
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bad to see what was the matter.
What's the matter?
Nothing, he just heard a noise.
Where?
Outside his window.
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 the luster of midday to objects below.
Where?
Right there. On the lawn.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.
What are those?
Those are the reindeer.
What's on them?
That's their fur.
What's that?
Santa's sleigh.
What?
Santa's sleigh.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, and he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name: "No, Dasher! Now Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen! On Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen!"
Where's Blitzen?
Right there.
That one?
Yes.
To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall! Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle...
Where?
There. The house is the obstacle.
....mount 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, 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.
Where's St. Nicholas?
There, in the red suit.
That's St. Nicholas?
Yes.
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 flung on his back, and he looked like a pedlar just opening his pack.
What are those?
Fairies.
What are they doing?
Helping Santa, like elves.
What are those?
The toys.
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.
Who is THAT?
Santa.
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.
Who is that?
The dad.
He was chubby...
Right there?
Yes.
...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;
Where?
Up the chimney.
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."
What is that?
A twisty tree.
I wanna read another book......
