Posted by & filed under Chimney fun.

Chimneys sweeping Santa in his workshop

 

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the town,

Not a creature was stirring, not even a hound;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that the chimney sweep soon would be there;

See The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of soot danced in their heads;

And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap,

When out on the rooftop 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 the lustre of midday to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a jolly chimney sweep, full of holiday cheer.

With a twinkle in his eye and a grin so merry,

I knew in a moment it must be our chimney sweep, Larry.

More rapid than eagles, he whistled and sang,

As he climbed up the rooftops, his sooty tools he did hang.

“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donner and Blitzen!

To the top of the chimney! to the top of the wall!

Now sweep away! sweep away! sweep away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

So up to the housetop the chimney sweep flew,

With a sack 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 sweep came with a bound.

He was dressed all in soot, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler 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 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 clean night!”

Daniel Hodgson