Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-12-24
IOHN McNIAKIN,s
CHINA, GLASS, OuttNSwASE AND TOY STORE
A Visit from St. Nicholas.
ny ctAMRsr c. MOORE.

ny cLkMENT c. MOORE.
Twas the night before Christmas, when all
through the house
Not creature was stirring, not even mouse
The stockings were hung by the chimney with
care.
In hopes that St. Nicholas coon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions Of sugar pums danctd through
their heads
And Mamma in her 'kerchief, and in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for long winters
nap;
When out on the lawn there arose such clatter,
sprang from the bed TO see what was the mat
ter.
Away to the window ! flew like o flash.
Tore open the shutter and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of tue new fallen snow,
Gave the lustre Of midday to objects below,
| Whep, what TO my wondering eyes should appear,
nut miniature sleigh and eight tiny rem deer,
With little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew In a moment il must be ST. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his ooursers they came,
And he whistled and shouted, and called them
by name;
"Now, Dasdsr! now, Ddnccr' now PrdNcT :
and Fireni
On, Comet! ou, Cupid! on, Dondsr! and Biit.ea /!
10 the top Of the porch TO the top of the wall .
Now dash away dash away dash away all r.
AS dry leaves before the wild hurricane iy,
! When they meet with an 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 n twiukling, heard on the roof,
The rrancing and paving Of each little houf-
AS drew in my head, and was turning around
Down the chimney st. Nicholas came with II
hound.
lie was dressed all in fur from his head to his
foot
And his clothes were all tarhished with ashes
and scott
A bundle of toys he had iung on his back
Aud lie looked like peddlar just opening his
pack.
His eyes-how they twnllcd his dimplos how
merry
Ills cheeks were like roses, his nose like q
His lron little mouth was drawn up like bow
And the heard on his chin was as white as III,
snow;
The stump of n pipe lie held tight in his teeth
And the smoke il encirced his head like wreath
He hal a broad face and little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed, like u bowl.Tull o
Jelly,
lie was chubby and plump, a tight jolly old elr
And laughed when saw him, in spite OF my
self;
wink of his eye and twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know had nothing to dread
He spoke not word, hut went straight to hi
work,
And filed all the stockings, and turned with
jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving n nod, up the chimney be rose;
lie sPrang TO his sleigh, to his team gave {
whistle
And away they all few like the down Of
thistle
But heard him exclaim, ere he drove out o
sight,
"Mpfy Christmas to all. and 10 all a goodnjqhi!
DISTRIBUTION or BREAD.-Cheap John, will
his accustomed liberaliiy, will distribute on
thousand loavea of bread, from his store, No
ll2 King Street, on Christmas. The bread viii
be baked at the Bakery of Matthew McCully
corner OF Sixth and Spruce. Cheap John, is
whole souel fellow, On1 this generous act viii
no doubt be fully appreciated by the recipient
of his bounty.
PBEAcnEn AND PIG.-The DeldpagedH, says
-" The K4v. Thomas b. Bradford" had alaugh
tered, Inst week. hog weighing $50 pounds
This was the big pig of Dover, for this year. /
was over three years old. The yield Of lard wa
over 400 pounds.
LEeTURs FOR THE lloLIDAYs.-The Seventl
Lecture Of DR.. Bullock'a COURSE will be deliver
ed on Thursday night next at O'Clock. Th
experiments will be brilliant, the matter enter
tanning and popular we predict crowded hous
for the Doctor. Tickets 40, 90, % and / 0 cts.
A nEAuTIRUL ASSORTMENT Of Holiday Gift
still on hand at G. i. Smyths China Warehouse
302 Market street. which he will close out, q
very low8ates. Call and select.
ANOTHER LECTURE. 0restes A. BrOwnson, l.
L. d., formerly editor Of the Democratic Review
has been invited to Lecture before the Whining
ton Institute.