The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-12-22


Twentieth and Twenty-First streets.
This tract, then valuable, would now
be d princely gift, and upon a part of
1t stand the imposing buildings of the
General Theological seminary, one of
the most important institutions of the
Episcopal church in America.
The home of DR.. Moore was a stately
mansion Of the older style, on the
South side of Twenty-third street
abcut two hundred feet west of Ninth
avenue. In 1921 he became professor
of oriental and Greek literature and
retained this position during his life
The brief intervals of time which
could be spared from his arduous Ia
bors, were devoted to writing cbor+
poems. chiefly for the diversions Of
MS children, and showing that domes-
VIC atectlon was one Of the PRINCIPAL
characteristics of his nature. And
among these was his famous seyisit of
Sr Nicholas
Twas the night before Christmas ,,.,,.,
all through the house " iieii
MOI creature was stirring, not even a
The stockings were hung nv the cli,,,,o,.
with care
In hopes that st. Nicholas soon would be
The children were nestled all snuc, ~, +,,.,,.
beds. - oIiSlr
While, visions of sugar pluns danced in
Their heads; -
And mamma in her 'kerchief. and in
Had Just Settled our brains for a long
winters nap;
When out on the lawn there arose such
a clatter
] sprang from the bed to see what was
Away to the window flew like a flash.
Tore open the shutters and threw up the
nh
fallen snow,
Gave the lustre OF midday to objects be-
When. what to my wondering eyes should
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny
with little old driver 50 lively and
I knew in moment it must be st Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they
And he whistled and shouted and called
them by name
Now. Dasher! now. Dancer! now. Pr-an-
Ger and NiXeni
On. Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and
To the top of the porch! to the top of the
Now dash away! dash away! dash away
As dry leaves that before the wild hur-
ricane fly
When ti1ey meet with an obstacle, mount |
TO the sky,
So up to the house tops the coursers they
With the sleigh full of toys. and st.
And then, in twinlzling, heard ON the
The prancing and paving of each little
AS 1 drew in my head and was turning
Down the Chimney St. Nicholas came with
He was dressed all in fur from his head !
to his foot,
And his clothes We're all furnished with
4 bundle of toys he had flung on his back.
And ne looked like peddler just opening |
his pack.
His eyeS-how they tWlnkled- His dim |
ples-how merry!
His cheeks were like roses his nose like
a cherry,
His droll little mouth was drawn UP Like
And the beard of his chin was as white
The stump Of pipe he held tight in his
And the smoke of it encircled his head
like wreath;
He had broad face ana little round
That Shook, when he laughed. like a bowl
full of Jelly.
He was chubby and plump. right jolly
And / laughed, when 1 saw him. in spite
of myself;
A wink of his eye and a. twist of his head |
Soon gave me to know, had nothing to
dread;
He spoke not word, but went straight
And iilled all the stockings; then turned
with jerk,
And laying his finger aside on his nose.
And giving 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 heard him exclaim, ere he drove
out Of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a
-cIf ZEN EMF; c. MOORE, 1892, March
18th, originally written many years ago.
In 1863 DR.. George H. Moore, of the
New York Historical society, resolved
to obtain, IL possible, from its modest
author. an autograph copy and his
success is shown by the following let
ter:
New York, March Is, 1863
Dear SRI have the pleasure to in
form you chat DR.. Clement c. Moore
has been so kind as to comply with my
request made at your suggestion) to
furnish for the archives of our society
az autograph copy of his justly cele-
brated Visit of st. Nicholas 1 now
enclose it to you. I need hardly call
your attention TO the distinctness and
Ieauty Of mis- handwriting, very re-