The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-12-14

A very beautiful and unexpected thing
once happened to a man. The thing he
wanted was that he might give TO the
world the best that he knew, something
TO help the store of knowledge of the
world, something to make the way he had
come with difficulty easier for those who
We're coming after him, something to
make his name stand for what he cared
most for. And he worked hard for II, and
long and theoretically, and he got what
he wanted. but with difference.
his name was Clement Clarke Moore,
and he was a student-indeed, scholar,
ana a professor OF Oriental languages.
And he wrote a book which few men
could have written. a Hebrew dictionary.
And il was this book which he thought
would be the best of himself. that which
would live on after he had died, to help
the world and to make it easier for some
one else. But he was not only a scholar
he was a very human man who loved
children and who had children of his own.
He made verses for these children. some
times to amuse them and give them little
dashes of happiness.
One day Tor was it near evening, when
the open fire was blazing brighter than
usual in the living room because the feel
ing OF holidays near at hand was in the
logsD he wrote a very special one-a
Christmas poem should be full of. Here
it is, set forth in all its dearness, not be-
cause any child in the country doesn't
know 1t by heart, but because 1t is very
good to see, once in a while, in all its
entirety before our very eyes, which are
tired OF looking at unimportant things:
"Thc Night Before Christnas."
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through
the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; 4.
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 sugarplums dAnced through their
heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief. and in my cap.
Had just settled brains for long winters nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such CHATTER,
/ sprang from my bed to what was the matter.
Away to the window / few like fash.
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the neTfallen snow,
Gave a luster of midday to objects below;
When what TO my wondering eyes should appear
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, lively and quick,
l knew in q moment il must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he Thistled, and shouted, and called them BY
name:
Now. Dasherl now. Dancer! now. Prancsr! now,
Vixen!
On Cometl on. Cupid on. Donder and Blitzen!-
To the top Of the porch, to the top Of the wall!
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they Meet with obstacle. mount to the
sky,
So. up to the housetops the coursers they few.
With the sleigh fun Of toys. and st. Nicholas too.
And then in twnkling heard on the roof
The prancing and paving Of each little hOof.
As I drew in my head, and turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He dressd all IN fur from his head to his feet.
And his clothes were all tamishd with ashes and
SCOT;
A Of +oVa h. bsd d,,,, o,
And he looked like peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes how they twinkled! his dimpes how
merry!
His cheeks like roses his nose like q cherry,
His droH little mouth drawn up like a bow,
And the beard on his chin white the
snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth.
And the smoke, it encircled his mead like wreath.
He had a broad face and little round belly
That shook. when he laughed, like a bowl full Of
Jelly.
He was chubby and Plump-a right jolly old elf
And laughed when saw him. in spite of myself.
wink Of his eye and a twist Of his head.