Dashes of American Humor

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Garrett & Company, 1853 - American wit and humor - 306 pages
 

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Page 170 - 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 had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
Page 169 - Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse ; 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 sugar-plums danced in their heads...
Page 169 - Gave a lustre 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, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick! More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled and shouted and called them by name: "Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now dash away! dash away! dash away,...
Page 213 - THE Sea, the sea, the open sea, The blue, the fresh, the ever free : Without a mark, without a bound, It runneth the earth's wide regions round : It plays with the clouds, it mocks the skies, Or like a cradled creature lies.
Page 169 - 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 coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of Toys, and St.
Page 170 - As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot...
Page 169 - Nick ; More rapid than eagles his coursers they came And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name. "Now, Dasher, now Dancer! now Prancer and Vixen! On Comet! on Cupid! on Donder and Blitzen! To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall ; Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!
Page 169 - Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below, When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer, With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and...
Page 170 - That shook, when he laughed, like a bowl full 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 a finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.
Page 169 - The story goes that he never misses one, providing it belongs to a deserving youngster, and morning is sure to bring no reproach that the Christmas wizard has not nobly performed his wondrous duties. We need scarcely enlighten the reader as to who the real Santa Klaus is.

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