’S waar die Nacht for de Chrischdaag und dorch es gans Haus

Verreegt sich ke’ Thierli, net emal en Maus;

Die Schtrump waar schnock im Schornschte gehanke,

In der Hoffning der “Nick” dheet graad runner dschumpe;

Die Kinner so schmock waare all scho im Bett,

Von Zuckerschleck draame un was mer, doch, wott;

Die Mamme in Schnupduch un ich in der Kapp,

Hen uns juscht hi geleegt for ‘n lang Winter’s Nap.

Dan draus, in ‘m Hoof waar so n’ dunnerse Yacht,

Das ich ufg’schprunge bin zu sehne war’s macht.

An’s Fenschter graad schpring ich so schnell wie’n Flasch.

Die Lade ufg’risse, ufg’schmisse die Sasch!

Der Moond uf der Bruscht dem neug’fallne Schnee

Macht Helling wie Mittag uwwer alles, so scho,

Im e’Aaageblick kummt, yetz, un rund wie e’Kersch

E’Fuhrmann im Schlidde un acht kleene Hersch.

E’Mannli in Pelze, so freundlich un frei

‘Hab graadeweck g’wusst’s muss der Pelznickel sei!

Wie Aadler, so schnell, sin die Herschlin zusamme,

Un er peift un’r ruuft, un’r nennt sie mit Namme:

Yetz Dascher! Yetz Danzer! Yetz Pranzer! Yetz Vixen!

Un Komet! Un Kupid! Un Dunder! Un Blitzen!”

An der Porch isch er nuff, um die Mauer gefalle

Yetz schpringt e’weck! Schpringt e’weck! Schpringt e’weck alle!”

Wie laab for’m e Windschtorm der wildscht das mir seht,

Wann ebbes im Weeg isch uns himmelwerts geht,

Zum Hausgiwwel nuf sin die Herschlin wie g’floge,

Mit in Schlidli foll Schun, der “Nick” mit gezoge;

Im e’Aageblick horscht uf’m Dach owwedrowe

En Gescheer un Gedanz wie mit hol’zene Glowwe.

Mei Kop zieg ich nei, guk um mich im Haus

Un im Schornschte, do kummt’r wahrhafting schun raus!

Mit Peltze ferwickelt fon Kop biz zum Fuus,

Un alles ferschnuttelt mit Aesche un Ruus!

Uf’m Buckel en Bundel foll allerhand G’chpeil

‘S hat geguckt wie’m Kremer sei Kramm-artlig fiel.

Sei Maul, wie’n Kersch, un sei Dimple die lache

Sei Aage, die blinzle, und wie Rosa sei Backe.

Gans rund war sei Mauli un roth wie der Klee.

Un’s Schnurbardli weiss wie woll, oder Schnee.

En schtumpiges Peifli, fescht zwische de Zeh.

Un der schmook schteigt in Ringlin so scho in die Hoh.

Sei G’sichth so breed, un sei Bauchli e’bissel

Uverm Lache hot g’shittelt wie Dschelly in der Schissel.

So dick un so rund war des lushtige Elfge,

Muss lache, graad aus kan’s gaar net helfe

Sei Kopli waar eifrig un schwatzig mit Nucken

Sei Aage, gaar freundlich mit Blinzele un Blicken;

Die Schtrump hot’r g’fill’t, un mit frolichem Braus,

Da schpringt inschtandig, den Schornschte hinaus;

Er schpringt uf sei Schlidde, zu der Fuhr peift en Piffel,

Dann fliege sie fort wie Dunn fon der Dischtel:

Doch eb’er gans fort waar, sei Gruss hat er g’macht

“En herrliche Chrischdaag! Un zu alle, Guut Nacht!”

’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 Saint Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums 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 lawn 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 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, 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, Donner and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall!

Now, dash away, dash away, dash 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 coursers they flew,

With a sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas, too.

And then in a twinkle, 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 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!

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 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 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 on a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight,

“Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night.”

Samuel Clement Moore

Pa. Dutch translation by Mary Bittner Henry