As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, 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.

T'was the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

He had a broad face and a little round belly, that shook, when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, and the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.