_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 of a thistle._ _But I heard him exclaim ere he drove out of sight—_ “_HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL_ _AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!_” [Illustration: (St. Nicholas at the fireplace)] ⸿_Designed by Bruce Rogers and printed by William Edwin Rudge, Mount Vernon, N. Y. The text is that of the original (1837) edition. The woodcuts are by Florence Wyman Ivins._ [Illustration: (Original back cover)]