As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, If 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 twinkling I heard on the roof The pawing and prancing 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 looks like a peddler just opening his SACS. His eyes - how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!