# Collation of "A Visit from St. Nicholas": Troy Sentinel 1823 / Hoffman 1837 / Poems 1844

Line-by-line comparison of the three witnesses in this folder, with three further witnesses in the appendices. All texts have 56 lines; line numbers are the same in every witness (no lines are added, dropped or reordered in any of them).

## Witnesses

| siglum | witness | file |
|---|---|---|
| **1823** | *Troy Sentinel*, 23 Dec. 1823, p. 3, anonymous, headed 'Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas', with Orville L. Holley's editorial preface | `visit_1823_troy_sentinel.txt` |
| **1837** | C. F. Hoffman (ed.), *The New-York Book of Poetry* (New-York: George Dearborn, 1837), pp. 217-219, 'BY CLEMENT C. MOORE.' (first attributed printing) | `visit_1837_hoffman.txt` |
| **1844** | C. C. Moore, *Poems* (New York: Bartlett & Welford, 1844), pp. 124-127 (Moore's own authorized text) | `visit_1844_poems.txt` |
| 1830 | Troy Sentinel broadside, 'N. Tuttle, Printer', c. 1830 (Appendix A) | `visit_1830_broadside.txt` |
| 1840 | W. C. Bryant (ed.), *Selections from the American Poets* (New York: Harper, 1840), pp. 285-286 (Appendix B) | scratch only |
| MS | New-York Historical Society holograph fair copy in Moore's hand (Commons: 'before 1863'); only the first page, ll. 1-24, is reproduced (Appendix C) | scratch only |

Method: the three files were compared line by line by script; every line that is not letter-for-letter identical in all three is listed below. Type: **V** = verbal variant (different word or word-form), **S** = spelling/elision only (thro'/through, danc'd/danced, jirk/jerk), **P** = punctuation, capitalization or hyphenation only. The 1823 text was proofread against the Commons scan of the newspaper, the 1837 text against the archive.org scan of Hoffman, the 1844 text against the archive.org scan of *Poems*.

## 1. Line-by-line table (42 of 56 lines differ; 8 verbal, 9 spelling-only, 25 punctuation-only)

| l. | 1823 Troy Sentinel | 1837 Hoffman | 1844 Poems | type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro' the house, | 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house | 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house | S |
| 6 | While visions of sugar plums danc'd in their heads, | While visions of sugar-plums danced through their heads; | While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads; | V+S |
| 7 | And Mama in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, | And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, | And Mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, | S |
| 8 | Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap— | Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap— | Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap; | P |
| 10 | I sprung from the bed to see what was the matter, | I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter: | I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. | V |
| 12 | Tore open the shutters, and threw up the sash. | Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. | Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. | P |
| 13 | The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow, | The moon, on the breast of the new-fallen snow, | The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow, | P |
| 14 | Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below; | Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below. | Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below, | P |
| 16 | But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny rein-deer, | But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer, | But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny rein-deer, | P |
| 20 | And he whistled, and shouted, and call'd them by name: | And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name; | And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name; | S |
| 21 | "Now! Dasher, now! Dancer, now! Prancer, and Vixen, | "Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer! now, Vixen! | "Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! | V |
| 22 | "On! Comet, on! Cupid, on! Dunder and Blixem; | On! Comet, on! Cupid, on! Donder and Blixen— | On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen! | V |
| 23 | "To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! | To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! | To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! | P |
| 24 | "Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!" | Now, dash away, dash away, dash away all!" | Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!" | P |
| 25 | As dry leaves before the wild hurricane fly, | As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, | As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, | V |
| 26 | When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky; | When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky, | When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky; | P |
| 27 | So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, | So, up to the house-top the coursers they flew, | So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, | P |
| 28 | With the sleigh full of Toys—and St. Nicholas too: | With the sleigh full of toys—and St. Nicholas too. | With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too. | P |
| 29 | And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof | And then in a twinkling I heard on the roof | And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof, | P |
| 30 | The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. | The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. | The prancing and pawing of each little hoof— | P |
| 32 | Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound: | Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. | Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. | P |
| 33 | He was dress'd all in fur, from his head to his foot, | He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, | He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, | S |
| 34 | And his clothes were all tarnish'd with ashes and soot; | And his clothes were all tarnish'd with ashes and soot; | And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; | S |
| 35 | A bundle of toys was flung on his back, | A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, | A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back, | V |
| 36 | And he look'd like a peddler just opening his pack: | And he look'd like a pedlar just opening his pack. | And he look'd like a pedlar just opening his pack. | S |
| 37 | His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry, | His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry! | His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! | P |
| 38 | His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry; | His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry; | His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! | P |
| 40 | And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow; | And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow. | And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow; | V |
| 42 | And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. | And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath. | And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath; | P |
| 43 | He had a broad face, and a little round belly | He had a broad face and a little round belly | He had a broad face and a little round belly, | P |
| 44 | That shook when he laugh'd, like a bowl full of jelly: | That shook, when he laugh'd, like a bowl full of jelly. | That shook when he laughed, like a bowlfull of jelly. | S |
| 45 | He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, | He was chubby and plump; a right jolly old elf; | He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, | P |
| 46 | And I laugh'd when I saw him in spite of myself; | And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself. | And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself, | S |
| 47 | A wink of his eye and a twist of his head | A wink of his eye, and a twist of his head, | A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, | P |
| 48 | Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. | Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. | Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread; | P |
| 50 | And fill'd all the stockings; then turn'd with a jirk, | And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jirk, | And fill'd all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, | S |
| 51 | And laying his finger aside of his nose | And laying his finger aside of his nose, | And laying his finger aside of his nose, | P |
| 52 | And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. | And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. | And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose; | P |
| 53 | He sprung to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, | He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, | He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, | V |
| 54 | And away they all flew like the down of a thistle: | And away they all flew like the down of a thistle; | And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. | P |
| 55 | But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight— | But I heard him exclaim ere he drove out of sight, | But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, | P |
| 56 | Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night. | "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!" | "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night." | P |

Lines identical in all three witnesses: 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 11, 15, 17, 18, 19, 31, 39, 41, 49.

## 2. Summary of the verbal variants (1823 → 1837 → 1844)

| l. | 1823 | 1837 | 1844 | comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | sugar plums danc'd **in** their heads | sugar-plums danced **through** their heads | sugar-plums danced **in** their heads | 1837 alone reads 'through'; 1844 returns to the 1823 reading |
| 10 | I **sprung** from the bed | I **sprang** | I **sprang** | verb form changed from 1837 on |
| 21 | "Now! Dasher, now! Dancer, now! Prancer, **and** Vixen, | "Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer! **now,** Vixen! | "Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer **and** Vixen! | 1837 adds a fourth 'now'; 1844 restores 'Prancer and Vixen' |
| 22 | on! **Dunder and Blixem**; | on! **Donder and Blixen**— | on, **Donder and Blitzen**! | the reindeer names change twice; 'Blitzen' first appears in 1844 |
| 25 | As **dry leaves before** the wild hurricane fly, | As **leaves that before** | As **dry leaves that before** | 1844 conflates both earlier readings |
| 35 | A bundle of toys **was flung** on his back, | he **had flung** | he **had flung** | changed from 1837 on |
| 40 | the beard **of** his chin | the beard **on** his chin | the beard **of** his chin | 1837 alone reads 'on' |
| 53 | He **sprung** to his sleigh | He **sprang** | He **sprang** | as l. 10 |

Spelling-level differences: l. 1 thro' → through (1837, 1844); l. 7 Mama → mamma (1837) → Mamma (1844); l. 36 peddler → pedlar (1837, 1844); l. 50 jirk (1823, 1837) → jerk (1844); l. 44 'bowl full' (1823, 1837) → 'bowlfull' (1844); elided preterites danc'd, call'd, dress'd, tarnish'd, laugh'd, fill'd, turn'd (1823) are progressively expanded (1837: called, dressed, filled, turned but tarnish'd, look'd, laugh'd; 1844: dressed, tarnished, laughed, but look'd, fill'd).

Things that do **not** vary: 'St. Nicholas' (ll. 4, 28, 32) and 'St. Nick' (l. 18) are identical in all three; the closing wish is **'Happy Christmas to all'** in every witness of the poem (1823, 1830, 1837, 1840, 1844; the holograph page ends at l. 24) — 'Merry Christmas' never occurs in the poem; the only 'merry Christmas' in the record is in Holley's 1823 editorial preface ('that they may have many a merry Christmas'). The reindeer names Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid are stable; only the seventh and eighth vary.

Punctuation habits: the 1823 newspaper prints an opening quotation mark at the start of every line of the reindeer speech (ll. 21-24) and leaves the final line unquoted; 1837 and 1844 quote only the first line of the speech and put the last line in quotation marks (1837 with '!', 1844 with '.'). 1844 alone italicizes the reindeer names and the last line and sets 'St. Nicholas' (l. 4) in small capitals; 1823 capitalizes 'Toys' (ll. 28, 35); 1844 keeps that capital, 1837 lowers it.

## 3. Relations between the witnesses (observation, not a stemma)

* 1837 (Hoffman) is not a straight reprint of 1823: it introduces 'through', 'sprang', 'he had flung', 'pedlar', 'Donder ... Blixen', 'now, Prancer! now, Vixen!', 'leaves that before', 'through their heads', 'beard on his chin'. Bryant 1840 reproduces the 1837 text almost exactly (Appendix B), so 1840 is a witness to Hoffman, not an independent text.
* 1844 (Moore's own edition) agrees with 1837 against 1823 in 'through', 'sprang', 'he had flung', 'pedlar', 'Donder', and the quoted last line, but returns to 1823 in 'danced in their heads', 'Prancer and Vixen', 'dry leaves', 'beard of his chin', and introduces 'Blitzen', 'jerk' (already in 1830 and 1840) and 'bowlfull'.
* The 1830 broadside (Appendix A), printed at the Sentinel office, already has 'sugar-plums danced in', 'Mamma', 'sprang', 'pedlar', 'jerk', 'bowlfull', the quoted last line and 'now, Prancer! now, Vixen!', while keeping 'thro'', 'Dunder and Blixem', 'dry leaves before', 'was flung'; it is the only witness with 'held just in his teeth'.
* Moore's late holograph (Appendix C) follows the 1844 text in every verbal reading of ll. 1-24 except that it writes 'sprung' (the 1823 form) at l. 10 and doubles 'what' ('what what was the matter').

## Appendix A. 1830 Troy Sentinel broadside against 1844 (all differing lines)

| l. | 1844 Poems | 1830 broadside |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house | 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro' the house |
| 12 | Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. | Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash, |
| 16 | But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny rein-deer, | But a minature sleigh, and eight tiny rein-deer, |
| 21 | "Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! | "Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer! now, Vixen! |
| 22 | On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen! | On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Dunder and Blixem! |
| 24 | Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!" | Now dash away! dash away! dash away, all!" |
| 25 | As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, | As dry leaves before the wild hurricane fly, |
| 28 | With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too. | With the Sleigh full of Toys—and St. Nicholas too. |
| 35 | A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back, | A bundle of Toys was flung on his back, |
| 36 | And he look'd like a pedlar just opening his pack. | And he look'd like a pedlar just opening his pack; |
| 37 | His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! | His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry! |
| 41 | The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, | The stump of a pipe he held just in his teeth, |
| 46 | And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself, | And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself. |
| 54 | And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. | And away they all flew, like the down of a thistle; |

14 of 56 lines differ from 1844.

## Appendix B. Bryant, Selections from the American Poets (1840) against 1844 (all differing lines)

| l. | 1844 Poems | 1840 Bryant |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads; | While visions of sugarplums danced through their heads; |
| 7 | And Mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, | And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, |
| 10 | I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. | I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter: |
| 13 | The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow, | The moon, on the breast of the new-fallen snow, |
| 14 | Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below, | Gave the lustre of midday to objects below. |
| 16 | But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny rein-deer, | But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer, |
| 20 | And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name; | And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name: |
| 21 | "Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! | "Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer! now, Vixen! |
| 22 | On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen! | On! Comet, on! Cupid, on! Donder and Blixen— |
| 24 | Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!" | Now, dash away, dash away, dash away all!" |
| 25 | As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, | As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, |
| 26 | When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky; | When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky, |
| 28 | With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too. | With the sleigh full of toys—and St. Nicholas too. |
| 29 | And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof, | And then in a twinkling I heard on the roof |
| 30 | The prancing and pawing of each little hoof— | The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. |
| 33 | He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, | He was dress'd all in fur, from his head to his foot, |
| 34 | And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; | And his clothes were all tarnish'd with ashes and soot; |
| 35 | A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back, | A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, |
| 36 | And he look'd like a pedlar just opening his pack. | And he look'd like a pedler just opening his pack. |
| 37 | His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! | His eyes, how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry! |
| 38 | His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! | His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry; |
| 40 | And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow; | And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow. |
| 42 | And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath; | And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. |
| 43 | He had a broad face and a little round belly, | He had a broad face, and a little round belly, |
| 44 | That shook when he laughed, like a bowlfull of jelly. | That shook, when he laugh'd, like a bowl full of jelly. |
| 45 | He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, | He was chubby and plump; a right jolly old elf; |
| 46 | And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself, | And I laugh'd, when I saw him, in spite of myself. |
| 47 | A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, | A wink of his eye, and a twist of his head, |
| 48 | Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread; | Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. |
| 50 | And fill'd all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, | And fill'd all the stockings; then turn'd with a jerk, |
| 51 | And laying his finger aside of his nose, | And, laying his finger aside of his nose, |
| 52 | And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose; | And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. |
| 54 | And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. | And away they all flew like the down of a thistle; |
| 56 | "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night." | "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!" |

34 of 56 lines differ from 1844.

## Appendix C. NYHS holograph, first page (ll. 1-24), against 1844

| l. | 1844 Poems | holograph (MS) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | The children were nestled all snug in their beds, | The children were nestled all snug in their beds; |
| 10 | I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. | I sprung from the bed to see what what was the matter. |
| 13 | The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow, | The moon, on the breast of the new-fallen snow, |

3 of 24 lines differ from 1844.

Holograph transcription (ll. 1-24, from the Commons image https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_Visit_From_St._Nicholas,_by_Clement_C_Moore.jpg; the reindeer names are underlined in the manuscript; l. 1 is written over two lines):

```
'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;
And Mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap;
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprung from the bed to see what 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 the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny rein-deer,
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 all!"
```

## Appendix D. Key loci across all six witnesses

| l. | 1823 | 1830 | 1837 | 1840 | 1844 | ms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro' the house, | 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro' the house | 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house | 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house | 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house | 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house |
| 6 | While visions of sugar plums danc'd in their heads, | While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads; | While visions of sugar-plums danced through their heads; | While visions of sugarplums danced through their heads; | While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads; | While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads; |
| 7 | And Mama in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, | And Mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, | And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, | And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, | And Mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, | And Mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, |
| 10 | I sprung from the bed to see what was the matter, | I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. | I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter: | I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter: | I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. | I sprung from the bed to see what what was the matter. |
| 21 | "Now! Dasher, now! Dancer, now! Prancer, and Vixen, | "Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer! now, Vixen! | "Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer! now, Vixen! | "Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer! now, Vixen! | "Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! | "Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! |
| 22 | "On! Comet, on! Cupid, on! Dunder and Blixem; | On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Dunder and Blixem! | On! Comet, on! Cupid, on! Donder and Blixen— | On! Comet, on! Cupid, on! Donder and Blixen— | On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen! | On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen! |
| 25 | As dry leaves before the wild hurricane fly, | As dry leaves before the wild hurricane fly, | As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, | As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, | As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, | — |
| 35 | A bundle of toys was flung on his back, | A bundle of Toys was flung on his back, | A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, | A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, | A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back, | — |
| 36 | And he look'd like a peddler just opening his pack: | And he look'd like a pedlar just opening his pack; | And he look'd like a pedlar just opening his pack. | And he look'd like a pedler just opening his pack. | And he look'd like a pedlar just opening his pack. | — |
| 40 | And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow; | And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow; | And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow. | And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow. | And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow; | — |
| 41 | The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, | The stump of a pipe he held just in his teeth, | The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, | The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, | The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, | — |
| 44 | That shook when he laugh'd, like a bowl full of jelly: | That shook when he laughed, like a bowlfull of jelly. | That shook, when he laugh'd, like a bowl full of jelly. | That shook, when he laugh'd, like a bowl full of jelly. | That shook when he laughed, like a bowlfull of jelly. | — |
| 50 | And fill'd all the stockings; then turn'd with a jirk, | And fill'd all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, | And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jirk, | And fill'd all the stockings; then turn'd with a jerk, | And fill'd all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, | — |
| 53 | He sprung to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, | He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, | He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, | He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, | He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, | — |
| 56 | Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night. | "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night." | "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!" | "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!" | "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night." | — |

Sources: 1840 from the Wikisource proofread transcription of Bryant (https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Page:Selections_from_the_American_poets_(IA_selectamerpoet00bryarich).pdf/289 and /290, proofread level 3); 1830 from the validated Wikisource transcription of the broadside; MS transcribed here from the Commons image.