The Night Before Christmas with William Daniels

We’ve lit a fire, we’ve poured some hot chocolate and we’ve got a special holiday surprise from your favorite high school teacher! 

William Daniels, a.k.a. Mr. Feeny, is here to recite the classic poem, The Night Before Christmas, and bring some iconic cheer to the holiday season…

Merry Christmas, everyone!

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
And now to celebrate the holiday season, two time Emmy
winner and our beloved mister Feeney William Daniels reading the
Night before Christmas, Merry Christmas everyone.

Speaker 2 (00:22):
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
not a creature was starring, 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

(00:43):
nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar
plums danced in their head. And Mama in her kerchief,
and me in my camp had just settled our brains
for a long winter's nap, when out on the lawn

(01:06):
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

(01:30):
objects below. When what to my wondering eyes did appear
but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer with a
little old driver. So lively and quick I know in
a moment he must be Saint Nick more rapid than eagles.

(01:54):
His courses they came, and he whistled and shouted and
caught them by name, Now Dasher, now dancer, now prancer,
and vixens 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

(02:21):
as leaves that before the hurricane fly when they meet
with an obstacle, mount to the sky. So up to
the housetop the courses they flew with a sleaveh full
of toys, and Saint Nicholas too, And then intertwinkling. I

(02:46):
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, Saint Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur from head to his foot,

(03:10):
and his clothes were all tarnished with asses and soot.
A bundle of toys he flung on his back, and
he looked like a peddler just opening his back. His eyes,
how they twinkled, his dimples, how merry, his cheeks were

(03:30):
like roses, his nose like a cherry, his drool. Little
mouth was drawn up like a bow, and the beard
on his chin as white as the snow. The stumps
of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, and
the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. He

(03:55):
had a broad face and a little brown billy 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.

(04:16):
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 given

(04:40):
in a nod up the chimney. He rose, He sprang
to his sleigh, to his team, gave a whistle, and
away they all flew like a down of a thistle.
But I heard him explain here he drove out of sight.

(05:03):
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.