Return to the Resource Index • Show other versions of this resource • Hide other versions of this resource

'The Night Before Christmas': Rhyming Words Gap-Fill

In this exercise you will complete verses of Clement Clarke Moore's 'The Night Before Christmas' with the correct rhyming word.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas, when all through the house,

1) Not a creature was stirring, not even a hint

;

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,

2) While visions of sugar-plums danced in their hint

;

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

3) I sprang from the bed to see what was the hint

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

4) The moon on the breast of the new-fallen hint

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

5) But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny hint

6) With a little old driver, so lively and hint

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!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

7) When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the hint

8) So up to the house-top the coursers they hint

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

9) And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the hint

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

10) He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his hint

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

11) His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a hint

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

12) And the beard of his chin was as white as the hint

;

13) The stump of a pipe he held tight in his hint

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 bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

14) A wink of his eye and a twist of his hint

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

15) He spoke not a word, but went straight to his hint

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

16) And laying his finger aside of his hint

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

17) He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a hint

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

18) "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good hint

Authors & Translators

Zorba