A visit from Saint Nicholas

This tale describes the traditional encounter of a speaker with St. Nicholas as he delivers presents on Christmas Eve. The poem begins with the speaker describing how his house has been readied for the arrival of St. Nick. There are stockings hanging by the chimney and all the children are in bed. They are dreaming happily about sweets. On the other side of the house, the speaker and his wife are just getting ready for bed when there is a loud sound outside. The man rushes to the window and guess what he sees?