"The Night Before Christmas"

This printing of the famous poem has been in my family for many years.

It has the following handwritten notations on it:
On the Cover: "2nd Xmas. Benjamin F. Swezey, Jr. 1914"
Inside on the first page: "Benjamin from Mama - 1914"
And "This is the way the original poem was written".

Interestingly, the main character is called "St. Nicholas" or "St. Nick" and never "Santa Claus".
The red and white suit he wears today was popularized by Coca-Cola advertising in the 1920's (which this predates).
Here he is depicted the way he really dresses (in green as you can see above).

When I was small, my mother used to read this very copy to us.
I hope you will enjoy it as much as I always have.

Merry Christmas!

Index

On each page click on the image to go to the next page
Front Cover
First Page Story Text
Second Page Story Text
Third Page Picture "Out on the lawn there rose such a clatter".
Fourth Page Picture "Up to the house-top the coursers they flew".
Fifth Page Story Text
Sixth Page Story Text
Seventh Page Picture "A bundle of toys he had flung on his back".
Eighth Page Picture "He filled all the stockings".
Ninth Page Story Text
Tenth Page Story Text
Back Cover

Return to my main page