"A Visit From St. Nicholas" by Professor Moore (1837)

[Bapopik at AOL.COM]

FYI, the 19th Century U.S. Newspapers database gives Moore 1837 credit  for
this poem. (Wikipedia states 1844 for first Moore credit.) The Yale Book of
Quotations has this under Clement C. Moore.
...
...
1 January 1824, New-York Spectator, pg. 1, col. 4:
>From the Troy Sentinel.
...
...
25 December 1837, Pennsylvania Inquirer and Daily Courier, pg. 2, col.  5:
A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS.
BY PROFESSOR MOORE.
...
...
_http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Visit_from_Saint_Nicholas_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Visit_from_Saint_Nicholas)
The poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas", also known as "The Night  Before
Christmas" from its first line, and first published in 1823, is  largely responsible
for the contemporary American conception of _Santa  Claus_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus) , including his appearance, the night he visits, his
method of  transportation, the number and names of _his reindeer_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus'_reindeer) ,  and that he brings toys to
children. Prior to the poem, American ideas about _St.  Nicholas_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Nicholas)  and other Christmastide visitors varied considerably.
(...)
Moore claimed the poem in 1844. This was at the request of his children. He
had preferred to be known for more scholarly works.

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org