Old Santeclaus with Much Delight
This Christmas poem was first published in 1821, in New York, by William B. Gilley as a small book entitled "The Children's Friend: A New-Year's Present, to the Little Ones from Five to Twelve". No one knows who wrote the poem or who drew the eight engraved illustrations which were published with the poem.
It's the first publication to show Santa with reindeer and that says that Santa comes on Christmas Eve; and its illustrations are the earliest publication of 'Santa Claus'. It was published two years before 'A Visit from St. Nicholas / 'Twas the night before Christmas'. The poem and its original illustrations are in the public domain.
Old Santeclaus with much delight
His reindeer drives this frosty night,
O'r chimney tops, and tracts of snow,
To bring his yearly gifts to you.
Through many houses he has been,
And various beds and stockings seen;
Some, white as snow, and neatly mended,
Others, that seemed for pigs intended.
To some I gave a pretty doll,
To some a peg-top, or a ball;
No crackers, cannons, squibs, or rockets,
To blow their eyes up, or their pockets.
Where e're I found good girls or boys,
That hated quarrels, strife and noise,
I left an apple, or a tart,
Or wooden gun, or painted cart;
No drums to stun their Mother's ear,
Nor swords to make their sisters fear;
But pretty books to store their mind
With knowledge of each various kind.
But where I found the children naughty,
In manners crude, in temper haughty,
Thankless to parents, liars, swearers,
Boxers, or cheats, or base tale-bearers,
I left a long, black, birchen rod,
Such as the dread command of God
Directs a Parent's hand to use
When virtue's path his sons refuse.