Once upon a time, more than thirty years ago now, there was a young mother who wanted very much to be an artist. Do you remember Christmas 1961? 
     One fine day, the Fuller Brush man came to her door offering his wares.  Do you remember the Fuller Brush man?
     Now this young mother was not particularly interested in his brushes or soaps, (her dog bit him, by the way), but she was interested in the catalogue he brought.  In the little book was the most delightful rendering of Clement C. Moore's 1823 classic poem "The Night Before Christmas" she had ever seen in her young life. 

     So. . . she kept the little book stored away in her trunk through many, many years -- through better and through worse, through thick and through thin.  And each year on  Christmas Eve she would take it out of the trunk and read the story to her children.
     Then, long after the children were grown and had children of their own, she became a virtual grandmother, and she decided to share the old, old story and the delightful pictures with the children once again.
     Many thanks to the Fuller Brush company and the unknown artist, who has inspired my efforts at children's stories for the past thirty years or so. Hope you all enjoy the story and pictures as much as I always have.

Happy Christmas,
Nana Ellen

Click on Santa To Read The Story