Santa Claus for President

Santa Claus for President: editing/sookietex More about this image and story at Public Domain Clip Art - http://publicdomainclip-art.blogspot.com/2011/11/santa-claus-for-president.html

Our Claus had wisdom, for his good fortune but strengthened his resolve to befriend the little ones of his own race. He knew his plan was approved by the immortals, else they would not have favored him so greatly.

So he began at once to make acquaintance with mankind. He walked through the Valley to the plain beyond, and crossed the plain in many directions to reach the abodes of men. These stood singly or in groups of dwellings called villages, and in nearly all the houses, whether big or little, Claus found children.

The youngsters soon came to know his merry, laughing face and the kind glance of his bright eyes; and the parents, while they regarded the young man with some scorn for loving children more than their elders, were content that the girls and boys had found a playfellow who seemed willing to amuse them.

So the children romped and played games with Claus, and the boys rode upon his shoulders, and the girls nestled in his strong arms, and the babies clung fondly to his knees. Wherever the young man chanced, to be, the sound of childish laughter followed him; and to understand this better you must know that children were much neglected in those days and received little attention from their parents, so that it became to them a marvel that so goodly a man as Claus devoted his time to making them happy. And those who knew him were, you may be sure, very happy indeed.

The sad faces of the poor and abused grew bright for once; the cripple smiled despite his misfortune; the ailing ones hushed their moans and the grieved ones their cries when their merry friend came nigh to comfort them.

This Image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1923 are copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1923 in this case 1907, are now in the public domain.

This file is also in the public domain in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris) in this case Lewis Jesse Bridgman (1857-1931) and that most commonly runs for a period of 50 to 70 years from December 31 of that year.

IMAGE CREDIT: The Santa Claus Club Author: Lewis Jesse Bridgman (1857-1931). Publisher: H.M. Caldwell Company, 1907. Original from: the New York Public Library, Digitized: May 16, 2007. Length: 80 pages. Subjects: Biography & Autobiography › Presidents & Heads of State, Biography & Autobiography / Presidents & Heads of State, Children's poetry, Nursery rhymes, Parades, Presidents, Santa Claus.

TEXT CREDIT: The life and adventures of Santa Claus Author: Lyman Frank Baum. Publisher: The Bowen-Merrill company, 1902. Original from: Harvard University. Digitized: Apr 22, 2005. Length: 206 pages, Subjects: Fiction › Fantasy › General, Christmas stories, Fairies, Fantasy, Fiction / Classics, Fiction / Fantasy / General, Religion / Holidays / Christmas & Advent, Santa Claus.