Why people get lost.  From St. Nicholas, 1889.

"When an elf makes radiator ornaments—results are apt to be disturbing!"  From Unknown magazine, Jan. 1940.  See How to Believe in Your Elf.

"And while you are sleeping they climb up and squat in a row on the foot of your bed."  From The Wonderful Fairies of the Sun by Ernest Vincent Wright and illustrated by Cora M. Norman, 1896.  See How to Believe in Your Elf.

"And tells what toys those boys have got, and what he thinks they need."  From The Wonderful Fairies of the Sun by Ernest Vincent Wright and illustrated by Cora M. Norman, 1896.  See How to Believe in Your Elf.

"Elves in the toilets."  Via UFO Newsclipping Service, 1996.  Not toilet reading: See How to Believe in Your Elf.

From University of the South's 1891 yearbook.  See How to Believe in Your Elf.

From Lasell's 1924 yearbook.  See How to Believe in Your Elf.

What the recipe books never admit: any one confection can give rise to worry, accusation, joy, anger, and questioning (as depicted here).  The larger the baked good, the wider the range of emotions it engenders.  From Mansfield's 1919 yearbook.

"First the bad news: Blame it on fairies and bad elves."  From The Gateway, 1974.

Here's a precursor to How to Believe in Your Elf.  From Sandman Twilight Stories by Abbie Phillips Walker and illustrated by Rhoda C. Chase, 1918.