Who else had or still has this Little Golden Book "Jingle Bells". I put mine on display every Christmas because I love the vintage covers. An earlier title of this popular song is "The One-Horse Open Sleigh". It was written by American, James Lord Pierpont and published in the autumn of 1857. Its happy words and vigorous rhythm have made it so loved that it has become an indispensable part of the Christmas season. "Jingle Bells" was often used as a drinking song at parties: people would jingle the ice in their glasses as they sang. The double-meaning of "upsot" was thought humorous, and a sleigh ride gave an unescorted couple a rare chance to be together, unchaperoned, in distant woods or fields, with all the opportunities that afforded. In the winter in New England in pre-automobile days, it was common to adorn horses' harnesses with straps bearing bells as a way to avoid collisions at blind intersections, since a horse-drawn sleigh in snow makes almost no noise. The rhythm of the tune mimics that of a trotting horse's bells.
