Here is the abridged poem, which is a delightful and cheeky look at the ridiculousness of wealthy girls having "nothing to wear" despite their extravagant wardrobes. The story of Flora McFlimsey, the old doll who travels down from the attic on Christmas Eve, is too precious for words. Flora finds that she has the magic ability to move and goes to look at the Christmas tree. Once there, she finds herself unable to move and is put with the other toys by Santa as a gift for one of the children in the house. She realizes that she is old and shabby, and feels quite worthless when she gets a little angelic help.... and ends up being the most beautiful and beloved of all the Christmas toys. The pictures look water-colored and are so soft-looking and sweet.

Mariana (Marian Foster Curtiss), the creator of Miss Flora McFlimsey and her little world of animals and dolls, was born in 1909, in Cleveland, Ohio. Her interest in dolls began in childhood. She had a dollhouse that was big enough to walk into, in the yard of her family's Victorian house. Old toys and dolls fascinated her all her life, and over the years she acquired an extensive collection. Originally published in 1949, and then reprinted in this 1988 edition, Miss Flora McFlimsey's Christmas Eve is the first of nine picture-books devoted to the adventures of this sweet, lady-like doll, whose name is taken from William Allen Butler's nineteenth-century children's poem, Nothing to Wear. Abandoned for many years in an attic, Miss Flora leads a lonely life, her only companion young Timothy Mouse, who visits her from time to time. Then one evening, when her murine friend tells her of the unusual goings on downstairs, and she realizes that it is Christmas Eve, Miss Flora, leaving her hermitage for the first time in years, sets out to see the Christmas tree, having an unexpected encounter with Santa Claus in the process, and finding her dearest wish granted...As an adult, she lived and worked in a studio on Madison Avenue, in New York City in the fall, winter and spring. She spent her summers in a charming little house in Wainscott, Long Island. During her lifetime she received many letter from boys and girls about Miss Flora McFlimsey. She also received many letters from grandmothers and great-grandmothers "Mariana (Marian Foster Curtiss), the creator of Miss Flora McFlimsey and her little world of animals and dolls, was born in 1909, in Cleveland, Ohio. Her interest in dolls began in childhood. She had a dollhouse that was big enough to walk into, in the yard of her family's Victorian house. Old toys and dolls fascinated her all her life, and over the years she acquired an extensive collection.