What is the orgin of the Christmas stocking?

Origin of StockingIn some parts, not too long ago, around the advent of electricity, people simply left their stockings to dry over the wood stove in the kitchen. Some had very little to give kids on Christmas except an Apple or an orange or maybe even a peice of candy. They couldn't fill the bottom of the tree. They could not of even had one.

The worse thing you could get was a peice of coal from the coal bin next to the stove. The kids thought it was from Santa. The coal was probably a bad judgment call at attempting a lesson with the kid.