www.freeclassicebooks.com

the long stockings, together with his toys, and the children were glad to get

them, you may be sure.

There are also warm countries where there is no snow in winter, but Claus

and his reindeer visited them as well as the colder climes, for there were little

wheels inside the runners of his sledge which permitted it to run as smoothly

over bare ground as on the snow. And the children who lived in the warm

countries learned to know the name of Santa Claus as well as those who lived

nearer to the Laughing Valley.

Once, just as the reindeer were ready to start on their yearly trip, a Fairy came

to Claus and told him of three little children who lived beneath a rude tent of

skins on a broad plain where there were no trees whatever. These poor babies

were miserable and unhappy, for their parents were ignorant people who

neglected them sadly. Claus resolved to visit these children before he

returned home, and during his ride he picked up the bushy top of a pine tree

which the wind had broken off and placed it in his sledge.

It was nearly morning when the deer stopped before the lonely tent of skins

where the poor children lay asleep. Claus at once planted the bit of pine tree

in the sand and stuck many candles on the branches. Then he hung some of

his prettiest toys on the tree, as well as several bags of candies. It did not

take long to do all this, for Santa Claus works quickly, and when all was ready

he lighted the candles and, thrusting his head in at the opening of the tent, he

shouted:

Merry Christmas, little ones!"

With that he leaped into his sledge and was out of sight before the children,

rubbing the sleep from their eyes, could come out to see who had called them.

You can imagine the wonder and joy of those little ones, who had never in

their lives known a real pleasure before, when they saw the tree, sparkling

with lights that shone brilliant in the gray dawn and hung with toys enough to

make them happy for years to come! They joined hands and danced around

the tree, shouting and laughing, until they were obliged to pause for breath.

And their parents, also, came out to look and wonder, and thereafter had

more respect and consideration for their children, since Santa Claus had

honored them with such beautiful gifts.

The idea of the Christmas tree pleased Claus, and so the following year he

carried many of them in his sledge and set them up in the homes of poor

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus