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"
Why, walls of brick and wood and plaster are nothing to Fairies. I can easily
pass through them whenever I wish, and so can Peter and Nuter and Kilter. Is
it not so, comrades?"
"
I often pass through the walls when I gather up the letters," said Kilter, and
that was a long speech for him, and so surprised Peter and Nuter that their
big round eyes nearly popped out of their heads.
"
Therefore," continued the Fairy, "you may as well take us with you on your
next journey, and when we come to one of those houses with stoves instead of
fireplaces we will distribute the toys to the children without the need of using
a chimney."
"
That seems to me a good plan," replied Santa Claus, well pleased at having
solved the problem. "We will try it next year."
That was how the Fairy, the Pixie, the Knook and the Ryl all rode in the sledge
with their master the following Christmas Eve; and they had no trouble at all
in entering the new-fashioned houses and leaving toys for the children that
lived in them.
And their deft services not only relieved Santa Claus of much labor, but
enabled him to complete his own work more quickly than usual, so that the
merry party found themselves at home with an empty sledge a full hour before
daybreak.
The only drawback to the journey was that the mischievous Wisk persisted in
tickling the reindeer with a long feather, to see them jump; and Santa Claus
found it necessary to watch him every minute and to tweak his long ears once
or twice to make him behave himself.
But, taken all together, the trip was a great success, and to this day the four
little folk always accompany Santa Claus on his yearly ride and help him in
the distribution of his gifts.
But the indifference of parents, which had so annoyed the good Saint, did not
continue very long, and Santa Claus soon found they were really anxious he
should visit their homes on Christmas Eve and leave presents for their
children.
So, to lighten his task, which was fast becoming very difficult indeed, old
Santa decided to ask the parents to assist him.
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