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diff --git a/old/69416-0.txt b/old/69416-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 7faf0d4..0000000 --- a/old/69416-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1480 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Christmas stories, by Georgene -Faulkner - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Christmas stories - The "Story Lady" series - -Author: Georgene Faulkner - -Illustrator: Frederic Richardson - -Release Date: November 24, 2022 [eBook #69416] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Charlene Taylor, Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was - produced from images generously made available by The - Internet Archive) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHRISTMAS STORIES *** - - - - - - CHRISTMAS STORIES - - [Illustration] - - - - - THE “STORY LADY” SERIES - - CHRISTMAS STORIES - - BY - GEORGENE FAULKNER - “THE STORY LADY” - - ILLUSTRATED BY - FREDERIC RICHARDSON - - - DAUGHADAY AND COMPANY - CHICAGO - - - - - COPYRIGHT, 1916, BY - DAUGHADAY AND COMPANY - _All Rights Reserved_ - - - - - TO MY FATHER - - -A GENEROUS SANTA CLAUS TO HIS LARGE FAMILY OF CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN -WHO HAS HELPED EACH OF US THROUGH HIS OWN SPIRIT OF SELF-SACRIFICE AND - SERVICE TO A FINER APPRECIATION OF THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS. - - - - -FOREWORD - - -We are all children, young and old, at Christmas time. We love to talk -and think about Santa Claus and the gifts which he will bring to us, and -we like to plan how we may play Santa Claus and make some one else -happy. Santa Claus embodies this spirit of self-sacrifice and service -and so we will enjoy going in our dreams on “A Visit to Santa Claus -Land.” And what fun we will have when we join with the fairies and dear -Mrs. Santa Claus and trim “A Christmas Tree for Santa Claus.” And then -this story of “Squeaky and the Scarebox”--you know such a thing might -really truly happen on your own tree, so look out when you open your -“Jack-in-the-box.” “The Legend of Saint Nicholas” and his long silken -purses will help you to understand our custom of hanging up our -stockings to receive gifts. And this good Bishop doing his deeds of love -in the night certainly must have been like our Santa Claus. The last -story tells of the true Christmas spirit and “The Gift of Love” which -God gave to the world when Christ was born. - -And so may this book of “Christmas Stories,” coming right into your -home, bring to you a message of Christmas Cheer, with a Merry Christmas -to all, - - From your Story Lady, - - GEORGENE FAULKNER. - - - - -[Illustration: CONTENTS] - - - PAGE - -A VISIT TO SANTA CLAUS LAND 17 - -SQUEAKY AND THE SCARE BOX 37 - -A CHRISTMAS TREE FOR SANTA CLAUS 55 - -THE LEGEND OF SAINT NICHOLAS 71 - -THE GIFT OF LOVE 83 - - - - -[Illustration: ILLUSTRATIONS] - - - FACING PAGE - -_Frontispiece_--“OH, HO, HO, HO!” HE -LAUGHED MERRILY, “HOW DID YOU TWO -CHILDREN COME HERE?” - -SQUEAKY FELL HEELS OVER HEAD INTO A -FUNNY SQUARE BOX 35 - -“IT IS YOUR VERY OWN CHRISTMAS TREE, -FATHER SANTA CLAUS” 53 - -SAINT NICHOLAS THREW THE PURSE RIGHT -INTO THE ROOM 69 - -THE BOY LIFTED THE BABY LAMB AND HELD -IT CLOSELY TO HIS BOSOM 81 - - _The illustrations are from original paintings by Frederic - Richardson_ - - - - -[Illustration: - -A VISIT TO -SANTA CLAUS -LAND -] - - - - -A VISIT TO SANTA CLAUS LAND - - -Once upon a time there were two children, a little boy named Willie and -a little girl named Annie. Now, they could hardly wait for Santa Claus -to visit them, so every day they would say to their mother, “Oh, Mother, -how many days until Christmas? Must we wait a whole month, Mother? -Twenty days more, ten days more, only five days more,--how slowly the -days drag on, Mother!” - -Now, the busy mother felt the time slip by all too rapidly, but the -children counted the days on the calendar and grew more and more -impatient each day. At last they shouted in glee, “Santa Claus will -visit us to-night, and to-morrow is Merry Christmas!” - -They borrowed the longest, strongest stockings which they could find, -and when their mother came to tuck them snugly in bed and to kiss them -good-night, Willie said, “Do you know, Mother, I’m going to prop my -eyelids wide open and watch all night for Santa Claus.” - -“So am I,” said Annie, “and when he comes down the chimney, we will ask -him where he gets all the toys.” - -“Oh, no, you must go right to sleep and he will come all the faster,” -answered the mother, as she turned out the lights and left the nursery. - -After she had gone downstairs, Willie whispered to Annie, “Say, Annie, -are you awake?” - -“Yes, I am, but I’m getting so sleepy I wish he would hurry and come -right now. Let’s sing our Christmas carols for him.” And so the two -children sang all the songs they knew. - -“My, it does seem so long to wait. I am most asleep,” said Willie, with -a big yawn. “I tell you, we can take turns--you watch for him awhile, -Annie, and then I shall.” After a time Annie called out, “Willie, I’m so -sleepy; it’s your turn to watch.” But she received no answer. - -The next thing they knew, Annie and Willie were away up in the North -Pole country, with snow and ice around them on all sides, and right in -front of them stood a high ice-wall. “How I wish we could go through -this wall--” said Willie, and just as he said this the ice seemed to -open and there was a great gateway leading into the strangest garden -that you ever heard of in all your life. It was a garden all of toys, -and Annie and Willie could hardly believe their eyes as they saw the -wonders about them. Hanging right over the wall there appeared to be -something growing like morning-glories. When they looked again the -children saw that they were not morning-glories at all, but small, toy -talking-machines, while on a trumpet-vine nearby they saw growing, like -flowers, real toy trumpets. Willie picked a trumpet at once and played -on it: “Toot-toot-toot-toot-too-oo-o.” - -“Oh, you must not touch the toys, Willie,” gasped poor Annie in fright. -“We don’t know who owns this garden.” - -Just then the children saw the gardener of this wonderful land of toys. -He was the merriest old man, dressed all in red, and his coat and hat -were trimmed with ermine. His hair and beard were as white as the snow -and his cheeks were like red, rosy apples, while his eyes twinkled like -stars. The children knew who this gardener was at once, you may be sure. -Why, it was Santa Claus, of course! He was cutting down a crop of -whistles with his sickle. He had a large, red sack at his side and -smaller bags nearby, and he was so happy that he sang as he worked: - - “In my wonderful garden of toys - Grows a crop for the good girls and boys. - Dolls, cannon, and drums, - Candy cake, sugar plums-- - All grow in my garden of toys.” - -He was just ready to make up another verse when he spied the two -children. “Oh, ho, ho, ho!” he laughed merrily, “how did you two -children come here?” - -“Please, Mr. Santa Claus,” said Willie shyly, “we were waiting for you -to visit us and the next thing we knew we were in this garden. We don’t -know how we came here, but, now that we are here, may we not help you to -pick some toys?” - -“Indeed, you may,” said Santa Claus. “I need two such helpers. I was -just wondering how I could gather all these toys in time for to-morrow. -Willie, will you please go over to the garden-bed in the corner and pull -up some tops?” - -“Pull up some tops!” echoed Willie in amazement. But he took a red sack -and went to the garden and began to pull up toy tops. There were large -tops growing like turnips and little tops growing like beets and -radishes. There were all kinds of tops; some would humm-humm-humm-m-m -and make music while Willie pulled them up. Next, Willie climbed a tree -and began to pick red marbles growing just like cherries; and he found -purple and blue marbles growing on a trellis, just like grapes--so he -filled many small bags with marbles. He also climbed other trees where -he thought he saw apples and oranges growing, but, when he came near -them, he found different-colored balls--so he picked a bag of balls for -Santa. - -“Oh, Santa, may I help too?” asked Annie. - -“Indeed you may, my child,” he answered. “How should you like to pick -dollies?” So all this time Annie was busy getting him dollies, and she -was very happy. - -“You dear, dear dollies!” Annie said, as she hugged each one in turn. -“How happy all the little girls will be when they find these dollies -Christmas morning!” There were large dolls with the cutest bonnets on -their heads, growing just like roses, and other dollies with the dearest -pointed hats, growing up like tall holly-hocks. And then there were tiny -dollies like pansies turning their pretty little faces up toward Annie. - -Presently Santa Claus began to water the grass and suddenly every blade -of grass was a tiny tin soldier with his musket erectly held, while -soldiers’ tents, like mushrooms, sprang up all around. War-ships, -sail-boats, steam-boats, motor-boats, row-boats and canoes were all out -on a lake nearby, but they could never sink, for the lake was a large -looking-glass, and fishes, ducks and swans were swimming on -looking-glass streams. The children rushed from one garden to another -and saw so many things to pick that they were kept very busy helping -Santa Claus. - -“Oh, see those pumpkins and squashes over there on those vines!” -exclaimed Willie, but when he went to pick them he found drums, large -and small, and foot-balls and basket-balls lying on the ground, like -melons and pumpkins turned brown. - -“Whee-ee-ee-ee! Isn’t this jolly! See those funny brown leaves blowing -in the wind,” called Annie. “They are all sizes and shapes.” When the -children came near to pick them, they found no leaves at all, but brown -Teddy-bears with their arms and feet out-stretched. The children hugged -them in their arms and the Teddy-bears gave little squeaks of glee, for -they were so glad to be gathered in with this harvest of toys. - -Suddenly, overhead, the children heard a whirr-whirr-whirring noise, and -when they looked up it seemed as if great swarms of dragon-flies and -butterflies were hovering over them. “Ha, ha, ha!” laughed Santa Claus, -as he watched the surprised children. “Those are new toys; they only -lately have come to my land--but, here, take these butterfly nets and -try to catch a few of them.” And when Annie and Willie brought these -toys down a little nearer, they saw that they were not dragonflies or -butterflies, but toy air-ships. - -Tiny, toy trains went gliding over steel rails, across switches, under -tunnels, over bridges, and stopped at stations, quite like really, truly -trains. - -“How should you like to see my farm?” asked Santa Claus. And the next -thing Annie and Willie knew they were in a toyland farm-yard. Houses, -fences and barns with stalls for horses and cows, and everything as -complete as a real farm. Horses rocked to and fro or rolled about on -wheels; toy lambs, so wooly and white, said, “Baa-baa-baa,” when their -heads were turned to one side. - -There was also a menagerie of wild animals nearby. Elephants and tigers, -lions and monkeys--more animals than you can tell about--were there, and -they looked so real that at first Annie felt like running to hide behind -Santa Claus. Then Santa Claus led them through toy villages and they -really felt like giants when they looked down on all the dolls’ houses -and different stores, toy theatres, toy post-offices, toy grocery -stores, meat markets, and in all these stores were dolls for clerks and -dolls for customers. - -Then Santa Claus took them far away from the villages, out through the -orchard where the sugar-plum trees were growing, and after they had -filled many bags with candy he led them out to the Christmas-tree -forest. Here they found Christmas trees growing with gold and silver -tinsel and hung with glass balls and chains, while tiny, colored lights -were twinkling through the branches. Santa Claus had to gather these -trees and pack them with great care. - -The next thing the children knew, Santa Claus had taken them right into -his home. There they saw a dear old lady with snow-white hair who was -sewing on some dolls’ clothes. (She was dressing some of the dollies -that had sprung up without any clothes.) It was Mrs. Santa Claus, of -course, and as she hugged and kissed the children she said to Santa -Claus, “The dears, where did you find them?” - -“Out in the garden,” answered Santa Claus. “I don’t know how they came -here, but they are excellent helpers. They have been helping me to -gather my toys. I shall soon be ready now, after I do a little more work -in my shop. You know, my dear, I must first test my winding toys, for -that clock-work machinery does break so easily.” - -As he talked, Santa Claus took off his cap and coat, rolled up his -sleeves and went right to work. He wound and tested each toy, and Willie -helped him by handing him the keys for each one. There was a -_honk-honk-honk_, a _toot-toot-toot_, a _chug, chug, chug_, and a -_clang, clang, clang_, as automobiles, boats, engines, fire-engines and -all kinds of mechanical toys went running about the shop like mad. Next -Santa was working with his saw and plane, his hammer and nails, and with -a rap and a tap he finished the roof of a doll’s house. - -Mrs. Santa had dressed all the dolls and furnished the dolls’ houses. -“What a cute little kitchen!” exclaimed Annie. “Oh, Willie, do you see -this dining-room and the cunning parlor and this little bed-room? How I -should love to play dolls in this house!” Then Annie turned to Mrs. -Santa Claus and said, “May I not help you? I could thread your needles -or help in some way.” - -“Why, so you may, my dear,” answered Mrs. Santa Claus. “My eyes are -getting old and if you will thread my needles it will be a great help.” -So Annie threaded needles and helped Mrs. Santa Claus to dress the last -doll and then to pack all the clothes in a new doll’s trunk. - -Santa Claus sat at his desk and finished writing a story and drawing the -last pictures when suddenly the clock struck, Ding-dong-ding. Twelve -times it struck and Mrs. Santa Claus said, “It is time you were up and -away, sir.” She helped Santa Claus into his big cloak and he pulled on -his high boots and his warm gloves and pulled his cap down over his -ears. - -Just then the reindeer were heard prancing and pawing outside, impatient -to be off and away. Santa Claus bundled his big pack of toys into his -sleigh and put in all his Christmas trees. He kissed Mrs. Santa on both -cheeks, and with a big smack on the lips called out, “Good-by, Mother,” -and, picking up Annie and Willie as if they were live dolls, tucked one -under each arm and dashed out to the magic sleigh. They seemed fairly to -fly through the air, and the moon and the stars seemed to dance in the -sky as they went on faster and faster. Then they came down nearer and -nearer to earth where the lights in the great city gleamed like -fireflies far below. - -The next thing Annie and Willie knew, they were on the roof of their own -home. The next thing they knew, they were down, down the chimney -and--there they were right in their own, little beds! The sun-light was -streaming into their eyes and their mother was calling, “Merry -Christmas, Merry Christmas, little sleepy heads!” - -“Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!” they both shouted, as they bounced -out of bed and rushed for their stockings which were fairly bulging with -toys, and Annie was soon hugging and kissing a new dolly while Willie -was blowing a new trumpet. In the other room stood a large Christmas -tree which had come from the Christmas-tree forest. - -“Oh, we know where these toys came from,” said Willie. “They came from -the garden of toys, for we visited Santa Claus Land last night.” - -Now, to-night, when you go to bed, close your eyes tightly and go to -sleep and I am sure you too can pay a visit to Santa Claus Land. - -Merry Christmas! - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration: - -SQUEAKY -_and the_ -SCARE BOX -] - - - - -SQUEAKY AND THE SCARE BOX - - -Once upon a time there lived in a hole in the pantry wall a family of -mice. There was a father mouse and a mother mouse and three little baby -mice. They were called the “Velvet family,” because their fur looked -like soft, gray velvet. - -One little mouse was named Sharpeyes (only they nicknamed him “Sharpy”) -because his eyes were so sharp and bright. He could see everything, even -in the darkest closets and holes. One was named Sniffy, because he could -sniff and smell anything good to eat, wherever it might be hidden. And -the tiniest little mouse was named Squeaky, because he had such a -squeaky, shrill little voice. He was constantly singing, “Ee-ee-ee.” - -Now the mother-mouse was very wise, and she had taught her babies to -scamper and hide whenever they saw the old cat tiptoeing about. The -mother-mouse would say, “Beware of the cat!” and the little mice would -run so quickly that although Mrs. Puss did not even mew or purr when she -walked through the pantry, she never had been able to catch any one of -the Velvet family. But many of their little cousins and other relatives -had been caught by the old cat. So the little mice obeyed their mother -and always hid when the cat was near. - -The mother-mouse also warned her babies to beware of the trap. She -said, “I know, Sniffy, you will smell the cheese, and Sharpy will peer -into the queer, little, round house and see the cheese hanging there, -and Squeaky will call to you all to come in and get a bite, but if you -do not heed my words you will be caught with cruel springs and wires and -choked to death. So mind what I tell you and do not eat any cheese -unless I am with you.” - -And the little mice answered, “Ee-ee-ee! Yes, Mother, yes. Ee-ee-ee!” in -their little, shrill voices, and they promised to remember to do just -what their mother told them. - -I could not begin to tell you about all the frolics that those mice had -together. But I will tell you about their Christmas party. - - “’Twas the night before Christmas, - And all through the house - Not a creature was stirring, - Not even a mouse.” - -The last touches had been put upon the tall Christmas tree standing in -the living room. The father and mother had gone upstairs to bed-- - - “And the children were nestled all snug in their beds, - While visions of sugar plums danced through their heads.” - -But, in the hole in the wall, the Velvet family were all wide awake. - -“Ee-ee-ee!” squeaked Squeaky, “why can’t we creep into the big room and -see the tall Christmas tree? We have heard the children talking about -that tree for days, and we have never seen a Christmas tree, so please, -Mother-Mouse, can’t we go out this time and see it?” - -“Yes,” said Sniffy, “do let us go, Mother-Mouse. Everything has been -smelling so good lately, and the children and the cook made long strings -of popcorn. I nibbled a little piece that they dropped here on the -pantry floor, and it tasted so good.” - -“Yes,” said Sharpeyes, “and I peered out of our hole and saw some candy -on a plate and some gingerbread cakes, all ready for the children. Oh, I -do want a bite of those good things! Please let us have a Christmas -party, Mother-Mouse!” - -“Now, don’t tease, children; I will ask your father, and if he says it -is safe, why, then we shall go.” - -When the father-mouse heard them, he said, “Well, I will go out first, -and look carefully about, and then I will let you know if you dare to -venture out.” So father-mouse crept softly through the pantry. He -tiptoed down the long hall and into the living-room, but the old cat was -nowhere to be seen. - -For you must know, children, the house people were afraid that the cat -might brush against the tree and break something, so poor Mrs. Puss had -been banished to the coal-bin and was spending her Christmas Eve down in -the cellar all alone; and she was howling and yowling because she was so -angry. - -When the father-mouse could not find the cat, he came back to the pantry -and called out the glad tidings, “The coast is clear, come out, -children.” - -Then all the Velvet family came scrambling down from their hole in the -wall, their whiskers fairly trembling in their eagerness. They crept -through the pantry and tiptoed along the great hall and into the -living-room where stood the tall Christmas tree; and when they saw the -wonderful tree, they were so happy that they squeaked again and again in -their joy. Then each mouse took hold of its tail as though it were a -long train and, holding it up very carefully, danced and danced in the -moonlight. They ran around and around the tree, examining everything. - -On the floor they found a wonderful doll’s house. “How lovely it would -be to live here,” they squeaked. They ran up and down the stairs, -overturned the chairs, pulled off the bedclothes and climbed into the -beds. Then they went into the dining-room and sat down in the tiny -chairs, but when they found the table was just set with play food, they -did not like it, for of course it was not good to eat. - -Then Sniffy said, “I smell that good popcorn again; let’s climb up into -the Christmas tree and get some.” So they began to climb up into the -tree. They nibbled the popcorn chains; they nibbled the candy canes and -the candy hanging in the stocking bags. They found the gingerbread -cakes, and each one took a bite. - -Suddenly Sharpeyes said, “Come here, I see a mouse! I see a mouse! But -he doesn’t belong to our furry family at all.” - -“I should say not,” sniffed Sniffy; “he smells so good!” - -“Why, he is good to eat!” squeaked Squeaky, and they all began to eat -the chocolate mouse. - -Then they found another candy mouse, a nice pink one, and they were so -busy eating it that they forgot to watch and listen, until _bang!_ -suddenly the door was thrown open and the electric lights were turned -on. With a squeak of warning, the Velvet family, scrambling and tumbling -down through the branches of the tree, scampered pell-mell across the -hall, through the pantry and back to their home and safety. - -There was the father-mouse, and the mother-mouse, and Sharpeyes, and -Sniffy, but where was Squeaky? What had become of poor Squeaky? - -Now, as Squeaky tried to climb down the tree, he fell heels over head -down, down, down until he was caught in a funny, square box. An ugly -looking man with black hair and a black beard seemed to be hopping -right out of the box, and, when Squeaky saw the lights turned on, he -thought it best to hide under the skirts of this queer man. He nestled -down and lay very still, hardly breathing. He had been taught never to -move when danger was near so he did not wiggle even a whisker. He heard -voices. The house people were talking. - -“Yes,” said the children’s father, “it would have been a shame to forget -this train. I want it to come right out from under the tree.” And the -father and mother began to arrange tiny tracks and switches. When all -was in place, the mother looked once more at the wonderful tree. - -“Why, look at that Jack-in-the-box, he’s hanging way out of the box,” -she said. “That will never do, it will spoil all the fun. Teddy would -love to see it fly out at him and would call it the ‘Scare Box.’ I must -fix it back in place.” Then the mother pushed the Jack, with his black -beard and black hair, down, down into the box, and she shut and locked -the lid. - -Poor Squeaky, hidden under the queer man’s skirts, felt the springs -close tightly about him and squeaked one shrill “Ee” of fright. The -father said: “I never heard such a perfect squeak; it is wonderful the -toys they make for children. Now in my day--” And his voice drifted off, -as he turned out the lights and followed the mother upstairs to bed. - -Poor little Squeaky. On all sides there seemed to be a big spring coiled -and coiled about him. “I am in a trap,” he moaned, “and they didn’t even -give me a mite of cheese to eat. But, then, nothing seems to hurt me. -It is not the way Mother-Mouse said: it does not pinch me or choke me. I -wonder what kind of a trap it is--a queer man with springs for a body. -Well, I am safe for a while, but I wonder if he will ever let me get out -again. I want to go home.” And poor Squeaky cried himself to sleep. - -In the morning he heard shouts of “Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!” -and it seemed as though the big tree trembled in all its branches, as -the toys were taken down, one by one. Then such a noise was heard--drums -beating, horns tooting, children shouting: - -“Just see our new doll’s house!” - -“Oh, see my new train, how fast it goes over these tracks!” - -“Just see this beautiful dolly! She can open and shut her eyes, and she -says ‘ma-ma, pa-pa’ whenever I pull the string.” - -“Ee-ee-ee!” groaned poor Squeaky, “I can squeak ‘ma-ma, pa-pa’ that way -too, if they would only let me out so that I could go home to my ma-ma -and pa-pa.” - -As if in answer to his wish, Squeaky suddenly felt the box lifted down -from the tree. “Come here, Teddy,” said the children’s mother, “here is -a new scare box. We will have some fun. Now, carefully watch me and we -will open the lid.” Teddy leaned against his mother’s knee, watching -closely. “Are you ready? Well, let us count. One, two, three!” the -mother opened the lid. Out jumped the man with the black beard and black -hair and, with a loud squeak of joy, out jumped Squeaky. “Ee-ee-ee!” -said Squeaky. “Ee!” said the Jack-in-the-box. “Whee-ee-ee!” yelled the -small boy in delight. - -“Oh, Ee-ee-ee,” shrieked the mother, as she threw the box on the floor -and, holding her skirts up high, she jumped on her chair, screaming, “a -mouse! a mouse! a mouse!” - -“Where? where?” they all shouted in a chorus. But little Squeaky whisked -away so fast that they caught only a glimpse of his velvety fur and his -long tail, as he dashed across the long hall back to the pantry, and -home, and safety. - -Squeaky gave queer little squeaky sounds, half sobs and half laughs, as -he told father and mother mouse the whole story of his night in the -house with the queer man with springs for a body. And there was great -rejoicing among the Velvet family over the return of Squeaky. - -In the living room they heard the children’s father laughing as he -helped their mother climb down from the chair. “Well,” said he, “how -did _you_ enjoy Teddy’s scare box?” - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration: - -A -CHRISTMAS TREE -_for_ -SANTA CLAUS -] - - - - -A CHRISTMAS TREE FOR SANTA CLAUS - - -Once upon a time the fairies planned a Christmas surprise for Santa -Claus. - -“I wonder what we can do to make him happy?” asked the Fairy Queen; “he -always makes other people happy.” - -“I know,” answered the Fairy King, “let us give him a Christmas party -and after he returns from his long journey of love all around the world, -let us lead him to the Christmas-tree forest and there we will have a -tree all trimmed and ready for him.” - -“Hurrah! hurrah!” shouted all the little brownies, elves, fairies and -nymphs. “Hurrah! hurrah! what fun we shall have; a Christmas tree for -dear old Father Santa Claus. We will ask Mother Santa Claus to help us -plan it and she will tell us just what he needs and would most enjoy,” -said the Fairy King. - -Now, you must know, children, that all the brownies, elves, fairies and -nymphs always call Santa Claus and Mrs. Santa Claus, “Father” and -“Mother” because they seem like a Father and Mother to all these little -people, and they always help Santa Claus and his good wife make the -Christmas gifts; for how would Santa Claus and Mrs. Santa Claus ever get -all their work done in time for Christmas without all these good, little -fairies to help them? - -So, of course, when they planned for a Christmas tree, they asked -Mother Santa Claus to help them. “Have everything ready,” said Mother -Santa Claus, “and, after Father has gone on his long journey, we will go -out to the forest and trim the tree, and have everything in place before -he comes home again. We will keep it as a great secret, for if he hears -of it all our fun and surprise will be gone.” - -“We will never let him hear a whisper from us,” said the fairies. “We -will work and will wait patiently until Christmas Eve.” - -Then the fairies, true to their promise, worked and worked helping -Father and Mother Santa Claus to make the Christmas gifts, and they were -all very busy. Some of these dear little fairies helped Mother Santa -Claus to make doll clothes and to furnish dolls’ houses, hemming tiny -table-cloths, fringing little napkins, making sheets and blankets and -pillows and pillow-cases for the dollies’ beds. They were such happy -little fairies that they sang as they worked: - - “The Christmas fairies find pleasure, - As they work for the good girls and boys, - For they know that the children will treasure - And value these new Christmas toys.” - -The little carpenter elves liked to help Father Santa Claus in his big -work-shop, as he sawed the wood brought in by the forest elves and -brownies, and, with plane and hammer, he made houses for the dolls, -chairs and tables and sleds and all kinds of wooden toys. The mountain -dwarfs and goblins from the mines brought in the iron ore which they -heated red-hot, and they helped Santa Claus make the engines, trains of -cars, the automobiles, fire-engines and boats and all the toys of iron -and steel. They also brought him gold and silver and sparkling stones, -while the water nymphs gave him pearls and coral and softly tinted -shells which Santa Claus and his skillful helpers soon made into -beautiful jewelry to give to some of the big, grown-up children on -Christmas. - -“Everybody is a child at this time,” said Santa Claus to his good wife, -“and even if people do feel too large to play with dolls and drums, -still they must have their trinkets and things to make them happy.” - -“Yes,” answered Mrs. Santa Claus, “but we must have useful presents, -too, Father.” So she would knit stockings and mitts and make warm caps, -hoods and mufflers, new coats and dresses. Then, when the soft skins of -animals were brought in, she would make nice fur collars and muffs for -the big Mammas, and little fur sets for the little girlies, and then she -would take teeny-weeny scraps of fur that were left over, and make fur -sets for the dollies. Oh, Mrs. Santa Claus was a very sensible old lady, -you may be sure. - -Well, I could not begin to take time to tell you about all the marvelous -things that were made in that wonderful work-shop, nor how busily Santa -Claus worked at his big desk, writing stories while the artist fairies -drew the pictures for him, for I do want to tell you how all these fairy -helpers gave Santa Claus his Christmas tree. - -When, at last, Christmas Eve came, Mother Santa Claus helped Santa Claus -bundle up in his big, red cloak and pack his toys in a magic sleigh. -Then she gave him a big kiss, and he gave her a big hug and a kiss and -said: “Good-bye, Mother, Merry Christmas! I will be back when all is -done. Good-bye!” - -“‘When all is done’,” said Mrs. Santa Claus, chuckling to herself, “we -shall have it all done when he returns. Come, fairies!” and Mrs. Santa -Claus, with all the brownies, elves and fairies, went out to the -Christmas-tree forest. - -The frost fairies selected a tall fir tree which they hung all over with -shining, silvery threads of frost, while icicles, hanging from each -branch, glimmered and glistened in the moonlight. “What a beautiful -tree, frost fairies!” they all cried in a chorus, “But nothing is too -good for our dear Father Santa Claus!” Then each put his present on the -tree for Santa Claus. - -Mrs. Santa Claus had made him a new, beautiful red coat, with a cap to -match, and she had trimmed it with soft, white ermine. Some of the -tailor fairies had helped her, and they also had made him a new pair of -trousers. The little cobbler elves had made him a new pair of tall boots -and the glove-makers brought a pair of warm gloves. “We want his fingers -to be warm,” they said. Some of the fairies brought some animal skins -and made them into a nice fur robe. The water nymphs brought him a new -meerschaum pipe with an amber mouth-piece from out the sea, “For,” they -said, “he has smoked that old clay one so long that he ought to have a -new pipe.” - -The forest fairies placed under the tree a wonderful, new magic sleigh, -which was much larger than his old one. “He has to carry so much -nowadays,” they said. The mountain dwarfs had made for him some new, -metal sleigh-bells which jingled out the merriest Christmas music. - -Suddenly they heard the old bells tinkling on Santa’s old sleigh and -they all rushed back to the house to welcome him home. “What are you -doing out here, Mother?” asked Santa Claus, “and all the brownies, -elves, fairies, nymphs and mountain dwarfs out here with you? Why, don’t -you know this is the time for rest, before we all go to work for another -year?” - -“No, not to-night, Father Santa Claus. We are so happy we will dance -until morning. Come with us to the Christmas-tree forest,” and with all -the fairy helpers pushing and pulling him, and Mother Santa Claus -holding him tightly by the hand, Santa Claus was brought out to his own -Christmas tree. - -“Merry Christmas! Surprise! Surprise! Merry Christmas!” shouted all the -fairies, and poor Santa Claus was certainly so surprised that he did not -know what to say nor which way to turn. “A Christmas tree! And for me!” -gasped Santa Claus in his bewilderment. - -“Yes, yes, for you, for you!” they all shouted. “You are always making -other people have a merry Christmas, and now we want you to have a merry -Christmas. It is your very own Christmas tree, Father Santa Claus.” And -then they brought out his presents and gave them to him. - -When they had dressed him in his new suit, his eyes twinkled with -pleasure as he said, “Why, I don’t know myself now; my old clothes were -quite shabby and were tarnished with ashes and soot, and Dancer and -Prancer and Dunder and Blitzen and all the reindeer will hardly know -what to make of this beautiful new magic sleigh. And just listen to the -merry music of our new sleigh-bells! How good this warm fur robe will -feel over me! Sometimes it is pretty cold and my old one is getting thin -and worn. A new pipe! Oh, that is fine! My old one is just a stump of a -pipe which I had to hold tightly between my teeth, and now, with this -new one, the smoke will encircle my head like a wreath. How good you are -to me!” said Father Santa Claus, “and how did you ever plan it?” - -“Oh, good Mother Santa Claus helped us; without her help we could not -have had any Christmas tree surprise party at all.” - -“Yes,” said Father Santa Claus, “it always takes the good Mother to plan -and make a real Christmas party.” - -Then the fairy helpers surprised Mother Santa Claus by bringing out a -new dress which they had made for her, with a soft, lacy collar and a -white cap, and the mountain dwarfs gave her a pair of gold-rimmed -spectacles to help her as she did her sewing, and a new, gold pin set -with corals was brought to her by the sea nymphs. - -And then Father and Mother Santa Claus, dressed in their new Christmas -clothes, stood under the sparkling tree trimmed by the frost fairies. -Overhead the rainbow fairies came out and flashed their bright lights -high in the northern sky, while all the Christmas fairy helpers, the -brownies, elves, fairies, mountain dwarfs and nymphs, danced around and -around them in a fairy ring, calling gaily: - - “Merry Christmas, Father Santa Claus! - Merry Christmas, Mother Santa Claus! - Merry, Merry Christmas to all the World!” - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration: - -THE LEGEND -_of_ -ST. NICHOLAS -] - - - - -THE LEGEND OF SAINT NICHOLAS - - -Once upon a time there lived in Myra a good man named Nicholas. When he -was a young man his father and mother died of the plague, and he was -left the sole heir of all their vast estate; but he looked upon all this -money as belonging to God and felt that he, himself, was merely the -steward of God’s mercies. So he went about everywhere doing good and -sharing his riches with all those who were in need. - -Now there lived in that country a certain nobleman who had three -beautiful daughters. He had been very rich, but he lost all his -property and became so poor that he did not know what to do to provide -for his family. His daughters were anxious to be married, but their -father had no money to give them dowries and, in that country, no maiden -could marry unless she had her marriage portion, or dowry. They were so -very poor that they could scarcely get any food to eat. Their clothes -were so worn and ragged that they would not go out of the house and -their father was overcome with shame and sorrow. - -When the good Nicholas heard of their troubles he longed to help them. -He knew that the father was proud and that it would be hard to give him -money; so he thought that it would be best to surprise them with a gift. -Then Nicholas took some gold and, tying it in a long silken purse, went -at once to the home of the poor nobleman. It was night and the beautiful -maidens were fast asleep while the brokenhearted father, too wretched to -go to bed, sat by the fireside watching and praying. - -Nicholas stood outside, wondering how he could bestow his gift without -being seen when suddenly the moon came from behind the clouds and he saw -that a window in the house was open. Creeping softly to the open window, -he threw the purse right into the room where it fell at the feet of the -nobleman. The father picked up the purse and was very much surprised to -find it full of gold pieces. - -Awakening his daughters the father said: “See this purse which came -through the window and fell at my feet. It is indeed a gift from -Heaven. God has remembered us in our time of need.” - -After they had rejoiced together, they agreed to give most of the gold -to the eldest daughter, so that she would have her dowry and could wed -the young man she loved. - -Not long after that, Nicholas filled another silken purse with gold and -again he went by night so that no one should see him, and he threw this -purse also through the open window. Then when the father saw this golden -gift he again gave thanks. The money he gave to the second daughter who, -like her sister, at once married the man of her choice. - -Meanwhile the father was very curious to find out who was so kind to -them, for he wished to thank the person who had come in the night to -help them with these golden gifts. So he watched and waited night after -night, and after a time the good Nicholas came with another silken purse -filled with gold pieces for the youngest daughter. - -He was just about to throw it into the room when the nobleman rushed -from the house and, seizing him by his long robe, knelt before him, -saying: “O good Nicholas, servant of God, why seek to hide thyself?” And -he kissed his hands and feet and tried to thank him. - -But Nicholas answered: “Do not thank me, my good man, but thank the -Heavenly Father who has sent me to you in answer to your prayers. I am -but His messenger to help those who trust in Him. Tell no man of these -gifts of gold, nor who brought them to you in the night, for my deeds -are done in His name.” - -Thus the youngest daughter of the nobleman was married and she and her -father and sisters all lived happily the rest of their lives. - -The good Nicholas went about from place to place, and wherever he went -he did deeds of kindness, so that all the people loved him. - -One time he took a long journey to the Holy Land, and when he was upon -the sea there came a terrible storm; so that the ship was tossed about -and almost wrecked, and all the sailors gave up hope. - -But the good Nicholas said: “Fear not, our Heavenly Father will bring us -safely into harbor.” Then he knelt and prayed to God and the storm -ceased and the boat was brought safely to the land. Whereupon the -sailors fell at the feet of Nicholas and thanked him. - -He answered them humbly: “Thank your Father who is in Heaven, for He is -the ruler of us all. He it is who rules the earth and the sky and the -sea, and who, in His good mercy, spared our lives that we may serve -Him.” - -When Nicholas returned from Palestine he went to the city of Myra, where -he was appointed a bishop. After that he preached God’s Word and went -about doing good all of his life. When he died the people said: “We will -not call him Bishop Nicholas, but we will call him Saint Nicholas, for -if ever there was a saint upon earth it was our good Nicholas.” And so -to this day he is called “Good Saint Nicholas.” - -And now in many countries, they tell the story of the good Saint -Nicholas, and how he goes about the earth at Christmas-time bringing -gifts of love to all who deserve them, and because he had put his gifts -of gold in the long silken purses, our children to-day hang up their -long stockings to hold his gifts; and when the children are very good he -fills their stockings with sweetmeats, toys and trinkets, but if they -have been naughty, they will find a bunch of switches, showing that they -deserve to be punished. - -We all know that on Christmas Eve Saint Nicholas will come in the night, -for he never likes to be seen; and we know that he will always -live,--for is he not the spirit of love? and love can never die. - -So, every Christmas, let us give our gifts as he did those silken purses -so long ago--without anyone knowing about it--and let our gifts be a -surprise. Then we, too, can have the spirit of love and join in this -celebration of Christmas with good Saint Nicholas. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration: - -THE GIFT -OF LOVE -] - - - - -THE GIFT OF LOVE - - -It was a cold night for that part of the world, and the shepherds who -were out watching their flocks upon the hillside drew their heavy cloaks -about them. They had built a camp-fire to give them warmth and as they -sat in a group about the bright blaze they told stories to each other. - -“You speak of the coming of the King, Grandsire,” said a young -shepherd-boy eagerly as he leaned toward an old man who was talking, -“tell us more about the King.” - -“Yes, boy,” answered the old man, “I will tell you the tale as my -mother told it to me.” - -“Long, long ago, there was a shepherd-boy named David who wandered on -these very hills near Bethlehem, keeping watch over his father’s sheep. -David heard the story of the promised king who was to be sent from God -to rule over all of his people, and David was so happy that he played -upon his harp, and as he led the sheep through the green pastures and -beside the still waters, he sang of God as the Heavenly Shepherd. - -“When David grew up to be a man he became a king and wore royal robes -and a golden crown upon his head and he ruled over all the people. After -David, came King Solomon, and no king could rival the grandeur of his -palace and court. Since then many kings have ruled over us, but the -promised King has not come upon the earth, and the songs of David have -not yet been fulfilled.” - -“Oh, how I wish that I might see the King!” said the boy earnestly. - -“You are young, boy, and--who knows? maybe you will live to see the time -when these prophecies come true. But I am old and weary with waiting and -working and I may never live to see the promised King. Yet I know that -the word of God will come true and that He will send His only beloved -son to rule the earth.” - -As the wind whistled over the hillside, the sheep huddled more closely -together. - -“Our little lambs will suffer with the cold,” said the shepherd-boy. - -“No,” answered his father, “look at the way the mother-sheep lie closely -about them, protecting the lambs with their warm bodies. No, the old -sheep may feel the chill wind but they will not let their babies -suffer.” - -“Just look at my little baby lamb,” said the boy. “See it is curled up -snugly by its mother. Oh! I do hope that no harm will come to it, for it -is the tiniest lamb of the flock and I love it. Do you know, Father. I -call it ‘Snow-white’ for it is like the white snow which we sometimes -see on the far-distant mountain-peaks.” - -“Come, boy,” said the father, “you have rested all day; so you watch the -flock and the fire for a time and I will lie down here by Grandsire and -take a nap.” - -The boy lay upon the ground looking at the camp-fire smoke curling up -toward the sky. Then he looked at the sleeping shepherds stretched out -upon the ground, and as his eyes rested upon the old man, he remembered -the story and said softly: “How I should like to see that King!” - -The cold wind seemed to die down and the clouds went across the sky like -a flock of scurrying sheep, leaving the stars twinkling brightly in the -dark-blue vault of the heavens. - -“How beautiful it is, and how still!” he said. - -He looked again at the group of sleeping shepherds, and then he looked -at the sleeping sheep. As he watched, he saw his little lamb stir -uneasily. - -“Poor little baby, poor little Snow-white, believe that it is lonely--I -will hold it under my warm coat and protect it while the mother-sheep -sleeps.” And so the boy lifted the baby lamb in his strong arms, and, -opening his coat, he held it closely in his bosom, while the -mother-sheep slept peacefully by his side. The boy forgot to watch the -fire and it soon flickered and went out. - -He felt a strange chill over all the land, and it was so still--so very -still that he wished the men would awaken, or that one of the sheep -would bleat, for he felt lonely and afraid and he knew not why. - -Suddenly he saw a bright light flashing through the heavens. Was he -asleep or dreaming? He sat up and rubbed his eyes. No, the light was -coming nearer and nearer, down, down toward the earth. Then he saw that -the sheep were stirring uneasily and he heard them bleating, for they -were frightened from their sleep. The shepherds, too, were awakening. - -“What is the meaning of this strange light?” said one. - -“Has a star fallen from the sky?” asked another. - -“See this golden cloud of glory resting over us. It is so dazzling -bright that I dare not look upon it.” - -The shepherds seized their staffs and some of them covered their faces -with their cloaks, for they were very frightened. The old man went down -upon his knees and looked up reverently while the boy stood motionless -gazing spellbound at the radiant vision, for, as they watched they saw -in this cloud of golden glory, a beautiful angel who came down, down to -the earth and stood upon the hillside among them. When they saw this -messenger from God the shepherds trembled with fear, and the angel said: - -“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall -be to all people. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, -a Savior which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you, ye -shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger.” - -And, as the angel ceased speaking, suddenly the heavens opened and there -was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host who were singing and -praising God, saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, -good will toward men.” - -Then the bright light was gone and the startled shepherds looked up long -and earnestly toward the sky. - -“Truly, it was a message from God,” said the shepherd, as he bowed his -white head. “God has sent us this angel to tell us that the promised -King has come.” - -“But the angel said that the Babe was wrapped in swaddling clothes and -lying in a manger,” questioned the boy. “Is it not strange for a prince -to come to such a lowly palace?” - -“Yes,” said the old man, “it seems strange, but we know that He is truly -the gift of love from God--His only Son who has been promised to us for, -lo, these many years. I thank God that my old eyes have been permitted -to see this heavenly vision. Come, we must go in haste to find Him.” - -“What gift of love shall we carry to the King, Grandsire?” whispered the -boy. - -“The most precious thing we own,” answered the old man, “that which we -love the best.” - -“But we shepherds have no gold nor silver, nor sparkling gems fit for a -king,” said one of the shepherds. “What, then, can we carry to this -child?” - -“I know,” said the boy, as he looked lovingly down upon the little lamb -which he was still holding in his strong young arms, “we can give this -lamb--Snow-white; it is the purest and whitest little lamb from our -flock. I love it and it is the best that we have to offer, and surely -the good Father in Heaven knows that we are bringing our gift of love to -the King.” - -“The boy is right,” said the old man. “This baby lamb--the purest of the -flock--is truly our gift of love.” - -And so the shepherds went in haste down the hillside, the boy holding in -his arms the baby lamb. Once it bleated softly, “Ma-Ma-a-a,” as though -it called its mother, and the boy seemed to hear the mother-sheep on the -hillside calling out, “Ba-ba-a-a,” as though she were calling her baby. - -“Poor mother-sheep, she will be grieving for her little one,” said the -boy to himself, “but if she could only understand she would be glad to -give her lamb to the King.” - -At last they reached the little town of Bethlehem, and they came to a -low stable built upon the hillside, and there they found their King--a -tiny babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, as the angel had said, and lying -in a manger. - -They saw the cattle standing near and Joseph watching over the Holy -Mother Mary and the Heavenly Child. - -This was no palace home; these were no royal robes of state, but the -shepherds knew that the words of the angel were true and that this Babe -was their promised king. The heavenly light was streaming from the face -of the Holy Child and the shepherds covered their faces, for they could -not look upon its radiance. Then they fell upon their knees and -worshipped the Child, and thanked God that the gift of love had been -given to all the waiting world. - -The boy looked on with wondering eyes, and then he held out the little -lamb, and the Babe smiled into the eyes of the boy and stretched out His -tiny hands as though He would take the lamb. Then the boy sank slowly -down upon his knees by the Babe and placed at His feet the tiniest lamb -from the flock--a gift of love for the Christ-Child. - -[Illustration] - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHRISTMAS STORIES *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. 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