(Here the children laughed, and Susy said, “I guess he must have bumped his nose against that chimney:  see what a hump!”)

“O, O, don’t you make sport of me, children!  My nose is big, to be sure, but I’m going to keep it and make the best of it!  If you love Santa as he loves you, you wouldn’t mind the looks.  I was going to change my coat and dickey; but then, thinks I, I’ll come just as I am!  I patted myself on the shoulder, and says I, ’Santa Claus, don’t you fret if you are growin’ old!  You may look a little dried up, but your heart isn’t wrinkled; O no!’ You see father Adam and me was very near of an age, but somehow I never growed up!  I always thought big folks did very well in their place; but for my part, give me the children.  Hurrah for the children!”

(Great clapping and laughing.)

“I tell you, darlings, I haven’t forgot a single one of you.  My pockets are running over.  I’ve been preparing presents for you ever since last fall, when the birds broke up housekeeping.

“Here’s a tippet for the Prudy girl, and she may have it for nothing; and they are cheaper ’n that, if you take ’em by the quantity.

“I’m a walkin’ book-case.  Why, I’ve brought stories and histories enough to set up a store!  I’ve got more nuts than you can shake a hammer at; but I think there’s more bark to ’em than there is bite.  O, O, I find I can’t crack ’em with my teeth, as I used to a hundred years ago!

“But my dear, sweet, cunning little hearers, I must be a-goin’.  Queen Victoria, said she to me, said she, ’Now, Santa, my love, do you hurry back to fill my children’s stockings before the clock strikes twelve.’  Queen Vic is an excellent woman, and is left a poor widow; so I can’t disappoint her, poor soul!

“I must be a-goin’!  Would like to hug and kiss you all round, but can’t stop. (Kisses his hand and bows.) A Merry Christmas to you all, and a Happy New Year.”

So saying, Santa Claus suddenly disappeared at the hall door, dropping his heavy pack upon the table.

In another minute the lively old gentleman was in the front parlor without any mask, and of course it was nobody but cousin Percy “with his face off.”

Then they all fell to work sorting out presents.  Prudy seized her fur tippet, and put it on at once.

“O, how pretty I look,” said she; “just like a little cat! Ain’t I cunning?”

But nobody could pause to attend to Prudy, though she chatted very fast, without commas or periods, and held up to view a large wax doll which “would be alive if it could talk.”  They all had gifts as well as Prudy, and wished to talk rather than to listen.  They asked questions without waiting for answers, and did not mind interrupting one another, and talking all at once, like a party of school children.

All this was hardly polite, it is true; but people are sometimes surprised out of their good manners on Christmas evenings, and must be forgiven for it, as such a good time happens but once a year.