the fire, using the tongs
and shovel. He takes the chair, in which he has been sitting, and sets
it against the wall beside the clothes basket. Then he lights the
candle on the mantel shelf, blows out the lamp, leaving the room in a
dim light, and goes out.

For a little while everything is quiet. Then there is a noise from
the direction of the wood box. The cover rises, and the head of a
brownie appears, inside the box. He climbs out, followed by another.
They caper about the room, looking at everything, listening at the
doors, looking up the chimney. Then they go to the clothes basket and
raise the lid. Up come four arms, and then two house-fairies stand up
in the basket, and get out with the help of the chair. They, also,
flit about the room, looking at things. Meanwhile the brownies have
taken the broom and dust pan, and begun to sweep, especially over by
the outside door and by the wood box. The fairies take a chair, and
climb up by the mantel shelf. They take down the colored paper, paste
and scissors, and, carrying them to the table, set to work, making
paper caps. In a few moments they hold up two, complete. They leave
them on the table.

Now sleigh bells are heard approaching. The brownies and fairies
leave their work, and clapping their hands, run to the fire-place, and
stand in a group, facing it, looking in. Now the sleigh bells have
come very near: and now they are still. And NOW Santa Claus is heard
scrambling down the chimney. As he comes out from the fire-place, the
brownies and fairies separate to let him through. He sets down his
pack. Then the brownies, on one side, and the fairies, on the other,
take hold of his hands and draw him toward the front of the stage.

SANTA CLAUS smiles down at them, and, shaking the hands that hold
his, says, How are you all? Merry as crickets? They nod, and dance
up and down, still holding his hands. And what have you been doing
with yourselves? he asks them. Playing? They all nod. And working?
he asks. They nod again. Then the brownies draw him over to the their
side, and show him how clean the floor is. Good! says SANTA CLAUS.
Then the brownies let go his hand, and the fairies draw him over to
their side, and show him the caps they have made. Fine! says SANTA
CLAUS. Then the fairies let go his other hand, and he goes on
talking. How are Gertrude and Walter? Have they been good? They all
nod. As for the older people, he says, I don't need to ask you
about them. Do