earned 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 people who seldom saw trees, and placed candles and toys on the
branches. Of course he could not carry enough trees in one load of all
who wanted them, but in some homes the fathers were able to get trees
and have them all ready for Santa Claus when he arrived; and these the
good Claus always decorated as prettily as possible and hung with toys
enough for all the children who came to see the tree lighted.

These novel ideas and the generous manner