l good," interrupted Queen Victoria.
"Maybe Mahser Zanty Claws disagree wiff yo'."

"Who dat ar done gone git her head cracked wiff de wooden spoon fur
gobblin' all de hom'ny befo' de breakfuss war ready?" said Washington
Webster, slyly.

"I 'most wish dar war no Washington Websters in de hull worle--I
certainly do. Dey's too sassy to lib," said Queen Victoria. "An' _sich_
busybodies--dey certainly is."

"But how am we to know wedder we's Mahser Zanty Claws's kine o' good
chillun?" said Christopher Columbus. "We's might be good nuff fur
ourseffs, an' not good nuff fur him. If I knowed he come yere certain
sure, I git some green ornamuntses from ole Pete Campout--he done gone
got hunderds an' hunderds an' piles an' piles--to stick up on de walls,
an' make de house look more despectable like."

"Let's go an' ax Miss Bowles," said Queen Victoria. "Baby Bowles am fass
asleep, an' she's in de kitchen makin' pies, an' she know
ebberyting--she certainly do."

And off they all trooped, Primrose Ann, cat, and all.

"Come in," called the pleasant voice of their landlady, when they rapped
on her door; and in they tumbled, asking the same question all together
in one breath: "Mahser Zanty Claws comin' to our house, Miss Bowles?"
Christopher Columbus adding, "'Pears dough we muss ornamentem some if he
do."

Mrs. Bowles crimped the edge of her last pie, and then sat down, the
children standing in a row before her.

"Have you all been very good?" she said. "Suppose you tell me what good
thing you have done since yesterday afternoon. Then I can guess about
Santa Claus."

"Primrose Ann cried fur dat ar orange yo' gib me," said Queen Victoria,
after a moment's thought, "an' I eat it up quick 's I could, an' didn't
gib her none, 'cause I's 'fraid she git de stummick-ache."

"I car'd home de washin' fur mommy fur two cakes an' some candy," said
Washington Webster.

"And you?" asked Mrs. Bowles, turning to Christopher Columbus.

"I ran 'way from 'Dolphus Snow, an' wouldn't fight him, 'cause I 'fraid
I hurt him," said Christopher, gravely.

Mrs. Bowles laughed merrily. "Go home and ornament," she said. "I am
sure Santa Claus will pay you a visit."

And he did; for on Christmas morning, when the young Van Johnsons rushed
pell-mell, helter-skelter, into the room prepared for his call, a new
jacket hung on one chair, a new pair of trousers on the other; a doll's
head peeped out of Queen Victoria's stocking; a new sled, gayly p