ld hear some one laughing loudly, and talking in a big, jovial
voice that sounded as if he were good friends with the whole world.

And straightway she knew that Santa himself was coming. Little Girl's
heart went pit-a-pat for a minute while she wondered if Santa would
notice her, but she didn't have to wonder long, for he spied her at once
and said:

"Bless my soul! who's this? and where did you come from?"

Little Girl thought perhaps she might be afraid to answer him, but she
wasn't one bit afraid. You see he had such a kind little twinkle in his
eyes that she felt happy right away as she replied, "Oh, I'm Little
Girl, and I wanted so much to see Santa that I just came, and here I
am!"

"Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho!" laughed Santa, "and here you are! Wanted to see
Santa, did you, and so you came! Now that's very nice, and it's too bad
I'm in such a hurry, for we should like nothing better than to show you
about and give you a real good time. But you see it is quarter of twelve
now, and I must be on my way at once, else I'll never reach that first
chimney-top by midnight. I'd call Mrs. Santa and ask her to get you some
supper, but she is busy finishing dolls' clothes which must be done
before morning, and I guess we'd better not bother her. Is there
anything that you would like, Little Girl?" and good old Santa put his
big warm hand on Little Girl's curls and she felt its warmth and
kindness clear down to her very heart. You see, my dears, that even
though Santa was in such a great hurry, he wasn't too busy to stop and
make some one happy for a minute, even if it was some one no bigger than
Little Girl.

So she smiled back into Santa's face and said: "Oh, Santa, if I could
_only_ ride down to Earth with you behind those splendid reindeer! I'd
love to go; won't you _please_ take me? I'm so small that I won't take
up much room on the seat, and I'll keep very still and not bother one
bit!"

Then Santa laughed, _such_ a laugh, big and loud and rollicking, and he
said, "Wants a ride, does she? Well, well, shall we take her, Little
Elves? Shall we take her, Little Fairies? Shall we take her, Good
Reindeer?"

And all the Little Elves hopped and skipped and brought Little Girl a
sprig of holly; and all the Little Fairies bowed and smiled and brought
her a bit of mistletoe; and all the Good Reindeer jingled their bells
loudly, which meant, "Oh, yes! let's take her! She's a good Little Girl!
Let her ride!" And before Little Gir