the rooms, he threw sugar
plums and mottoes, nuts and raisins, on all sides, causing a great
scrambling and screaming and laughing among the children.

Then he began to disengage the presents, which were pinned about him,
and tied to the buttons of his coat; and as he did so, he looked at the
label, and threw it at the one for whom it was intended. It would be
hard for one who was not there to imagine the lively scene which was now
presented in the great parlors at Brook Farm; the presents flying round
in all directions; the children dodging, and diving, and catching, while
shouts and screams of laughter made the house ring.

"But who is he?--who can he be?" was the question which each asked of
the other a great many times during this merry scene. Mr. Wharton and
Mr. Ellison, "Aunt Fanny's" husband, were both in the room, and they
were sure there was no other gentleman in the house.

Just then Robert screamed, "Oh, I know now! It's cousin Tom! He throws
left-handed!" And now the effort was made to pull off the mask, but
Santa Claus avoided them with great dexterity, still continuing his
business of distributing the presents.

At the feet of Agnes he placed a work-box, much handsomer than that
which Lewie had destroyed; at Emily's, a writing-desk, and some valuable
books; and when his sled was emptied, he drew the sled, and left it with
little Harry, for whom it was intended.

"My goodness gracious!" said cousin Betty, as a beautiful muff "took her
in the head," as Albert said, and sadly disarranged the set of her odd
little turban.

"And now I believe old Santa Claus has finished his labors," said Mr.
Wharton.

"Oh no, not yet," cried Effie; "he must come with us for a new supply.
But I feel a little afraid of him yet. If I only could be sure it was
cousin Tom!"

"You need not doubt that, Effie," said Robert; "nobody else ever threw
like cousin Tom. I've seen him play snow-ball often enough."

And now Santa Claus was taken captive by the children, and in a few
minutes he re-appeared, laden with gifts, but this time for the older
members of the family; and the products of the children's industry made
quite a display, and much astonished those for whom they were intended,
the children having kept their secrets well.

And now, as the rooms were warm, old Santa Claus was quite willing to
get rid of his mask and his furs; and this done, he straightened up, and
cousin Tom stood revealed.

"And how did you come,