gate at home, and as
they drove up to the door, with a shout of, "Here they are!" out
poured a number of the same little people--like those they had already
seen at the gate. Some helped them out, some stood like a guard, and
some took their reindeer to drive them to the stable.

"You are just in time," said the captain of this party, as he stepped
forward and saluted them. "The old Gentleman has been waiting for you,
sending out to the gate to watch for you all evening."

Tommy was about to ask, "How did he know we were coming?" but before
he could get the words out, the little man said, "Oh, he knows all
that boys do, especially about Christmas time. That's his business."

"My!" thought Tommy, "I shall have to mind what I even think up here.
He answers just as if I had said it. I hope he knows what I want for
Christmas."

"Wait and see," said the little man; and Tommy, though he was glad to
hear it, determined not to think any more just then, but he was sorry
he had not thought to wish for more things while he was wishing.

"Oh, don't worry about that," said the guard. "Santa Claus doesn't
care much what you ask for for yourself. Even if he gives those
things, you soon get tired of them or lose them or break them up. It
is the things one asks for for others that he gives pleasure with.
That's the reason he has such a good time himself, because he gives
all the things to others."

Tommy tried to think what he had ever given to any one. He had given
pieces of candy and cake when he had plenty, but the sled was the only
thing he had ever really given. He was about to mention this when the
guard mentioned it for him.

"Oh, that sled was all right," he said, with a little nod. "Come in,"
and the great ice-doors opened before them, and in they walked.

They passed through a great hall, all ice, as transparent as glass,
though curiously it was warm and dry and filled with every kind of
Christmas "things:"--everything that Tommy had ever seen, and a myriad
more that he had never dreamed of. They were packed and stacked on
either side, and a lot of little people, like those he had already
seen, were working among them, tossing them about and shouting to each
other with glee to "Look out," just as the boys did when coasting on
the hill.

"I tell you," said one, "the Governor will have a busy time to-night.
It beats last Christmas." And he made a run and a jump, and lit on a
big pile of bundles which suddenly toppled