"Where are you going?" the toyman asked
the Child.
"I am going to see Santa Claus," the Child answered.
"Will you know Santa Claus when you see him?" the toyman asked.
"Oh, yes," the Child said. "Santa Claus will be making toys--" but he
did not say any more, for the toyman got down from his bench and put a
box of quaintly carved little wooden animals in the Child's happy
hands. It was a good gift, for each animal was different, and it had
taken the toyman many evenings to cut them out.
"Merry Christmas to you from Santa Claus!" said the toyman, as the
Child thanked him and went on, wondering.
Now it was Christmas Eve, and so the Child started home. The lights
from the Christmas candles shining from many windows made a bright
path for him, and he felt very happy indeed. He knew how pleasant it
would be at home. The Christmas tree would be set up, waiting for the
gifts that each one was going to give the others. There would be a
fire of new logs in the fireplace, and holly wreaths at the windows,
and he would hang up his stocking. The Child felt as glad as if Santa
Claus were walking home by his side through the snowy street, but he
thought, just before he reached home,
"I wish that I could hear Santa Claus' bells!"
Then the Child stopped, and listened.
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