GWENDOLINE. 117

by the nursery fireplace, where there was an open-grate fire.
Gwendoline was very much afraid that Santa Claus would
burn his “ footies,” but she was told by Curtis that his shoes
were made of asbestos; and, though she did not in the least
know what asbestos was, she was perfectly satisfied, and was
borne off by Aunt Mary with the assurance that Santa Claus
was not to be disheartened by open fires or anything else,
-and that he would surely come.

“JT want to see dear, nice, good, beautiful Santa Claus,”
said Gwendoline, whose eyes were shining with excitement.

“Oh, no, you must not!” said Curtis, for all the children
were going up-stairs “ chick-a-my, chick-a-my, craney-crow.”
Curtis was holding Aunt Mary’s gown, and Clare had hold of
Curtis’s jacket, Allen of Clare’s apron, and Theo of Allen’s
_ jacket.

“No, you must not,” said the others.

“ He doesn’t like any one to see him filling stockings.”

“ Filling stockings” came last from Theo, far in the rear,
for Clare’s apron-strings had become unfastened, and there was
a long gap in that part of the procession.

“ But why ?” asked Gwendoline, leaning over so she could
see Theo’s yellow head. “Why, Feo?”

“ Because,” said Theo from below, “he has to nibble off
the candy canes when they are too long, and he doesn’t like to
be caught doing it.”

A burst of laughter greeted this and the children