The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-25
tcopyrisht 1871. BY LAtane c. Torney). Z

plums.
Then. noticing more closely. they
saw that hanging from the branches
Of some or the trees were won
derful fruits. and upon others grew
toys OF every sort and description.
From an especially Npeculiar-look-
ing tree hung real live white rab-
bits growing by the ears.
BobbinE about In the treetops
were the funniest little elves pick
ing Ntoys and sugar plums and
fruit and handing them down little
ladders to other funny little elves
below who put them into little
wheelbarrows. Other little elves
were rolling the wheelbarrows
away, and still others, with water
ing pots and trowels, were attend
ing to the flowers.
The sound of their chatter and
laughter made the air merry, and
they gaily called out as the aero
plane passed by, Welcome to San
ia Claus Land. children!"
Tidy Lou and Bobby Bright were
SO astonished they could scarcely
believe their eyes and ears.
Before long they saw before them
a big white house with red and
white striped pillars supporting the
porch roof.
FAIRY Jack brought the aero
plane to the ground and helped
the children to get out. Then he
led them to the house, which, to
their establishment, they saw wac
built entirely of enormous blocks
of sugar, and was so white that II
resembled snow. The red and
white pillars supporting the porch
roof itself was red sugar. and the
window panes rock candy as clear
and smooth as glass.
Fairy Jack knocked upon the
door with red candy knocker,
and IL was instantly opened by
pink-cheeked little old lady with
the kindliest, crinkliest smile.
From her belt hung a bunch of
keys. and on her head she wore a
white cap.
you dear children. welcome to
Santa Claus Land" she cried, kiss
ing them. "This is Santa Claus
house. and 1 am Mrs. Goody Good
heart, Santa Claus housekeeper.
Bless your hearts. come right in.
You are just in time. for dinner"
And followed by the fairy she led
them into a big, bright hafi. which
had for all the world the appear
ance Of toy shop come to life.
Tidy Lou and Bobby Bright
stood entranced. The floor was
carpeted In red plush. The walls
and ceiling were also red and were
hung with festoons of holly and
cedar. and in golden brackets thou
sands of little candles blazed and
glittered.
Making a great hubbub. tumbling
over one another. and riding upon
the backs OF stuffed velvet animals
were dozens of funny looking lit
tie elves and gnomes.
At the end of the hall a CHEEKY
IRE blazed in huge fireplace.
from the mantel of which hung
many Christmas stockings hlled
with goodies.
Standing before the Are upon a
great white fur rug was no other
than Santa Claus himself.
He was dressed in red suit,
trimmed in white fur and wore top
boots { brwn leather. His Ing
white beard hung down to his
waist and his cheeks and nose
were as red and rosy as ripe cher
ries. He had the joliiest, kindest
face the children had ever seen; in
deed. his eyes sparkled and shone
with fun until they didn't seem
eyes at all, but two little dancing
sunbeams.
We'll, we'll" cried Santa Claus.
striding to meet them. IF this
isn't dear little Bobby Bright" and
he picked Bobby Bright up and
tossed him into the air; "and my
dear little Tidy Lou" and he pat
ted Tidy Louis curls. Welcome to
Santa Claus Land. children. I've
had a hard time finding you. but
now my fairy, Jack. has discovered
you at last. and here you are"
SsI TOLD you it was because we
| lived so high up" Tidy Lou
whispered to Bobby Bright.
You are the very first children
who have ever visited Santa Claus
Land" Santa continued. after we
have had dinner I VIII show you all
over my house, and you shall see
the toys being packed and what
my little helpers are doing"
In the meantime Mrs. Good Heart
had helped the children to take on
their wraps and they stood warm
ing themselves before the nre.
Suddenly a door at the side Of
the hall new open rs II by magic,
and two enormous polar bears,
walking on their hind legs and
wearing walters aprons, brought In
a table spread with white damask
ana set with shining silver. They
set Il upon the fur rug in front OF
the Are. placing around 1t four
golden chairs
Then bowling most comically they
departed.
After Santa Claus had said grace
they all sat down, Mrs. Good Heart
at the head Of the table, Tidy Lou
ana Bobby Bright on either side,
ana santa Claus himself at the foot
Fairy Jack seated himself upon a
Golden cushion on the floor, for the
fairies do not eat real food, you
know,
Just then three funny little men
dressed half in yellow and half In
green appeared from somewhere.
each carrying a fiddle under his
arm, and, after tuning up. they be-
gan playing a lively air.
"old King Coles fddlers three"
said Santa Claus, waving his hand
Al the hdNlers. Every Christmas
Eve he sends them to play for me-"
Just as he spoke the magic door
gain few open and lot of little
elves, half Of whom wore green
tights and caps trimmed in red
bells ana carried holly, and the
other half of whom wore green
tights and caps trimmed In white
bells and carried mistletoe. came
tumbling in. They rushed about,
hanging the mistletoe and holly,
singing In CHEEKY voices which