they had to dig three days before they could find it. O, ho!

"I was a-wanderin' round all last night; a real shivery night, too! Got
so _broke up_, there's nothing left of me but small pieces. O, hum!

"Such a time as I had in some of those chimneys, you haven't any idee!
Why, if you'll believe me, over there in Iceland somebody forgot to
clear out the chimney, and there I stuck fast, like a fish-bone in your
throat; couldn't be picked out, couldn't be swallowed!

"The funniest time that was! How I laughed! And then the children's
mother woke up, and, 'O, dear,' said she; 'hear the wind sigh down the
chimney!' 'Only me,' says I; 'and I've caught you napping this time!'
She helped me out, and when I had caught my breath, I climbed out the
window; but, deary me, I shouldn't wonder if that very woman went to
sleep again, and thought it was all a dream! Heigh-ho! that's the way
they always treat poor Santa Claus nowadays."

(Here the children laughed, and Susy said, "I guess he must have bumped
his nose against that chimney: see what a hump!")

"O, O, don't you make sport of me, children! My nose is big, to be sure,
but I'm going to keep it and make the best of it! If you love Santa as
he loves you, you wouldn't mind the looks. I _was_ going to change my
coat and dickey; but then, thinks I, I'll come just as I am! I patted
myself on the shoulder, and says I, 'Santa Claus, don't you fret if you
_are_ growin' old! You may look a little dried up, but your heart isn't
wrinkled; O no!' You see father Adam and me was very near of an age, but
somehow I never growed up! I always thought big folks did very well in
their place; but for my part, give me the children. Hurrah for the