her_.

_Now while the children had their backs turned, a funny thing
happened, for out of the fire-place there stepped, without making a
sound, a little man dressed all in green. Jack and Polly, when they turn
about, see him standing there._

Why, who are you? _asks_ JACK, _standing still, but very bravely
keeping in front of Polly._

_The little green man says never a word, but after waiting a moment
with his finger on his lips, he beckons to them to come forward, and
slowly, for they are a little frightened, they obey him. When they are
quite close, he looks cautiously around, and then draws a large white
letter out of his pocket, and hands it to Jack. Jack looks at it, and
shows it to Polly. Then he looks at the little green man, who nods his
head with a funny little jerk._

Shall I open it? _asks_ JACK. _And the little green man nods
again. So Jack opens it._

Shall I read it? _asks_ JACK. _And the little green man nods
again. So Jacks begins to read:_ "My dear Children all over the
world, I, who write you this letter, am your old friend Santa Claus,
and how shall I tell you the sad news, for tonight is the night when
I ought to get into my reindeer sleigh and go about filling your precious
stockings with Christmas gifts, and I cannot do it because I am sick.
My back aches like a tooth ache, and every joint in my whole body is
so stiff that I can hardly move. Old Father Time, who pretends to be
something of a doctor, says the trouble is that I am growing old--the