idea of it! I sent him packing about his business, I can tell you. But
all the same I do feel mighty queer, and that's a fact. And the worst of
it is that this is Christmas Eve, and here I am shut up indoors in my
house at the North Pole, and every stocking in the world is hanging
empty. I cannot bear to have Christmas come and go without any word at
all from me, so I have gotten my good little friends the gnomes and
fairies and elves to help me out. They had some old fairy toys, that are
almost as good as new, and these they are going to carry about to all
the children; and although these gifts are rather different from what
you usually receive from me, I hope they will at least keep you from
forgetting poor old Santa Claus."

_Jack and Polly look sadly at one another, and then at the little
green man. He reaches out his hand, takes the letter, folds it up,
replaces it in the envelope, and tucks it away in his pocket. Then he
brings out two little packages, all in green paper, tied with green
string, and gives one to Polly and one to Jack. Then, quick as a flash,
he has disappeared in the fire-place._

Where did he go to? _asks_ POLLY, _after a moment of
surprise._

Up the chimney, _says_ JACK.

But what has he given to us? _says_ POLLY, _looking at the little
green package in her hand._

Let's open them, _says_ JACK.

_So the two children untie the strings, and open the papers, and soon