near the Nodding Donkey, and also a hole in the paper in which he was
wrapped. He could look out, and on every side he saw big piles of snow.
Snow was also falling from the clouds.

On and on rushed the sleigh of Santa Claus, drawn by the eight reindeer.
Over the clouds and drifts of snow, and through the white flakes they
rushed, the sleigh-bells playing a merry tune.

"Oh, this is a wonderful voyage!" thought the Nodding Donkey. "I wonder
when I shall reach the Earth?"

Suddenly there was a hard shock. The sleigh stopped as Santa Claus
shouted, and then, all at once, the Nodding Donkey felt himself shooting
out of the hole in the bag. Into a deep snowdrift he fell, and there he
stuck, head down and feet up in the air!




CHAPTER III

THE JOLLY STORE


"Dear me," thought the Nodding Donkey to himself, as he felt the cold,
chilly snow all about him, "this is most dreadful! I hope Santa Claus
has not become angry with me and sent me back to the North Pole. I did
so much want to go down to Earth and be in a big store for Christmas. I
hope I'm not back at the North Pole."