Such a busy place was the workshop of Santa Claus at the North Pole,
where the Nodding Donkey was drying in his coat of varnish!

The place was like a great big greenhouse, all made of glass, only the
glass was sheets of crystal-clear ice. Santa Claus needed plenty of
light in his workshop, for in the dark it is not easy to put red cheeks
and blue eyes on dolls, or paint toy soldiers and wind up the springs of
the toys that move.

The workshop of Santa Claus, then, was like a big greenhouse, only no
flowers grew in it because it is very cold at the North Pole. All about
was snow and ice, but Santa Claus did not mind the cold, nor did his
workmen, for they were dressed in fur, like the polar bears and the
seals.

On each side of the big shop, with its icy glass roof, were work
benches. At these benches sat the funny little men who made the toys.

Some were stuffing sawdust into dolls, others were putting the lids on
the boxes where the Jacks lived, and still others were trying the
Jumping Jacks to see that they jerked their legs and arms properly.

Up and down, between the rows of benches, walked Santa Claus himself.
Now and then some workman would call:

"Please look here, Santa Claus! Shall I make this Tin Soldier with a
sword or a gun?"

And St. Nicholas would answer: