fell asleep, and Claus, filled with gladness that he had found the
wanderer, held him closely while he slumbered.

The wind, finding no more mischief to do, climbed the hill and swept
on toward the north. This gave the weary snowflakes time to settle
down to earth, and the Valley became still again.

The boy, having slept well in the arms of his friend, opened his eyes
and sat up. Then, as a child will, he looked around the room and saw
all that it contained.

"Your cat is a nice cat, Claus," he said, at last. "Let me hold it."

But puss objected and ran away.

"The other cat won't run, Claus," continued the boy. "Let me hold
that one." Claus placed the toy in his arms, and the boy held it
lovingly and kissed the tip of its wooden ear.

"How did you get lost in the storm, Weekum?" asked Claus.

"I started to walk to my auntie's house and lost my way," answered Weekum.

"Were you frightened?"

"It was cold," said Weekum, "and the snow got in my eyes, so I could
not see. Then I kept on till I fell in the snow, without knowing
where I was, and the wind blew the flakes over me and covered me up."

Claus gently stroked his head, and the boy looked up at him and smiled.