upon the rug, whereupon Edwin heard him say in a gruff tone:

"Now, if that hain't a mess! Guess I've come off without that there list,
after all. Thought those little imps wasn't going to get it in, and when
they did"--here he pulled out a long strip of paper that appeared to have
writing upon it and from which he began reading the names of the children
and the presents that each one was to receive.

As Edwin saw the costly gifts that were one by one taken from the sack,
there seemed to be nothing lacking and plenty for him to have at least one
toy, but his name was not called. There was a hobby-horse, a top, a horn, a
ball, a wagon, a doll, dishes, a rocker, candy, and nuts. A sudden longing
came into his heart to be remembered.

As if divining Edwin's thoughts, the monster, who was the child's own uncle
disguised, turned suddenly and, facing Edwin, said:

"Now, sir, I'll become acquainted with you! I'm the person that some folks
call Santa Claus, but by others I'm known as St. Nick. To you, Edwin, I
shall be St. Nick, and I want to say that if you touch any of these things
that I have placed here for your cousins, you'll find out what Old Nick can
do." Then with a wave of his hand he said, "Come on out here now before I
leave to go to another home. I want you to look at each of these things, so
that you will know just what they are like, and then you see to it that you
keep your stupid hands forever off!"

In obedience to the commanding voice of the frightful being, Edwin went
breathlessly forward and listened to the words:

"Do you see that horse? Well, that's Elmer's, and because he has been such