through the folds of the apron. Besides that, they had seen Father go
to the largest closet of all with parcels covered by a blanket. And it
is very hard to know that there are things, wonderfully beautiful
things like treasures, hidden in dark closets, and not to be able to
investigate and find out about them. But then, of course, there was
the fun of guessing. And they guessed everything under the sun, enough
toys and articles to fill the biggest store in the world, or the whole
of Santa Claus' workshop, which stands under the North Star where the
polar bears live and the Aurora weaves pretty scarfs in the sky.

Well, that day passed, and in the morning Jehosophat climbed on a
chair again and put a little mark through the next number--24.

"Tomorrow!" he said in a solemn whisper. And the whispers of the other
two children, echoing him, were quite as full of wonder and awe.

Then they went to the window. Snow was on the ground.

"It's as white as the feathers of the Foolish White Geese," Jehosophat
happened to remark.

"No, it's prettier than that," Marmaduke corrected him. "It's like the
coats of the Hippity-Hop Bunnies. And the sky is just as gray as the
Quaker ladies over in the meeting-house on Wally's creek," he added.

That afternoon they heard sleigh-bells, clear, tinkling, but never
jangling, on the still air.

"Whoa!" yelled the Toyman.