A Kidnapped Santa Claus

And Charlie Smith, who delights to

romp and play out of doors, and who wanted some new rubber boots to

keep his feet dry, received a sewing box filled with colored worsteds

and threads and needles, which made him so provoked that he

thoughtlessly called our dear Santa Claus a fraud.

Had there been many such mistakes the Daemons would have accomplished

their evil purpose and made the children unhappy. But the little

friends of the absent Santa Claus labored faithfully and intelligently

to carry out their master's ideas, and they made fewer errors than

might be expected under such unusual circumstances.

And, although they worked as swiftly as possible, day had begun to

break before the toys and other presents were all distributed; so for

the first time in many years the reindeer trotted into the Laughing

Valley, on their return, in broad daylight, with the brilliant sun

peeping over the edge of the forest to prove they were far behind

their accustomed hours.

Having put the deer in the stable, the little folk began to wonder how

they might rescue their master; and they realized they must discover,

first of all, what had happened to him and where he was.

So Wisk the Fairy transported himself to the bower of the Fairy Queen,

which was located deep in the heart of the Forest of Burzee; and once

there, it did not take him long to find out all about the naughty

Daemons and how they had kidnapped the good Santa Claus to prevent his

making children happy. The Fairy Queen also promised her assistance,

and then, fortified by this powerful support, Wisk flew back to where

Nuter and Peter and Kilter awaited him, and the four counseled

together and laid plans to rescue their master from his enemies.

It is possible that Santa Claus was not as merry as usual during the

night that succeeded his capture. For although he had faith in the

judgment of his little friends he could not avoid a certain amount of

worry, and an anxious look would creep at times into his kind old eyes

as he thought of the disappointment that might await his dear little

children.