friends the gnomes and
fairies and elves to help me out. They had some old fairy toys, that are
almost as good as new, and these they are going to carry about to all
the children; and although these gifts are rather different from what
you usually receive from me, I hope they will at least keep you from
forgetting poor old Santa Claus."

_Jack and Polly look sadly at one another, and then at the little
green man. He reaches out his hand, takes the letter, folds it up,
replaces it in the envelope, and tucks it away in his pocket. Then he
brings out two little packages, all in green paper, tied with green
string, and gives one to Polly and one to Jack. Then, quick as a flash,
he has disappeared in the fire-place._

Where did he go to? _asks_ POLLY, _after a moment of
surprise._

Up the chimney, _says_ JACK.

But what has he given to us? _says_ POLLY, _looking at the little
green package in her hand._

Let's open them, _says_ JACK.

_So the two children untie the strings, and open the papers, and soon
hold up the things they have found inside. Jack has a pair of spectacles
with large round glasses and black rims. Polly has a curious little
brown cap. They look at them in perplexity._

Oh, there is some writing fastened to mine, _says_ POLLY.

And to mine, too, _adds_ JACK.

POLLY _reads:_

"A fairy wishing-cap am I;
So put me on, and away you fly.
Wherever you wish, 'tis there you'll be,
And quicker than saying three-times-three."

_Polly puts the cap on her head. Then_ JACK _reads_:

"Fairy spectacles are we;
Put us on, and you shall see
Things you never saw before,
Easy as saying four-times-four."

_Jack puts the spectacles on his nose, and begins to go about the room
looking at everything through them_.

Oh, Polly, _he exclaims_, I can see all sorts of queer things. I
can see what is in the table drawer without opening it, and I can see
the pictures in the books right through the covers. And oh, Polly, look
here. _He is looking into the fire-place, when he says this_. I can
see now how the little green man went up the chimney, for there are
steps in the side, all the way up. Look at them.

POLLY _looks. Then she says_, I don't see any steps, Jack.

It's the fairy spectacles, Polly, _cries_ JACK. Isn't it wonderful?

Jack! _says_ POLLY _suddenly_, do you know what we must do?
We must go to Santa Claus, and carry him the medicine that cured Nurse
Mary's back and joints. You wi