r,
and is leaning his head on his hand, while he holds a cane in the other
is saying_, What is the use of working any longer, for if I can't
carry the presents to the children, what is the good of finishing them?

But you might feel better at the last moment, _says_ MRS. SANTA
CLAUS, _who is tieing a sash on the big doll that stands beside
her._

That's true, _says_ SANTA CLAUS. Well, I believe I'll finish this
soldier, then. He's the last one I need to make, and he's all done
except to have his cheeks painted. I'll get my paint out and finish him.

_So Santa Claus rises up very stiffly and painfully, and hobbles
across the room to get his paint and paintbrush. Then he sits down again
in front of the big toy soldier, and paints both its cheeks a fine
bright red. Just as he is finishing, there comes a knock at the
door._

Come in, _says_ MRS. SANTA CLAUS. _And in walk Jack and Polly,
hand in hand, wearing the fairy spectacles and the wishing cap, one
holding the bottle and the other the spoon._

Donner and Blitzen! _exclaims_ SANTA CLAUS, _laying down his
brush,_ if it isn't Polly and Jack!

Oh, Santa, _cries_ POLLY, we got your letter and the wishing-cap--

And the fairy spectacles, says JACK.

And we've brought you some of father's medicine, _continues_ POLLY,
because it made Nurse Mary quite well--her back, you know.

And her joints, _adds_ JACK.

And you have to take it from children, POLLY _goes on._ One of them
holds the spoon--_Here_ POLLY _holds out the spoon._

And the other pours out the medicine, _says_ JACK, _and with that
he pours it out._ It's very bitter, _he adds, as Polly holds it out
for Santa Claus to take._

_Then Santa Claus opens his mouth, and swallows the dose, with a wry
face and a shudder._

Is it horrid? _asks_ POLLY.

Horrid! _says_ SANTA CLAUS.

But it will make you well, you know, _says_ POLLY _encouragingly._
Only you have to wait a little for the medicine to work.

And you came all the way to the North Pole, to bring me this medicine?
_says_ SANTA CLAUS, _looking from Polly to Jack and back to Polly
again_. How did you get here?

First, we went up the chimney, _says_ JACK, I saw the steps with
the fairy spectacles, you know.

And then, _says_ POLLY, I held fast hold of his hand, and wished.
I had the wishing-cap, you see.

But weren't you afraid? _asks_ SANTA CLAUS. When you climbed up the
black chimney, and when you stood on the top, in the black night under
the