What Do Gnomes Do in December?

    The fifth of December is the most exciting night of the year for gnome children. Santa Clause comes down the chimney with his golden staff, bringing gaily wrapped presents for all the good little children. Black Ben, the mole, is Santa's helper. He wears a yellow velvet cap with a bluejay's feather stuck in it, and he carries Santa's sack.

    The gnome Santa Clause and Black Ben have squeezed through Peter and Fern's chimney, but Peter is not at home - he had something urgent to do elsewhere!

   "Well, Fern," Santa Claus asks, in his booming voice. "Have Lily and Leif been good, honest children?

   "Oh yes, Santa," Fern says. "Apart from the usual playful naughtiness!"

   "What kind of naughtiness?" Santa Clause demands.

   Leif and Lily are timid and silent.

   "Come, come!" Santa Clause says. "What have they done?"

   But Leif and Lily can only stare with wide, frightened eyes at Santa Clause and Ben.

   "Black Ben," Santa Claus says, "do you know by any chance whether these children have done naughty things?"

   "Well Santa Claus," Ben squeaks, "I did hear that Lily teased her brother, and once even her mother! And I know that Leif does at times through rings around his father's cap when the poor man is taking a nap."

   "Oh, ho, ho," Santa Clause rumbles. "Teasing her brother, and throwing rings around the cap of his father!"

   "And," Ben continues, "I have been told too of Leif flying a bumble bee as a kite after putting a rope around one of his legs!"

   "Good heavens," Santa Claus cries. "Poor insect!"

   "But for the most part they have been good and honest, Santa Claus," Ben admitted. "Lily always helps her mother set the table, wash the dishes, and make the beds, and Leif cuts wood and does his chores in the garden!"

   "And do they read diligently from the Secret Book?"

   "Yes, Santa Claus. They read the Secret Book every day, and they are both excellent readers, as young as they are!"

   "Very well," Santa Claus says. "Come on, Black Ben, have a look in your sack. Perhaps there are some presents left for these sweet little children!"

   With his big clumsy claws, Ben digs in the sack, hindered only slightly by his lace pleated collar, and produces some wonderful gifts. For Lily there are new knitting needles, a little handbag, books, and delicious chocolates. And for Leif there is a croquet set, a magic rope, a knife for whittling, and a puzzle.

   "Ho-ho-ho!" Santa Claus says gleefully. "We must go on to the next chimney, and look for other good children. Goodbye, Leif, goodbye, Lily, goodbye, Fern!"

   "Have a good journey, Santa Claus!" Fern calls. "And thank you very much for coming. I hope you will be back next year. Com on children, say something!"

   "Goodbye, Santa Claus," Leif says very softly. Fern gently prods them again: "Say thank you...."

   "Thank you very much, Santa Claus!" the children chime in unison.

   And so, holiday joy settles around the gnome home, as Leif and lily play with their new toys and eagerly wait for Peter to return. Where has he been and whom has he helped tonight?

Pale and meager seems the sun;

inside the house is all the fun.

Santa Claus and Christmas days

surround the hearth with logs ablaze.