Frank, were my little boys and girls, you know; and on Christmas Eve I used to sit with them in the nursery, just as I am sitting with you now. That is why I told them to go downstairs and leave me alone with you for a little while tonight—for the sake of old times. Yes, they used to sit around me just like this, and then I used to tell them a story.

A story! A story! cry ALL THE CHILDREN.

And GRANDMOTHER says: Shall I tell you one? The children all nod. Let me think, says she.

The Wind Fairies are heard outside, making the wind-noise, like this:

z—z—z z—z—z z—Z—Z—Z—z—z—z
z—z—z z—z—z z—Z—Z—Z—z—z—z

GRANDMOTHER listens to them, then begins her story: Well, once there was a wicked king, who didn't like cold weather; so he sent his soldiers, and told them to catch all the cold Wind Fairies and—

TOM interrupts her to ask: Are there really Wind Fairies, Grandmother?

GRANDMOTHER answers: Of course there are. I think I heard them a moment ago. Listen!

They all listen. The Wind Fairies are heard outside, like this:

z—z—z z—z—z z—Z—Z—Z—z—z—z

Do you hear them? asks GRANDMOTHER. The children all nod. Yes, she continues, going on with the story, the king told his soldiers to catch all the Wind Fairies, and all the Snow Fairies, and Jack Frost himself, and to lock them all up in prison.

And did the soldiers do it? asks HELEN.

Yes, answers GRANDMOTHER. They locked up all of them except one little Wind Fairy, and he was so small and so quick, that they couldn't catch him; and what do you suppose he did? He rattled the windows so hard that the king couldn't sleep, and he blew so hard down the chimney and through the cracks around the doors, that he blew out all the lights in the king's house, and gave the king such a bad cold in his head, that—

Here Grandmother herself sneezes. And the Wind Fairies are heard outside, like this:

z—z—z z—z—z z—Z—Z—Z—z—z—z

How the wind does blow tonight, says GRANDMOTHER. Children, it seems to me very cold in this room. She looks around to see what makes it so chilly. Why, bless me, she says, they have forgotten to light the fire. She rises, the children also, and they all go toward the fire-place. Frank, says GRANDMOTHER, hand me the matches. He brings them. She stoops at the hearth, the children standing around, and soon a bright glow appears and is seen to dance about. There, that will soon make a fine blaze, says she. Hold up your hands, children, and warm them.

But suddenly from up the chimney comes the voice of JACK FROST: Hello there, you people, put that fire out. Grandmother and the children are startled. Do you hear? shouts JACK FROST. Put it out. Santa Claus is coming. Do you hear what I say? SANTA CLAUS IS COMING. Put out that fire.

Why, children, cries GRANDMOTHER, I had forgotten all about that. Quick! We must indeed put the fire out at once. Ned, bring me that pitcher of water.

He brings it; she throws the water on the fire. The glow disappears and a great hissing sound is heard, loud at first, then dying away, like this:

S—S—S—s—s—s—s—s—s—s—s—s—s—s

There! says GRANDMOTHER. It is quite out, you see. And now, you must hang up your stockings, quickly, and hurry into bed. A shrill whistle is heard outside. What was that? GRANDMOTHER asks.

It sounded like a whistle out of doors, answers MARGARET; and she goes to the window and looks out. Why, Grandmother, says she, it's beginning to snow.

Good! says GRANDMOTHER. That will make it easier for Santa Claus to get here in his sleigh. So make haste with your stockings, and then, before you