Page:Christmas stories (IA christmasstories00faul).pdf/36

 chug, and a clang, clang, clang, as automobiles, boats, engines, fire-engines and all kinds of mechanical toys went running about the shop like mad. Next Santa was working with his saw and plane, his hammer and nails, and with a rap and a tap he finished the roof of a doll’s house.

Mrs. Santa had dressed all the dolls and furnished the dolls’ houses. “What a cute little kitchen!” exclaimed Annie. “Oh, Willie, do you see this dining-room and the cunning parlor and this little bed-room? How I should love to play dolls in this house!” Then Annie turned to Mrs. Santa Claus and said, “May I not help you? I could thread your needles or help in some way.”

“Why, so you may, my dear,” answered Mrs. Santa Claus. “My eyes are getting