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the sled with metal runners, Nicholas and the old man were still working at the bench. This time, they were desperately trying to finish a chest, which had been ordered by a wealthy woman in the next village twenty miles away. It was late on Christmas Eve when it was eventually finished.

"I’m sorry," said old Marsden reading Nicholas’ thoughts. "You’ll have to take it over tomorrow. I’d go myself, but I’m not as strong as I used to be. It’s an all day trip, twenty miles over, then you’ll have to wait a few hours to rest the horses, and then the twenty long miles back.

"If only she didn’t want the chest tomorrow," said Nicholas.

"Well," answered his master, "We did promise it, and it has to be delivered on time. Now the toys weren’t promised..."

"No, but I have given them," interrupted Nicholas.

"I was going to say lad, that they weren’t promised for Christmas day. Now you know that little children go to bed early. Why can’t you..."

"Why of course!" Nicholas jumped to his feet shouting, "Where’s my list? Where’s my sled? I’ll have to hurry."

Outside, the village was asleep. No one saw the lone figure, wrapped up against the crisp icy air, dragging a sled from house to house, leaving a small pile of toys in each doorway until it was empty. It was three o’clock on Christmas morning when Nicholas turned away from the last doorway. His sled was now much lighter to pull, but his feet were tired from trudging through the heavy snow, but he was happy it was Christmas and once again he had kept his unspoken promise to the children of the village.

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"Oh No!" said Nicholas alarmed. "They mustn’t see me. The children must NEVER see me. It would spoil it all. Now I must go!"

Nicholas jumped onto his sleigh and was off, with the familiar jingling of silver bells and the crack of his long silver whip.

A few minutes after his departure, Grinka had aroused all the children in the camp. Nicholas should have stayed just to see the joy on the thin little faces as they scampered among the trees, each one discovering something new to shout about.

"It’s the lights on these lovely little trees that makes everything so beautiful," said one child.

"No, it’s the presents! exclaimed another. "Just look at this pretty little doll I have!"

"It’s the fruit and nuts," added one hungry child stuffing his mouth with goodies.

"I think everything is so beautiful because it’s Christmas," decided one wise little boy. "Yes, yes, because it’s Christmas!" they all shouted, dancing around.

"And these are our Christmas trees!"

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