 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. A Kidnapped Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum Santa Claus lives in the Laughing Valley, where stands the big rambling castle in which his toys are manufactured. His workmen, selected from the rills, nooks, pixies, and fairies, live with him, and everyone is as busy as can be from one year's end to another. It is called the Laughing Valley because everything there is happy and gay. The brook chuckles to itself as it leaps frolicking between its green banks. The wind whistles merrily in the trees, the sunbeams dance slightly over the soft grass, and the violets and wildflowers look smilingly up from their green nests. To laugh one needs to be happy, to be happy one needs to be content, and throughout the Laughing Valley of Santa Claus, contentment reigns supreme. On one side is the mighty forest of Bursey, at the other side stands the huge mountain that contains the caves of the demons, and between them the valley lies smiling and peaceful. One would think that our good old Santa Claus, who devotes his days to making children happy, would have no enemies on all the earth, and, as a matter of fact, for a long period of time, he encountered nothing but love wherever he might go. But the demons who live in the mountain caves grew to hate Santa Claus very much, and all for the simple reason that he made children happy. The caves of the demons are five in number. A broad pathway leads up to the first cave, which is a finely arched cavern at the foot of the mountain, the entrance being beautifully carved and decorated, and it resides the demon of selfishness. Back of this is another cavern inhabited by the demon of Envy. The cave of the demon of hatred is next in order, and through this one passes to the home of the demon of Malus, situated in a dark and fearful cave in the very heart of the mountain. I do not know what lies beyond this. Some say there are terrible pitfalls leading to death and destruction, and this may well be true. However, from each one of the four caves mentioned, there is a small narrow tunnel leading to the fifth cave, a cozy little room occupied by the demon of repentance. And as the rocky floors of these passages are well worn by the track of passing feet, I judge that many wanderers in the caves of the demons have escaped through the tunnels to the abode of the demon of repentance, who is said to be a pleasant sort of fellow, who gladly opens for one a little door, admitting you into fresh air and sunshine again. Well, these demons of the caves, thinking they had great cause to dislike old Santa Claus, held a meeting one day to discuss the matter. I'm really getting lonesome, said the demon of selfishness, for Santa Claus distributes so many pretty Christmas gifts to all the children that they become happy and generous through his example, and keep away from my cave. I'm having the same trouble, rejoined the demon of envy. The little ones seem quite content with Santa Claus, and there are few indeed that I can coax to become envious. And that makes it bad for me, declared the demon of hatred, for if no children pass through the caves of selfishness and envy, none can get to my cavern. Or to mine, added the demon of malice. For my part, said the demon of repentance, it is easily seen that if children do not visit your caves, they have no need to visit mine, so that I am quite as neglected as you are. And all because of this person they call Santa Claus, exclaimed the demon of envy, he is simply ruining our business and something must be done at once. To this they readily agreed, but what to do was another and more difficult matter to settle. They knew that Santa Claus worked all through the year at his castle in the Laughing Valley, preparing the gifts he was to distribute on Christmas Eve, and at first they resolved to try to tempt him into their caves, that they might lead him on to the terrible pitfalls that ended in destruction. So the very next day, while Santa Claus was busily at work surrounded by his little band of assistants, the demon of selfishness came to him and said, These toys are wonderfully bright and pretty. Why do you not keep them for yourself? It's a pity to give them to those noisy boys and fretful girls, who break and destroy them so quickly. Nonsense cried the old greybeard, his bright eyes twinkling merrily as he turned toward the tempting demon. The boys and girls are never so noisy and fretful after receiving my presents, and if I can make them happy for one day in the year, I am quite content. So the demon went back to the others, who awaited him in their caves, and said, I have failed, for Santa Claus is not at all selfish. The following day the demon of envy visited Santa Claus, said he, The toy shops are full of playthings quite as pretty as those you are making. What a shame it is that they should interfere with your business. They make toys by machinery much quicker than you can make them by hand, and they sell them for money while you get nothing at all for your work. But Santa Claus refused to be envious of the toy shops. I can supply the little ones but once a year on Christmas Eve, he answered, for the children are many and I am but one. And as my work is one of love and kindness, I would be ashamed to receive money for my little gifts. But throughout all the year the children must be amused in some way, and so the toy shops are able to bring much happiness to my little friends. I like the toy shops, and I am glad to see them prosper. In spite of the second rebuff, the demon of hatred thought he would try to influence Santa Claus. So the next day he entered the busy workshop and said, Good morning Santa, I have bad news for you. Then run away like a good fellow, answered Santa Claus. Bad news is something that should be kept secret and never told. You cannot escape this, however, declared the demon, for in the world are a good many who do not believe in Santa Claus, and these you are bound to hate bitterly, since they have so wronged you. Stuff and rubbish, cried Santa. And there are others who resent your making children happy, and who sneer at you and call you a foolish old rattle-pate. You are quite right to hate such base slanderers, and you ought to be revenged upon them for their evil words. But I don't hate them, exclaimed Santa Claus positively. Such people do me no real harm, but merely render themselves and their children unhappy. Poor things, I'd much rather help them any day than injure them. Indeed the demons could not tempt old Santa Claus in any way. On the contrary, he was shrewd enough to see that their object in visiting him was to make mischief and trouble, and his cheery laughter disconcerted the evil ones, and showed to them the folly of such an undertaking, so they abandoned honeyed words and determined to use force. It was well known that no harm can come to Santa Claus while he is in the Laughing Valley, for the fairies and rills and nooks all protect him, but on Christmas Eve he drives his reindeer out into the big world, carrying a slayload of toys and pretty gifts to the children, and this was the time and the occasion when his enemies had the best chance to injure him, so the demons laid their plans and awaited the arrival of Christmas Eve. The moon shone big and white in the sky, and the snow lay Christmas sparkling on the ground, as Santa Claus cracked his whip and sped away out of the valley into the great world beyond. The roomy slay was packed full with huge sacks of toys, and as the reindeer dashed onward, our jolly old Santa laughed and whistled and sang for very joy. For in all his merry life this was the one day in the year when he was happiest, the day he lovingly bestowed the treasures of his workshop upon the little children. It would be a busy night for him, he well knew. As he whistled and shouted and cracked his whip again, he reviewed in mind all the towns and cities and farmhouses where he was expected, and figured that he had just enough presents to go around and make every child happy. The reindeer knew exactly what was expected of them, and dashed along so swiftly that their feet scarcely seemed to touch the snow-covered ground. Suddenly a strange thing happened, a rope shot through the moonlight and a big noose that was in the end of it settled over the arms and bodies of Santa Claus and drew tight. Before he could resist or even cry out, he was jerked from the seat of the slay and tumbled head foremost into a snow-bank while the reindeer rushed onward with the load of toys and carried it quickly out of sight and sound. Such a surprising experience confused old Santa for a moment, and when he had collected his senses he found that the wicked demons had pulled him from the snow-drift and bound him tightly with many coils of the stout rope, and then they carried the kidnapped Santa Claus away to their mountain where they thrust the prisoner into a secret cave and chained him to the rocky wall so that he could not escape. Ha-ha! left the demons, rubbing their hands together with cruel glee. What will the children do now? How they will cry and scold and storm when they find there are no toys in their stockings and no gifts on their Christmas trees, and what a lot of punishment they will receive from their parents, and how they will flock to our caves of selfishness and envy and hatred and malice. We have done a mighty clever thing, we demons of the caves. Now it's so chanced that on this Christmas Eve the good Santa Claus had taken with him in his slay, Nutter the Rill, Peter the Nook, Kilter the Pixie, and a small fairy named Wisk, his four favorite assistants. These little people he had often found very useful in helping him to distribute his gifts to the children, and when their master was so suddenly dragged from the slay they were all snugly tucked underneath the seat where the sharp wind could not reach them. The tiny immortals knew nothing of the capture of Santa Claus until some time after he had disappeared, but finally they missed his cheery voice and as their master always sang or whistled on his journeys, the silence warned them that something was wrong. Little Wisk stuck out his head from underneath the seat and found Santa Claus gone and no one to direct the flight of the reindeer. Whoa! he called out, and the deer obediently slackened speed and came to a halt. Peter and Nutter and Kilter all jumped upon the seat and looked back over the track made by the slay, but Santa Claus had been left miles and miles behind. What shall we do? asked Wisk anxiously. All the mirth and mischief banished from his wee face by this great calamity. We must go back at once and find our master, said Nutter the Rill, who thought and spoke with much deliberation. No-no, exclaimed Peter the Nook, who passed and craved, though he was, might always be depended upon in an emergency. If we delay or go back, there will not be time to get the toys to the children before morning, and that would grieve Santa Claus more than anything else. It is certain that some wicked creatures have captured him, added Kilter thoughtfully, and their object must be to make the children unhappy. So our first duty is to get the toys distributed as carefully as if Santa Claus were himself present. We can search for our master and easily secure his freedom. This seemed such good and sensible advice that the others at once resolved to adopt it, so Peter the Nook called to the reindeer, and the faithful animals again sprang forward and dashed over hill and valley through forest and plain until they came to the houses wherein children lay sleeping and dreaming of the pretty gifts they would find on Christmas morning. The little immortals had set themselves a difficult task, for although they had assisted Santa Claus on many of his journeys, their master had always directed and guided them, and told them exactly what he wished them to do. But now they had to distribute the toys according to their own judgment, and they did not understand children as well as did old Santa. So it is no wonder they made some laughable errors. Mamie Brown, who wanted a doll, got a drum instead, and a drum is of no use to a girl who loves dolls, and Charlie Smith, who delights to romp and play out of doors, and who wanted some new rubber boots to keep his feet dry, received a sewing box filled with colored worsteds and threads and needles, which made him so provoked that he thoughtlessly called our dear Santa Claus a fraud. Had there been many such mistakes the demons would have accomplished their evil purpose and made the children unhappy. But the little friends of the absent Santa Claus labored faithfully and intelligently to carry out their master's ideas, and they made fewer errors than might be expected under such unusual circumstances. And although they worked as swiftly as possible, day had begun to break before the toys and other presents were all distributed. So for the first time in many years the reindeer trotted into the Laughing Valley on their return in broad daylight, with the brilliant sun peeping over the edge of the forest to prove they were far behind their accustomed hours. Having put the deer in the stable the little folk began to wonder how they might rescue their master, and they realized they must discover first of all what had happened to him and where he was. So Wisk the Fairy transported himself to the Bower of the Fairy Queen, which was located deep in the heart of the Forest of Bursey, and once there it did not take him long to find out all about the naughty demons and how they had kidnapped the good Santa Claus to prevent his making children happy. The Fairy Queen also promised her assistance, and then fortified by this powerful support, Wisk flew back to where Nutter and Peter and Kilter awaited him, and the four counseled together and laid plans to rescue their master from his enemies. It is possible that Santa Claus was not as merry as usual during the night that succeeded his capture, for although he had faith in the judgment of his little friends, he could not avoid a certain amount of worry, and an anxious look would creep at times into his kind old eyes, as he thought of the disappointment that might await his dear little children, and the demons who guarded him by turns one after another did not neglect to taunt him with contemptuous words in his helpless condition. When Christmas Day dawned the demon of Malice was guarding the prisoner, and his tongue was sharper than any of the others. The children are waking up, Santa, he cried. They are waking up to find their stockings empty, ho-ho, how they will quarrel and wail and stamp their feet in anger. Our caves will be full today, old Santa. Our caves are sure to be full. But to this, as to other-like taunts, Santa Claus answered nothing. He was much grieved by his capture it is true, but his courage did not forsake him, and finding that the prisoner would not reply to his jeers, the demon of Malice presently went away, and sent the demon of repentance to take his place. This last personage was not so disagreeable as the others. He had gentle and refined features, and his voice was soft and pleasant in tone. My brother demons do not trust me over much, said he as he entered the cavern, but it is morning now and the mischief is done. You cannot visit the children again for another year. That is true, answered Santa Claus almost cheerfully. Christmas Eve is past, and for the first time in centuries I have not visited my children. The little ones will be greatly disappointed, murmured the demon of repentance almost regretfully, but that cannot be helped now. Their grief is likely to make the children selfish and envious and hateful, and if they come to the cave of the demons today, I shall get a chance to lead some of them to my cave of repentance. Do you never repent yourself? asked Santa Claus curiously. Oh yes indeed, answered the demon. I am even now repenting that I assisted in your capture. Of course it is too late to remedy the evil that has been done, but repentance, you know, can only come after an evil thought or deed, for in the beginning there is nothing to repent of. So I understand, said Santa Claus, those who avoid evil need never visit your cave. As a rule that is true, replied the demon, yet you, who have done no evil, are about to visit my cave at once, for to prove that I sincerely regret my share in your capture I am going to permit you to escape. This speech greatly surprised the prisoner until he reflected that it was just what might be expected of the demon of repentance. The fellow at once busied himself untying the knots that bound Santa Claus and unlocking the chains that fastened him to the wall, then he led the way through a long tunnel until they both emerged in the cave of repentance. I hope you will forgive me, said the demon, pleadingly. I am not really a bad person, you know, and I believe I accomplish a great deal of good in the world. With this he opened a back door that led in a flood of sunshine and Santa Claus sniffed the fresh air gratefully. I bear no malice, said he to the demon in a gentle voice, and I am sure the world would be a dreary place without you. So good morning, and a merry Christmas to you. With these words he stepped out to greet the bright morning, and a moment later he was trudging along, whistling softly to himself on his way to his home in the Laughing Valley. Marching over the snow toward the mountain was a vast army made of the most curious creatures imaginable. There were numberless nooks from the forest as rough and crooked in appearance as the gnarled branches of the trees they ministered to, and there were dainty rills from the fields, each one bearing the emblem of the flower or plant it guarded. Behind these were many ranks of pixies, gnomes, and nymphs, and in the rear a thousand beautiful fairies floated along in gorgeous array. This wonderful army was led by whisk, peter, nutter, and kilter, who had assembled it to rescue Santa Claus from captivity and to punish the demons who had dared to take him away from his beloved children. And although they looked so bright and peaceful, the little immortals were armed with powers that would be very terrible to those who had incurred their anger, woe to the demons of the caves if this mighty army of vengeance ever met them. But lo, coming to meet his loyal friends appeared the imposing form of Santa Claus, his white beard floating in the breeze and his bright eyes sparkling with pleasure at this proof of the love and veneration he had inspired in the hearts of the most powerful creatures in existence. And while they clustered around him and danced with glee at his safe return, he gave them earnest thanks for their support. But whisk and nutter and peter and kilter he embraced affectionately. It is useless to pursue the demons, said Santa Claus to the army. They have their place in the world and can never be destroyed. But that is a great pity nevertheless, he continued musingly. So the fairies and nooks and pixies and rills all escorted the good man to his castle, and there left him to talk over the events of the night with his little assistants. Whisk had already rendered himself invisible and flown through the big world to see how the children were getting along on this bright Christmas morning. And by the time he returned, he was telling Santa Claus of how they had distributed the toys. We really did very well, cried the fairy in a pleased voice, for I found little unhappiness among the children this morning. Still, you must not get captured again, my dear master, for we might not be so fortunate another time in carrying out your ideas. He then related the mistakes that had been made, and which he had not discovered until his tour of inspection. Santa Claus at once sent him with rubber boots for Charlie Smith and a doll for Mamie Brown so that even those two disappointed ones became happy. As for the wicked demons of the caves, they were filled with anger and chagrin when they found that their clever capture of Santa Claus had come to naught. Indeed, no one on that Christmas day appeared to be at all selfish or envious or hateful. And realizing that while the children's saint had so many powerful friends it was folly to oppose him, the demons never again attempted to interfere with his journeys on Christmas Eve. End of A Kidnapped Santa Claus Recorded by Judy Bieber August 2006 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Little Bun Rabbit From Mother Goose in Pros by L. Frank Baum O little bun rabbit so soft and so shy, say what do you see with your big round eye? On Christmas we rabbits says bunny so shy, keep watch to see Santa go galloping by. Little Dorothy had passed all the few years of her life in the country and being the only child upon the farm, she was allowed to roam about the meadows and woods as she pleased. On the bright summer mornings Dorothy's mother would tie a sun bonnet under the girl's chin and then she romped away to the fields to amuse herself in her own way. She came to know every flower that grew and to call them by name and she always stepped very carefully to avoid treading on them for Dorothy was a kind hearted child and did not like to crush the pretty flowers that bloomed in her path and she was also very fond of all the animals and learned to know them well and even to understand their language which very few people can do. And the animals loved Dorothy in turn for the word passed around amongst them that she could be trusted to do them no harm. For the horse whose soft nose Dorothy often gently stroked told the cow of her kindness and the cow told the dog and the dog told the cat and the cat told her black kitten told the rabbit when one day they met in the turnip patch. Therefore when the rabbit which is the most timid of all animals and the most difficult to get acquainted with looked out of a small bush at the edge of the wood one day and saw Dorothy standing a little way off he did not scamper away as is his custom but sat very still and met the gaze of her sweet eyes boldly although perhaps his heart beat a little faster than usual. Dorothy herself was afraid she might frighten him away so she kept very quiet for a time leaning silently against a tree and smiling encouragement at her timorous companion until the rabbit became reassured and blinked his big eyes at her thoughtfully for he was as much interested in the little girl as she in him since it was the first time he had dared to meet a person face to face. Finally Dorothy ventured to speak so she asked very softly and slowly oh little bun rabbit so soft and so shy say what do you see with your big round eye. Many things answered the rabbit who was pleased to hear the girl speak in his own language in summertime I see the clover leaves that I love to feed upon and the cabbages at the end of the farmer's garden I see the cool bushes where I can hide from my enemies I see the dogs and the men long before they can see me or know that I am near and therefore I am able to keep out of their way. Is that the reason your eyes are so big? I suppose so returned the rabbit you see we have only our eyes and our ears and our legs to defend ourselves with we cannot fight but we can always run away and that is a much better way to save our lives than by fighting. Your home bunny inquired the girl I live in the ground far down in a cool pleasant hole I have dug in the midst of the forest at the bottom of the hole is the nicest little room you can imagine and there I have made a soft bed to rest in at night when I meet an enemy I run to my hole and jump in and there I stay until all danger is over you have told me what you see in summer continue Dorothy who was greatly interested in the rabbits account of himself but what do you see in the winter? In winter we rabbits said bunny so shy keep watch to see Santa go galloping by and do you ever see him ask the girl eagerly? Oh yes, every winter I am not afraid of him nor of his reindeer and it is such fun to see him come dashing along cracking his whip and calling out cheerily to his reindeer who are able to run even swifter rabbits and Santa Claus when he sees me always gives me a nod and a smile and then I look after him and his big load of toys which he is carrying to the children until he has galloped away out of sight I like to see the toys for they are so bright and pretty and every year there is something new amongst them once I visited Santa and saw him make the toys oh tell me about it pleaded Dorothy it was one morning after Christmas said the rabbit who seemed to enjoy talking now that he had overcome his fear of Dorothy and I was sitting by the roadside when Santa Claus came riding back in his empty sleigh he does not come home quite so fast as he goes and when he saw me he stopped for a word you look very pretty this morning bun rabbit he said in his jolly way I think the babies would love to have you to play with I don't doubt it your honor I answered but they'd soon kill me with handling even if they did not scare me to death for babies are very rough with their play things that is true replied Santa Claus and yet you are so soft and pretty it is a pity the babies can't have you still as they would abuse a live rabbit I think I shall make them some toy rabbits which they cannot hurt so if you will jump into my sleigh with me and ride home to my castle for a few days I'll see if I can't make some toy just like you of course I consented for we all like to please old Santa and a minute later I had jumped into the sleigh beside him and we were dashing away at full speed toward his castle I enjoyed the ride very much but I enjoyed the castle far more for it was one of the loveliest places you could imagine it stood on the top of a high mountain and is built of gold and silver bricks and the windows are pure diamond crystals the rooms are big and high and there is a soft carpet upon every floor and many strange things scattered around to amuse one Santa Claus lives there all alone except for old mother Hubbard who cooks the meals for him and her cupboard is never bare now I can promise you at the top of the castle there is one big room and that is Santa's workshop where he makes the toys on one side is his workbench with plenty of saws and hammers and on another side is the paint bench with paints of every color and brushes of every size and shape and in other places are great shelves where the toys are put to dry and keep new and bright until Christmas comes and it is time to load them all into his sleigh after mother Hubbard had given me a good dinner and I had eaten some of the most delicious clover I have ever tasted Santa took me up into his work room and sat me upon the table if I can only make rabbits half as nice as you are the little ones will be delighted then he lit a big pipe and began to smoke and soon he took a roll of soft fur from a shelf in a corner and commenced to cut it out in the shape of a rabbit he smoked and whistled all the time he was working and he talked to me in such a jolly way that I sat perfectly still and allowed him to measure my ears and my legs and cut the fur into the proper form why, I've got your nose too long bunny he said once and so he snipped a little off the fur he was cutting so that the toy rabbit's nose should be just like mine and again he said, good gracious the ears are too short entirely so he had to get a needle and thread and sew on more fur to the ears so that they might be the right size but after a time it was all finished the fur full of sawdust and sewed it up neatly after which he put in some glass eyes that made the toy rabbit look wonderfully life-like when it was all done he put it on the table beside me and at first I didn't know whether I was the live rabbit or the toy rabbit we were so much alike it's a very good job said Santa nodding his head at us pleasantly and I shall have to make a lot of these rabbits for the little children are sure to be greatly pleased with them so he immediately began to make another and this time he cut the fur just the right size so that it was even better than the first rabbit I must put a squeak in it said Santa so he took a box of squeaks from a shelf and put one into the rabbit before he sewed it up when it was all finished he pressed the toy rabbit with his thumb and it squeaked so naturally that I jumped off the table fearing at first the new rabbit was alive old Santa left merrily at this and I soon recovered from my fright and was pleased to think the babies were to have such pretty play things after this said Santa Claus I can make rabbits without having you for a pattern but if you like you may stay a few days longer in my castle and amuse yourself I thanked him and decided to stay so for several days I watched him making all kinds of toys and I wondered to see how quickly he made them and how many new things he invented I almost wish I was a child I said to him one day for then I too could have play things ah you can run about all day in summer and in winter and enjoy yourself in your own way said Santa but the poor little children are obliged to stay in the house in the winter and on rainy days in the summer and then they must have toys to amuse them and keep them contented I knew this was true and I really said admiringly you must be the quickest and the best workman in all the world Santa I suppose I am he answered but then you see I have been making toys for hundreds of years and I make so many it is no wonder I am skillful and now if you are ready to go home I'll hitch up the reindeer and take you back again oh no said I I prefer to run by myself for I can easily find the way and I want to see the country if that is the case replied Santa I must give you a magic collar to wear so that you will come to no harm so after mother Hubbard had given me a good meal of turnips and sliced cabbage Santa Claus put the magic collar around my neck and I started for home I took my time on the journey for I knew nothing could harm me and I saw a good many strange sights before I got back to this place again but what became of the magic were asked Dorothy who had listened with breathless interest to the rabbit's story after I got home replied the rabbit the collar disappeared from around my neck and I knew Santa had called it back to himself again he did not give it to me you see he merely let me take it on my journey to protect me the next Christmas when I watched by the roadside to see Santa I was pleased to notice a great many of the toy rabbits sticking out the babies must have liked them too for every year since I have seen them amongst the toys Santa never forgets me and every time he passes he calls out in his jolly voice a merry Christmas to you Bunrabbit the babies still love you dearly the rabbit paused and Dorothy was just about to ask another question when Bunny raised his head and seemed to hear something coming what is it inquired the girl it's the farmer's big shepherd dog answered the rabbit and I must be going before he sees me or I shall have to run for my life so good bye Dorothy I hope we shall meet again and then I will gladly tell you more of my adventures the next instant he had sprung into the wood and all that Dorothy could see of him was a gray streak darting in and out amongst the trees end of little Bunrabbit end of mother Goose and Pro's the nativity of the Lord from the Dui-Hem version of the Bible Matthew chapter 1 verses 18 through 25 for LibriVox.org narrated by Sean McKinley now the generation of Christ was in this wise when as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph before they came together she was found as the child of the Holy Ghost where upon Joseph her husband being a just man and not willing publicly to expose her was minded to put her away privately but while he thought on these things behold the angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep saying Joseph son of David fear not to take unto thee thy wife for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost and she shall bring forth a son and thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet saying behold a virgin shall be with child and bring forth a son and they shall call his name Emmanuel which being interpreted is God with us and Joseph rising up from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took unto him his wife and he knew her not till she brought forth her first born son and he called his name Jesus end of the nativity of the Lord this recording is in the public domain this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the nativity from the Gospel of St. Luke King James Version read by Linda Wilcox and it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed and this taxing was first made when Cyrenes was governor of Syria and all went to be taxed everyone into his own city and Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea unto the city of David which is called Bethlehem because he was of the house and lineage of David to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife being great with child and so it was that while they were there the days were accomplished that she should be delivered and she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn and there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field keeping watch over their flock by night and lo the angels of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were sore afraid and the angels said unto them fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people for unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior which is Christ the Lord and this shall be a sign unto you we shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying glory to God in the highest and on earth peace good will toward men and it came to pass as the angels were gone away from them and unto heaven the shepherds said to one another let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass which the Lord have made known unto us and they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger and when they had seen it they made it known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child and all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds but Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart and the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen as it was told unto them End of the Nativity from the Gospel of St. Luke King James Version The Offerings of the Wisemen from the Duechem Version of the Bible Matthew Chapter 2 Verses 1-12 for LibriVox.org Narrated by Sean McKinley When Jesus therefore was born in Bethlehem of Judah in the days of King Herod behold, there came Wisemen from the east to Jerusalem saying Where is he that is born King of the Jews for we have seen his star in the east and are come to adore him and King Herod hearing this was troubled and all Jerusalem with him and assembling together all the chief priests of the people he inquired of them where Christ should be born but they said to him In Jerusalem of Judah for so it is written by the prophet and thou Bethlehem the land of Judah art not the least among the princes of Judah for out of thee shall come forth the captain that shall rule my people Israel Then Herod privately calling the Wisemen learned diligently of them the time of the star which appeared to them and sending them into Bethlehem said go and diligently inquire after the child and when you have found him bring me word again that I also may come and adore him who having heard the king went their way and behold the star which they had seen in the east went before them and stood over where the child was and seeing the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy and entering into the house they found the child with Mary his mother and falling down they adored him and opening their treasures they offered him gifts gold, frankincense, and myrrh and having received an answer in sleep that they should not return to Herod and pack another way into their country end of the offerings of the Wisemen this recording is in the public domain this is the LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information and to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Reginald's Christmas Rebel by Saki read for LibriVox.org by Dan Three Trees they say, said Reginald that there's nothing sadder than victory except defeat if you've ever stayed with dull people during what is alleged to be the festive season you can probably revise that saying I shall never forget putting in a Christmas at the Babwald's Mrs. Babwald is some relation of my father as a sort of to-be-left-till-called-for cousin and that was considered sufficient reason having to accept her invitation at about the sixth time of asking though why the sins of the father should be visited by the children you won't find any note paper in that drawer that's where I keep old menus and first night programs Mrs. Babwald wears a rather solemn personality and has never been known to smile even when saying disagreeable things to her friends or making out the store's list she takes her pleasures sadly a state elephant at a Durbar gives one a very similar impression her husband gardens in all weathers when a man goes out in the pouring rain to brush caterpillars off rose trees I generally imagine his life indoors leaves something to be desired anyway it must be very unsettling for the caterpillars of course there were other people there there was a major somebody who had shot things in Lapland or somewhere of that sort I forget what they were but it wasn't for want of reminding we had them cold with every meal almost and he was continually giving us details of what they measured from tip to tip as though he thought we were going to make them warm under things for the winter I used to listen to him with a rapt attention that I thought rather suited me and then one day I quite modestly gave the dimensions of an old copy I had shot in the Lincolnshire Fens the major turned a beautiful Tyrion scarlet I remember thinking at the time that I should like my bathroom hung in that color and I think that at that moment he almost founded in his heart to dislike me Mrs. Babbwald put on a first aid to the injured expression and asked him why he didn't publish a book of his sporting reminiscences it would be so interesting she didn't remember till afterwards that he had given her two fat volumes on the subject with his portrait and autograph as a frontist piece and an appendix of the habits of the Arctic muscle it was in the evening that we cast aside the cares and distractions of the day and really lived cards were thought to be too frivolous and empty a way of passing the time so most of them played what they called a book game you went out into the hall to get an inspiration I suppose then you came in again with a muffler tied around your neck and looked silly and the others were supposed to guess that you were wee McGregor I held out against the inanity as long as I decently could but at last in a lapse of good nature I consented to masquerade as a book only I warned them that it would take some time to carry out they waited for the best part of 40 minutes while I went and played wine glass skittles with the page boy in the pantry you play it with a champagne cork you know and the one who knocks down the most glasses without breaking them wins I won with four unbroken out of seven I think William offered from over anxiousness they were rather mad in the drawing room at my not having come back and they weren't a bit pacified when I told them afterwards that I was at the end of the passage I never did like Kipling was Mrs. Babwald's comment when the situation dawned upon her I couldn't see anything clever in earthworms out of Tuscany or is that by Darwin of course these games are very educational but personally I prefer bridge on Christmas evening we were supposed to be especially festive in the old English fashion the hall was horribly drafty but it seemed to be the proper place to revel in and it was decorated with Japanese fans and Chinese lanterns which gave it a very old English effect a young lady with a confidential voice favored us with a long recitation about a little girl who died or did something equally hackneyed and then the major gave us a graphic account of a struggle he had with a wounded bear I privately wished that the bears would win sometimes on these occasions at least they wouldn't go vaporing about it afterwards before we had time to recover our spirits we were indulged with some thought reading by a young man whom one knew instinctively had a good mother and an indifferent tailor the sort of young man who talks unflaggingly through the thickest soup and smooths his hair dubiously as though he might hit back the thought reading was rather a success he announced that the hostess was thinking about poetry and she admitted that her mind was dwelling on one of Austen's odes which was near enough I fancy she had been really wondering whether a scragg end of mutton and some cold plum pudding would do for the kitchen dinner next day as a crowning dissipation they all sat down to play Progressive Halma I have been carefully brought up and I don't like to play games of skill for milk chocolate so I invented a headache and retired from the scene I had been preceded a few minutes earlier by Miss Langston Smith a rather formidable lady who always got up at some uncomfortable hour in the morning and gave you the impression that she had been in communication with most of the European governments before breakfast there was a paper pinned on her door with a signed request that she might be called particularly early on the morrow such an opportunity does not come twice in a lifetime I covered up everything except the signature with another notice to the effect that before these words should meet the eye she would have ended a misspent life was sorry for the trouble she was giving and would like a military funeral a few minutes later I violently exploded an air filled paper bag on the landing and gave a stage moan that would have been heard in the cellars then I pursued my original intention and went to bed the noise these people made enforcing open the good ladies door was positively indecorous she resisted gallantly but I believe they searched her for bullets for about a quarter of an hour as if she had been a historic battlefield I hate travelling on Boxing Day but one must occasionally do things that one dislikes end of story Reginald's Christmas Rebel by Saki and make things look like holidays not smooth over but just speckle sort of straining for effect and not quite getting through what it started in to do mostly six it does seem queer Christmas Day is most not here somehow it don't seem to me Christmas like it used to be Christmas with this ice and snow Christmas of the long ago you could feel it stir and hum weeks and weeks before it come something in the atmosphere told you when the day was near didn't need no almanacs that was just one of nature's facts every cottage decked out gay cedar wreaths and hollyspray and the stores how they were dressed tinsel till you couldn't rest every window fixed up packed canokanes and things like that frozen dolls and all kinds of falderalls then with the frosty bells of chime sliding down the hills of time right amidst the fun and din Christmas come a bustling in raises cheery voice a call I don't welcome to us all hail and hardy strong and bluff that was Christmas show enough snow knee deep and coast and fine frozen millponds all shine seeming just to lay in wait begging you to come and skate and you'd get your gallon goes stumping cheerly through the snow feeling pleased and scared and warm cause she had a hold your arm why when Christmas come in we spent the whole glad day in glee having fun and feasting high and some caught on the slide busting in some neighbors door and then suddenly before you could give his voice a lift yelling at him Christmas gift now things are never heard Merry Christmas is the word but only change the name and means given just the same there's too many new style ways now about the holidays I just like once more to see Christmas like it used to be in the poem this recording is in the public domain this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information and to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the thin Santa Claus or the Christmas yard that was a Christmas stocking by Ellis Parker Butler Mrs. Gratz opened her eyes and looked out at the drizzle that made the Christmas morning gray her bed stood against the window and it was easy for her to look out all she had to do was to roll over and pull the shade aside having looked at the weather she rolled again on to the broad flat of her back and made herself comfortable for a while for there was no reason why she should get up until she felt like it such a Christmas she said good-naturedly to herself I guess such weather is as bad for Santa Claus maybe it is because of such weather he don't come by my house I don't blame him, so muddy she let her eyes close indolently not yet was she hungry enough to imagine the tempting odor of fried bacon and eggs and she idly slipped into sleep again she was in no hurry she was never in a hurry what is the use of being in a hurry when you own a good little house and have money in the bank and are a widow what is the use of being in a hurry anyway Mrs. Grotz was always placid and fat and she always had been what is the use of having money in the bank in a good little house if you are not placid and fat Mrs. Grotz lay on her back and slept placidly and fatly with her mouth open as if she expected Santa Claus to pass by and drop a present into it her dreams were pleasant it was no disappointment to Mrs. Grotz that Santa Claus had not come to her house she had not expected him she did not even believe in him yes she had told Mrs. Flannery next door as she handed a little parcel of toys over the fence for the little Flannery's once I believe in such a Santa Claus myself yet I make me pretty good times then but now I'm too old I don't believe in such things but I make pretty good times still I have a good little house and money in the bank suddenly Mrs. Grotz closed her mouth and opened her eyes she smelled imaginary bacon frying she felt real hunger and slid out of bed and began to dress herself and she had just buttoned her red flannel petticoat around her wide waist when she heard silence and paused for a full minute she stood trying to realize what the silence meant the English sparrows were chirping as usual and making enough noise but through their bickering the silence still annoyed Mrs. Grotz and then quite suddenly again she knew her chickens were not making their usual morning racket I bet you I know what it is sure she said and continued to dress as placidly as before when she went down she found that she had won the bet a week before two chickens had been stolen from her coop and she had had a strong padlock put on the chicken-house now the padlock was pride open and the chicken-house was empty and nine hens and a rooster were gone Mrs. Grotz stooped and entered the low gate and made the vacant chicken-yard placidly if they were gone they were gone such a santiclaws she said good-naturedly I don't like such a santiclaws taking away and not bringing pretty soon you don't have such a good name anymore if he keeps up doing like this people likes the bringing santiclaws I guess they don't think much of the taking away business he gets a bad name quick enough if he does this much she turned to bend her head she looked into the vacant chicken-house and stood still she put out her foot and touched something her eyes had lighted upon and the thing moved it was a purse of worn black leather soaked by the drizzle but still holding the bend that comes to men's purses when worn long in a back trouser pocket one end of the purse was muddy and pressed deep into the soft soil where a heel was tramped on it Mrs. Grotz bent and picked it up there was nine hundred dollars in bills in the purse Mrs. Grotz stood still while she counted the bills and as she counted her hands began to tremble and her knees shook and she sank on the door sill of the chicken-house and laughed until the tears rolled down her face occasionally she stopped to wipe her eyes and the flood of laughter gradually died away into ripples of intermittent giggles that were like sobs after sorrow Mrs. Grotz had no great sense of humor but she could see the fun of finding nine hundred dollars it was enough to make her laugh so she laughed goodness such a santicloss she exclaimed with a final sigh of pleasure such a Christmas present from santicloss no wonder he is so fat yet when he eats ten chickens in one night already but I don't kick I like me that santicloss all right I believe in him pretty good after this I bet she went at once to tell Mrs. Flannery and Mrs. Flannery was far more excited about it than Mrs. Grotz had been she said it was the hand of retribution paying back the chicken-thief and the hand of justice repaying Mrs. Grotz for sending toys to the little Flannery's and pure luck giving Mrs. Grotz what she got and a number of other things it is the luck of you Mrs. Grotz mom she said and often I'd you be saying it is the dutch for luck meaning no disrespect to you and the father of the luckier as I often told me old man rest his soul and him so thin and Christmas morning at that mom which is nothing at all but the judgement of the dirty chicken-thief picking such a day for a steven when there's plenty other days in the year for him keep the money mom for it is yours by good rights and I knew there'd be some good come to you the minute you handed me the prisons for the kids the good folks who all gets the reward in this world only some don't and I'm only sorry man is a pig instead of chickens but not wishing you had the money yourself at all but who would come to steal a pig and them such loud spoilers and who do you suspect it was Mrs. Grotz mom I think maybe I got me a present from Santa Claus yes said Mrs. Grotz and here the woman said Mrs. Flannery did you hear that now Trifia mom stuck to it there's no telling he'll be claiming the money and if ever Santa Claus brought a thing to a mortal soul it was him that brought you that and it was only yesterday you were saying you'd no belief in him yesterday I don't have no beliefs in him said Mrs. Grotz today I have plenty of beliefs in him I like him plenty I don't care if he comes every year sure not said Mrs. Flannery $400 in your pocket I'd be glad with a chance I'd believe in him myself for $450 that afternoon Mrs. Flannery whose excitement had not abated in the least went over to Mrs. Grotz to spend the afternoon talking to her about the money she felt that it was good to be that near it at any rate and when one can make a whole afternoon's conversation out of what Mrs. Casey said to Mrs. O'Reilly it is a shame to miss a chance to talk about $900 Mrs. Flannery was rocking violently and talking rapidly and Mrs. Grotz was slowly moving her rocker and answering in monosyllables when someone knocked at the door Mrs. Grotz answered the knock her visitor was a tall thin man and he had a slouch hat which he held in his hands as he talked he seemed nervous and his face wore a worried look extremely worried he looked like a man who had lost $900 but he did not look like Santa Claus he was thinner and not so jolly looking at first Mrs. Grotz had no idea that Santa Claus was standing before her for he did not have a sleighbell about him and he had left his red cotton coat with the white batting trimming at home he stood in the door playing with his hat unable to speak he seemed to have some delicacy about beginning well what is it? said Mrs. Grotz her visitor pulled himself together with an effort well ma'am I'll tell you he said frankly I'm a chicken buyer I buy chickens that's my business dealing in poultry so I came out today to buy some chickens on Christmas day well said the man moving uneasily from one foot to the other I did come on Christmas day didn't I I don't deny that ma'am I did come on Christmas day I'd like to go out and have a look at your chickens it ain't so usual for buyers to come buying chickens on Christmas day is it interposed Mrs. Grotz good naturedly well no it ain't and that's a fact said the man uneasily but I always do the people I buy chickens for is just as apt to want to eat chicken one day as another day and more so turkey on Christmas day and chicken the next for a change that's what they always tells me so I have to buy chickens every day I hate to but I have to and if I could just go out and look around your chicken yard it was right there that Mrs. Grotz had a suspicion that Santa Claus stood before her but I don't sell such a chicken yard yet she said the man wiped his forehead sure not he said nervously I was going to say look around your chicken yard and see the chickens I can't buy chickens without I see them can I some folks might but I can't with the kind of customers I've got I've got mighty particular customers and I pay extra prices so as to get the best for them and when I go out and look around the chicken yard how much you pay for such nice big fat chickens maybe asked Mrs. Grotz well I'll tell you said the man 7 cents a pound is regular ain't it well I pay 12 I'll give you 12 cents and pay you right now and take all the chickens you've got that's my rule but if you want to let me go out and see the chickens first and pick out the kind my regular customers like I pay 20 cents a pound but I won't pay 20 cents without I can see the chickens first sure said Mrs. Grotz I wouldn't do it too maybe I go out and bring in a couple such chickens for you to look at yes no don't said the man impulsively don't do it it wouldn't be no good I've got to see the chickens on the hoof as I might say on the hoofs said Mrs. Grotz such poultry don't have no hoofs running around explained the visitor running around in the coop my trade wouldn't like if I see it running around in the coop there's a lot in the way a chicken runs in the way it hiss up its legs for instance that's what the trade calls it on the hoof so I'll just go out and have a look around the coop for 20 cents a pound anybody could let buyers see their chickens on the hoof I guess said Mrs. Grotz now that's the way to talk exclaimed the man only I ain't got any such chickens said Mrs. Grotz so it ain't of use to look how they walk so good-bye now say said the man but Mrs. Grotz closed the door in his face I guess such a Santa Claus come back yet said Mrs. Grotz when she went into the room where Mrs. Flannery was sitting but it ain't any use he don't leave many more such presents the impotence of him exclaimed Mrs. Flannery for nine hundred dollars I could be impudent too said Mrs. Grotz calmly but I don't like such nowadays Santa Claus is coming back all the time once when I believe in Santa Claus's they don't come back so much the thin Santa Claus had not gone far he had crossed the street and stood gazing at Mrs. Grotz's door and now he crossed again and knocked Mrs. Grotz arose and went to the door I believe he comes back once yet she said to Mrs. Flannery and opened the door he had indeed come back now see here he said briskly ain't your name Mrs. Grotz well I know it was and I know you was a widow lady and that's why I said I was a chicken buyer I didn't want to frighten you but I ain't no chicken buyer no asked Mrs. Grotz no I ain't I just said that so I could get a look at your chicken yard I've got to see it I'm a chicken house inspector for the Ninth Ward and the mayor sent me up here to inspect your chicken house and I've got to do it before I go away or lose my job I'll go right out now and it'll be all over in a minute I guess it ain't some use said Mrs. Grotz I guess I don't keep any more chickens they go too easy yesterday I have plenty and today I haven't any that's it said the thin Santa Claus that's just it Mrs. Grotz's act quick like that they're a bad epidemic tuberculosis bugs is you see how they act yesterday you have chickens and last night the tuberculosis bugs gets at them and this morning they've eat them all up goodness exclaimed Mrs. Grotz without emotion with the feathers and the bones too sure said the thin Santa Claus why them tuberculosis bugs is perfectly ravenous once they get started they eat feathers and bones and feed it all a chicken hasn't no chance at all that's why the mayor sent me up here he heard all your chickens was gone and gone quick and he says to me tuberculosis bugs that's what he says and he says you ain't doing your duty you ain't inspecting Mrs. Grotz's chicken coop you go and do it or you're fired see he says that and he says you inspect Mrs. Grotz's coop and you kill off them bugs before they get into her house and eat her all up bones and all and feathers asked Mrs. Grotz calmly no he didn't say feathers this ain't nothing to fool about it's serious so I'll go right out and have a look I guess such bugs ain't been in my coop last night said Mrs. Grotz carelessly I ain't afraid of such bugs in winter time well that's where you make your mistake set the thin Santa Claus winter is just the bad time for them bugs the more a tuberculosis bug freezes up the more dangerous it is in summer they ain't so bad they're soft like and squash up when a chicken gets them but in winter they freeze up hard and get brittle then a chicken comes along and grabs one and it busts into a thousand pieces and each piece turns into a new tuberculosis bug and busts into a thousand pieces and so on and the chicken gets all filled full of tuberculosis bugs and the parent knows it when a chicken snaps up one tuberculosis bug it has a million in it inside of half an hour and that chicken don't last long and when the bugs make for the house what's that on your dress there now Mrs. Grotz looked at her arm indifferently nothing she said I thought maybe it was a tuberculosis bug had got on you already said the thin Santa Claus if it was you would be all the bugs is awful rapacious yes inquired Mrs. Grotz with interest such strong bugs too is it not? you bet they are strong began the stranger I should think so interrupted Mrs. Grotz to smash up padlocks on such chicken houses you make me afraid of such bugs I don't dare let you go out there to get your bones and feet all eat up by them I guess not you see said the thin Santa Claus puzzled and then he cheered up you see I ain't afraid of them I've been fumigated against them fumigated and anti skept anti skepticized I've been vaccinated against them by the board of health I'll show you the mark on my arm if you want to see it no don't said Mrs. Grotz I let you go and look in that chicken coop if you want to but it ain't no use there ain't nothing there he asked and looked at Mrs. Grotz with suspicion why did you find it he asked find what asked Mrs. Grotz innocently and the thin Santa Claus sighed and walked around to the back of the house Mrs. Grotz went with him as Mrs. Grotz watched the thin man search the chicken yard for tuberculosis bugs all doubt that he was her Santa Claus left her mind he made a most minute investigation but he did it more as a man might search for a lost purse than as a health officer would search for germs he even got down on his hands and knees and poked under the chicken house with a stick and when he had combed the chicken yard thoroughly and had looked all through the chicken house he even searched the denuded vegetable garden in the backyard and looked over the fence into Mrs. Flannery's yard evidently he was not pleased with his investigation for he did not even say good-bye to Mrs. Grotz but went away looking mad and cross when Mrs. Grotz went into her house she took her seat in her rocking chair and began rocking herself calmly and slowly was him not sure said Mrs. Flannery I don't like such come-again much said Mrs. Grotz placidly I try me to believe in such a Santa Claus but I like not such come-again the harmony did not Santa Claus come back so much I don't like a Santa Claus should be so anxious still I believe in him but if he has too many such come-again I don't believe in him much I would be setting the place on him Santa Claus or no Santa Claus said Mrs. Flannery vindictively it's a mean chicken thief oh said Mrs. Grotz easily I guess I don't care much should a nine hundred dollar Santa Claus I ain't mad but she was a little provoked when another knock came at the door a few minutes later and when on opening it she saw the thin Santa Claus before her again so she said Santa Claus is back yet once what's that asked the man suspiciously I say what is it you want said Mrs. Grotz oh well I ain't a go into full with you no longer Mrs. Grotz I'm going to tell you right out what I am and who I am I'm a detective of the police and I'm looking up a mighty bad character I guess I know right where you find one said Mrs. Grotz politely now don't be funny said the thin Santa Claus peevishly maybe you noticed I didn't say nothing when you spoke about that padlock being busted maybe you noticed how careful I looked over the chicken coop and how I looked over the fence into the next yard well I won't fool you I ain't no chicken yard inspector and I ain't no chicken buyer then was just my detective disguises I'm out detecting a chicken thief just the plain ordinary chicken thief and what I come for is clues yes said Mrs. Grotz and what is it such clues I haven't any clues the thin Santa Claus seemed provoked look here you may think this is funny but it isn't I have got to catch that chicken thief or I'll lose my job and I can't catch him unless I have some clues to catch him with now didn't you have some chicken stolen last night chickens asked Mrs. Grotz no I didn't have chicken stolen such tuberculosis bugs eat them with fetters too and bones right off the hoofs ain't it a pity but it was more like a flush of anger that overspread the face of the thin Santa Claus he stared hard at the placid German face of Mrs. Grotz and decided she was too stupid to mean it that she was not teasing him you don't catch on he said you see there ain't any such things as tuberculosis bugs I just made that up as sort of detective disguise them chickens wasn't eat by no bugs at all they were stole see a chicken thief come right into the coop and stole them do you think any kind of bug could pry off a padlock Mrs. Grotz seemed to let this sink into her mind and to revolve there and get to feeling at home before she answered no she said at length I guess not but Santa Claus could do it such a big fat man sure he could do it why you began the thin man crossly cut his tone there ain't no such thing as Santa Claus he said as one might speak to a child but even a chicken thief would not tell a child such a thing I hope no no Santa Claus and I was scared of it myself with such tuberculosis bugs around he should not to have gone into such a chicken coop with so many bugs busting up all over he had a right to have fumigated himself once and now he ain't he's all eat up on the hoof bones and feet and all and such a kind man too the thin Santa Claus frowned he had half an idea that Mrs. Grotz was fooling with him and when he spoke it was crisply now see here he said last night somebody broke into your chicken coop and stole all your chickens I know that and he's been stealing chickens all around this town and all around this part of the country too I know that and this stealing has got to stop I've got to catch that thief and to catch him I've got to have a clue a clue is something he has left around or dropped where he was stealing now did that chicken thief drop any clues in your chicken yard that's what I want to know did he drop any clues maybe if he dropped some clues those tuberculosis bugs eat them up suggested Mrs. Grotz they eat bones and fetters too now ain't that smart sneered the thin Santa Claus don't you think you're funny but I'll tell you the clue I'm looking for did that thief drop a pocket book or anything like that oh a pocket book said Mrs. Grotz how much should be in such a pocket book maybe $900 said the thin Santa Claus promptly goodness so much money all in one clues come out to the chicken yard once I'll help hunt for clues too the thin Santa Claus stood a minute looking doubtfully at Mrs. Grotz her face was large and placid and unemotional well he said with a sigh it ain't much use but I'll try it again when he had gone after another close search of the chicken yard and coop Mrs. Grotz returned to her friend Mrs. Flannery pretty soon I don't believe anymore in Santa Claus at all pretty soon I have more beliefs in chicken thieves than in Santa Claus yet a while I believe in him but one more of those come again and I don't he'll not be coming back anymore said Mrs. Flannery positively I'm wondering he came at all the deal's so handy all you have to do is call a cop sure but it is not nice I should put Santa Claus in jail such a liberal Santa Claus too have at your own way ma'am said Mrs. Flannery I'll own to some different one chickens a stone it's hard to expend the affections on a bunch of chickens but if anyone was to steal my pig to jail he would go Santa Claus or no Santa Claus not but what you ever kind hard anyway ma'am the fur fell in jail but he's already lost nine hundred dollars which goodness knows you might have to hand back was the law to take hand on it so such is the law yet all right I don't believe in chicken thieves no matter how much he comes back again I stick me to Santa Claus always will I believe in Santa Claus chicken thieves gives and wants to take away again but Santa Claus is always giving and never taking you're forgetting the chickens that was took suggested Mrs. Flannery took said Mrs. Grotz tooken Mrs. Flannery corrected tooked said Mrs. Grotz I believe me not in Santa Claus that way I believe she is a good old man for givings I believe since Santa Claus but for takings I believe since tuberculosis bugs and the busted padlock then asked Mrs. Flannery ah exclaimed Mrs. Grotz them reindeers is so frisky yet they have a right to kick up and bust it maybe Mrs. Flannery sighed there's a grand thing to your faith mom she said yes said Mrs. Grotz indolently that's nice and it is nice to have nine hundred dollars more in the bank ain't it end of the thin Santa Claus or the chicken yard that was a Christmas stocking by Ellis Parker Butler narration read by Betsy Bush Mrs. Flannery by Laura Mrs. Grotz read by Kara Schellenberg thin Santa is read by Bill Kuhn to as the night before Christmas by Clement C. Moore read for LibriVox.org by Hannah Swain on August 15th 2006 to as the night before Christmas went all through the house not a creature was stirring not even a mouse the stockings were hung by the chimney with care in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there the children were nestled all snug in their beds while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads and mama and her kerchief and I and my cap had just settled down for a long winter's nap went out on the lawn there arose such a clatter I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter a wave to the window I flew like a flash threw up the shutters and threw up the sash the moon on the breast of the new fallen snow gave the luster of midday to objects below when what to my wondering eyes should appear but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer with a little old driver so lively and quick I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick more rapid than eagles his coursures they came and he whistled and shouted and called them by name now Dasher, now Dancer now Prancer and Vixen on Cupid, on Donder and Vixen to the top of the porch to the top of the wall now Dasher away, Dasher away, Dasher away all as dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly when they meet with an obstacle mount to the sky so up to the house top the coursures they flew with the sleigh full of toys and St. Nicholas too and then in a twinkling I heard on the roof the prancing and pawing of the each little hoof I drew in my head and was turning around down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound he was all dressed in fur from his head to his foot and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot a bundle of toys he had flung on his back and he looked just like a peddler just opening his pack his eyes how they twinkled his pimples so merry his cheeks were like roses his nose like a cherry his droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow and the beard of his chin was as white as the snow the stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath he had a broad face and some little belly that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly he was chubby and plump a right jolly old elf and I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself a wink of his eye and a twist of his head soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread he spoke not a word but went straight to his work and filled all the stockings then turned with a jerk and laying his finger a side of his nose and giving a nod up the chimney he rose he sprang to his sleigh to his team gave a whistle and the girl flew like the down of a thistle but I heard him exclaim eerie drove out of sight happy Christmas to all and to all a good night end of poem this recording is in the public domain Merry Christmas this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org it was the night before Christmas a visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Seymour read for LibriVox.org by Gem of Life it was the night before Christmas when all through the house not a creature was stirring not even a mouse the stockings were earned by the chimney with care in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there the children were nestled all snug in their beds while visions of sugarplums danced in their heads and Mama in her kerchief and I in my cap had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap when out on the lawn there arose such a clatter I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter away to the window I flew like a flash door opened the shutters and threw up the sash the moon on the breast of the new fallen snow gave the luster of midday to objects below when what to my wandering eyes should appear but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer with a little old driver so lively and quick I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick more rapid than eagles his coursers they came and he whistled and shouted and called them by name now Dasher, now Dancer, now Branser and Vixen on Comet on Cupid, on Donder and Blitzen to the top of the porch to the top of the wall now Dasher away, Dasher away all as dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly when they meet with an obstacle mount to the sky so up to the house top the coursers they flew with a sleigh full of doys and St. Nicholas too and then a twinkling I heard on the roof the brancing and bawling of each little hoof as I drew in my head and was turning around down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound he was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot a bundle of doys he had flung on his back and he looked like a peddler just opening his back his eyes how they twinkled his dimples how merry his cheeks were like roses his nose like a cherry his droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow and the beard of his chin was as white as the snow the stump of a pipe held tight in his teeth and the smulket encircled his head like a reef he had a broad face and a little round belly that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly he was chubby and plump a right jolly old elf and I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself a wink of his eye and a twist of his head soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread he spoke not a word but went straight to his work and filled all the stockings and turned with a jerk he nod up the chimney he rose he sprang to his sleigh to his team gave a whistle in a way they all flew like the down of a thistle but I heard him exclaim he drove out of sight happy Christmas to all and to all a good night end of it was the night before Christmas this recording is in the public domain this is a Libravox recording all Libravox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to find out how you can volunteer please visit Libravox.org Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus by Francis Barcellus Church read for Libravox.org by Gemma Blythe and Ellen King Dear editor I am eight years old and my friends say there is no Santa Claus Papa says if you see it in the sun it's so please tell me the truth is there a Santa Claus Virginia O'Hanlon 115 West 95th Street Virginia your little friends are wrong they have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age they do not believe except what they see they think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds all minds Virginia whether they be men or children are little in this great universe of ours man is a mere insect an ant in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth as Virginia there is a Santa Claus he exists certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy alas how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus it would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias there would be no child like Faith then no poetry, no romance make tolerable this existence we should have no enjoyment except incense in sight the eternal light which childhood fills the world would be extinguished not believe in Santa Claus you might as well not believe in fairies you might get your papa to Iron Man to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down what would that prove nobody sees Santa Claus but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus the most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn of course not but that's no proof but they are not there nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders unseen and unseeable in the world you tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart only Faith fancy poetry love romance can push aside that curtain view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond is it all real oh Virginia in all this world there is nothing else real in abiding no Santa Claus thank God he lives and he lives forever a thousand years from now nay ten times ten thousand years from now he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood end of foam this recording is in the public domain this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org is there a Santa Claus from the editorial page of the New York Sun September 21 1897 we take pleasure in answering thus prominently the communication below expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of the sun some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus Papa says if you see it in the sun it's so please tell me the truth is there a Santa Claus Virginia O. Hamlin 115 West 95th Street Virginia your little friends are wrong they have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age they do not believe except they see they think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds all minds Virginia whether they be men's or children's are little in this great universe of ours man is a mere insect an ant in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus he exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist and you know that they abound and give to your life it's