"'Aunt Twaddles' looked up with a smile and almost shouted with a merry laugh, 'Strange sign?' But as she glanced in the direction of the golden stream, she burst forth in an astonished, serious tone and said:
"'Mercy upon us! The wind has turned the sign completely around.'
"She touched a small pearl button inlaid in the arm of her golden chair, and all at once a gentle breeze swept down the valley, rustling the leaves and tilting the tops of the trees that stood in its way. Slowly the great sign turned upon its centre with a loud, squeaking sound.
"Again 'Aunt Twaddles' touched the pearl button. The breeze ceased blowing; the leaves became silent. Both Arthur and Maud nearly fainted; for now before their very eyes they read in large letters of pure, burnished gold.
"'WORK SHOPS AND FACTORIES OF SANTA CLAUS. Established A. D. 1.'
"No wonder that piles of seasoned lumber towered sky high! No wonder great sheds filled with silk lined the bank of the stream!
"There, surely enough, were his reindeer feeding far off in the snow-fields; and as the ever good-natured Santa Claus himself appeared on the roof of his factory and waved them a hearty welcome, the children, awed by the sight of this great man, sank into the stout arms of 'Aunt Twaddles' in a spasm of silent joy.
"'Well!' exclaimed 'Aunt Twaddles' after a time. 'I am so glad you saw Santa, for he seldom allows even the dolls to see him except about Christmas time; and now if you will be patient for a moment, we shall see what this button will bring forth.'
"She touched a blue button inlaid among many in the arm of her golden chair.
"Instantly, far off in the mountain, the children heard singing. Not the sweet singing of childish voices that had come from the multitude of dolls in the village, but a wild, musical chant that seemed to set the very air in motion and to waken a thrill in their hearts such as they had never known before.