Deeno. Oh, sir; it’s all right, sir. I sent to the South Pole by a flying machine man, and spoke for their whole crop of skates, sir, and they got here this morning.
Santa. Good for you, Deeno! You have taken a load off my mind. You’ve never failed me yet. Let me see some of them.
Deeno. All right, sir. (Exits. Santa examines the drum tree.)
Santa. Doing well. Doing well. They’ll ripen in time for Christmas. Some are most ready now. (Taps various drum—examines buds—calls.) Hey, Deeno! (Deeno enters.) Oh! Here you are. (Deeno has wheelbarrow full of boxes wrapped, and two or three open, showing skates. Hands them to Santa, who examines them. Then he turns to the drum tree.) Where are all the sticks for these drums?
Deeno. Bless you, sir! They’re growing right along, rows and rows of ’em, sir. And when the wind blows ’em, sir, they act as if they were trying to drum. Yes, sir, they do.
Santa (smiling). They’ll have a chance to drum before long. I’ve selected boys for every pair of them. (Turns to skates again.) So these are the skates, hey? Pretty fair skates, but not quite up to your work. Hey, Deeno? (Deeno grins and touches hat.) But I think the boys who get them won’t grumble. (Takes up a pair of roller skates.) And these are the rollers. Are they all like these?
Deeno. Yes, sir. All alike, sir.
Santa. That’ll do. Take ’em in to Mrs. Santa Claus, and ask her to see to it that they are properly labeled. She’ll find the list of the boys and girls they’re going to in my desk.
Deeno. Yes, sir. All right, sir. (Goes off.)
Santa (bending down to examine them). These tea set plants are very slow growing this year. I’ll have them planted earlier next year. Just see how small these dishes are. Those on the east side of the garden are much larger than these. (Examines plants in pots, opens the buds, one after another, and shows the dolls within.) Oh, here you are, Miss Dolly! You are to go to a dear little girl, so you must hurry up and grow. And you (to another doll bud) will go into Annie’s stocking. And you (to another) will go to lame Mary. Oh, yes, I think dolls are one of the most satisfactory crops. (Turns to the French Dolls, who are covered by a frame of mosquito netting.) Now these big French dolls are very hard to grow. I see Deeno has them covered. (Calls.) Deeno! Oh, Deeno!