Santa Claus [up chimney]. Who's that I hear calling me?
Ted. It's me—me—me! Ted Bird! Oh, please hurry!
Santa Claus. Yes, yes! But this chimney's such a tight squeeze! [Loud jingling.]
Ted. Oh, please be quiet! Please don't make such a noise!
[Enter Santa Claus, through fireplace, bowing
low to Ted.
Santa Claus. Not make a noise? I'd just like to know who has a better right to make a noise than I?
Ted. Oh, yes, I know, but I must speak to you before the others come in! [Pulls up a chair, stands on it, and puts his arm across Santa Claus' shoulders.]
Santa Claus. What's all this secrecy about?
Ted. It's just this, Santa Claus. The Brownie let me help him last night, and I told him such nice things to put in the stockings, and now nobody likes them, and everything's in a terrible muddle!
Santa Claus. Oho! So you've been finding out that it isn't so easy, after all, to give people what they want, have you?