A timid knock at the door interrupted Albert's meditations. As upon his "Come in!" no one entered, he went to open the door. A little peasant boy, fair-haired and bare-footed, stood there, looking at him with his stupid eyes wide open.
"Whom do you want, my boy?"
"Are you the candidate here?"
"To be sure!" said Albert, always ready for any fun or joke.
"Mother Claus sends me----"
"Who?" "Mother Claus sends me----"
"Come in, little one," said Albert, taking the boy by the hand and locking the door when they were both inside.
"What does Mother Claus want of me?"
"Mother Claus is dying, and sends me to tell the candidate to come and see her."
The boy breathed deep when he had relieved himself of the fearful burden of his message. Albert took up his cap.