"I hope we get them," went on Flop Ear with a sigh, and pretty soon, off in the woods, they heard a voice calling:
"Whoa, now! Stand still there, if you please. Some of the things are slipping off my sleigh, and I want to fasten them on. Whoa there, reindeer!"
"Listen to that, would you now!" whispered Curly Tail to his brother, as they hid down behind some bushes.
"Reindeer!" exclaimed Flop Ear. "There's only one person who has reindeer and he is—"
"Santa Claus!" interrupted Curly Tail. "We've found Santa Claus, Floppy, and this is the best chance in the world to tell him what presents we want for Christmas!"
"That's right," agreed the other piggie boy. "We'll speak to him," and then they walked on a little farther and they saw the dear old saint himself, with his red coat, all trimmed with white fur, and his white beard, and he was as round and fat and jolly as anything.
"What ho! Hello!" cried Santa Claus, when he saw the piggie boys.
"What are you doing here?"
"We are on our way home from buying Christmas things," said Flop
Ear. "But have you really Christmas presents there, Mr. Santa
Claus?"
"I have indeed," replied the jolly old saint, with a twinkle in his eyes. "But no one is allowed to see them until the right time. You see I am traveling about, measuring the sizes of different chimneys, so I can tell whether or not I can slide down them. Just as I got here some of the toys began to slip off the sleigh and I stopped to fasten them on. But I suppose you have your toys all picked out?"
"Yes," replied Flop Ear. "I want a toy steam engine, and Curly wants a toy automobile."