Maida Meets Santa Claus
So Maida sat on his knee and told him all about it. “I’m going to the Wishing Post,” she said, “and wish to be grown up.”
“Grown up?” replied the chubby old man. “Why childhood is the happiest time of life.”
“That’s what the grown-ups tell us,” Maida answered, “but I guess they’ve forgotten all about it. I don’t suppose you were ever spanked and put to bed without your supper because you wouldn’t learn your lessons.”
The chubby old man became very earnest and a little sad. “If you grow up quickly,” he said, “you won’t care for dollies and candy any more. You can’t sit like this on my knee, and you’ll always be puzzling your pretty little head because you’ve nothing to wear.”
Maida looked at him rather puzzled. “Your face looks so—so familiar to me,” she said, “I’ve seen you somewhere but I can’t remember where it was.”
Billy looked at Maida and smiled. “Why in your picture books,” he laughed. “Don’t you know who this is? Why Santa Claus, of course.” And it was.