So it happened that the Christmas that was nearly lost was found, after all, and when the children woke up in the morning they saw their stockings full of toys and the tall green trees all trimmed and waiting for them. And when Santa reached the North Pole again, very tired and sleepy, but not at all grumbly, he heard a noise that sounded like running brooks and singing birds and waving grasses and blowing winds all wrapped up together; and he said to himself:
“Dear,dear me! what can that be? It sounds very like the laughter of little children all over the world.”
And that is precisely what it was.
When he had finished, Mr. Peter leaned over and whispered to David; and David cleared his throat as if he were going to make a long speech. Then he told his plan to Barney and Johanna and asked them would they do it.
“The heathens!” was all Johanna said; but she sounded distinctly surprised, almost shocked.
“Why not?” said Barney. “Mind, your calling them that doesn’t make them it. And what if they were? Is that any reason?”
“Maybe not,” agreed Johanna. “Only when a body’s got the habit o’ thinking folks are not her kind o’ folks it takes a powerful bit o’ thinking to think them different.”
“Sure it does. We’ll leave ye to do the thinking while the three of us go out to the woodshed and knock together them sign-posts the little lad is wishing for.”
And Barney led the way, while a very happy boy and a man with an amused twinkle in his eyes followed at his heels.