“We’re not blessed angels,” said Florence. “We’re Santa Claus & Co., and we live on the Payson ranch over on the river.”
“Well, well!” said the man. He began to understand what it all meant. “Come right in. I’ll tie the horse.”
David and Florence stamped the snow off and went inside, dragging their gifts. The cabin was so small that they had to cut off the top of the tree before they could stand it up in the room. Then they all joined in hanging up the decorations and the gifts. The three children had said scarcely a word at first, but they grew noisy with happiness as the tree slowly began to display its wonderful fruit before their eyes. Perhaps it was the most beautiful Christmas Day that ever came to three little folk who had not even known that it was Christmas until nearly noon. And when the big parcels of clothing were taken from the tree and opened one by one there were tears of happiness in the grown people’s eyes.
Late that afternoon David and Florence mounted Diamond, waved good-by and rode back to the ranch.
“Which Christmas celebration was the better?” asked their mother, when they had told the story of their visit to the log cabin.
“Both were wonderful,” said David, “but somehow we were even happier there than here.”
“I suppose it was because the first was a getting Christmas and the second was a giving Christmas,” said Florence.
And in that sage remark Florence showed where the richest happiness of the Christmas season lies.
[3] This story was first printed in “Youth’s Companion,” December 12, 1918. Reprinted by permission of the author and “Youth’s Companion.”