"Indeed I will!" said she. "He is kind and good, and his cow gives the best milk I ever tasted."
Then Shamruck gently took up the child and kissed her. It was one of the largest kisses any little girl ever had, but she was not frightened a bit.
The Christmas festivities lasted all day, and far into the night, and when they were over, Shamruck declared that he had never had the least idea what a joyful day was this great holiday, and the little girl told the King that no matter what happened, she never could forget Christmas again.
Shamruck did not want a mule. He took the panniers in one hand and the little girl in the other, and went up to his castle, a great crowd of people accompanying him, and singing carols as they walked. In a day or two pleasant rooms were fitted up for the little girl in the castle, and the giant provided her with teachers and good companions, and she grew up to be a fair and happy woman. As for Shamruck, he was never gloomy again, and ever afterward Christmas-time was to him the most joyful season of all the year.
The little shoemaker had a weary time trying to make the fairy slippers. He had not imagined it could be such a difficult task. He could never shave any leather thin enough; he could never get any thread or waxed-ends fine enough; and his fingers were all too big to handle such tiny things. He worked in his spare time, as he had said he would; but as he had always given himself a good deal of spare time, he had to work a good deal on the slippers. Before long he began to dislike them so much that he gave more attention to his regular business, so as to have as little spare time as possible, and he soon became a prosperous man. The fairy slippers were never finished, but the little shoemaker made all the boots for the giant Shamruck, and all the shoes for the little girl, and he charged them nothing at all.
[MISTRESS SANTA CLAUS.]
BY MARGARET EYTINGE.
Much you have heard about old Santa Claus,
But naught, I think, of his good-natured wife,
And I must tell you of her, dears, because
In sweet'ning life for you she spends her life.
She's small and plump, her eyes are brown and bright,
And in a cave she lives that's full of toys,
Where, with her servant-elves, from morn till night
She's busy working for the girls and boys.
Yes, quite three hundred days out of the year
Never a single idle hour have they,
For well they know there would be many a tear
Should sugar-plums fall short on Christmas-day.
And oh! and oh! the sugar-plums!
Some brown, some red, and some as white
As snow-flakes when they first alight;
Some holding grapes, some holding cherries,
Some bits of orange, some strawberries,
Some tasting like a peach or rose,
And some that dainty nuts inclose:
Some filled with cream, and some with spice,
And all so very, very nice.
And oh! and oh! the sugar-plums!
Those funny, funny little elves,
They cram the boxes and the drums,
The bags, the baskets, and the shelves;
They heap them high upon the floor,
In closets pack them two miles long,
And when there is no room for more
They sing a jolly elfish song;
And pretty Mistress Santa Claus,
With sugar sticking to her thumbs
And tiny fingers, laughs aloud
To think of that great eager crowd
Of smiling girls and smiling boys
Awaiting for her husband's toys.
And oh! and oh! the sugar-plums!
And now, sweethearts, when merry Christmas comes,
And you greet Santa's gifts with loud applause,
Remember who sent you the sugar-plums,
And give one cheer for Mistress Santa Claus.