Mr. Kris Kringle | Page 6

Here he slipped and
rolling down fell over a high place. Down, down, down he fell, and he
fell."
"Oh! make him stop," cried little Hugh.

"He fell on to a deep bed of soft snow and was not hurt, but soon got up,
and thought he was buried in a white tomb. But soon he understood,
and his head grew clearer, and he beat the snow away and got out. Then,
first he said a prayer, and that was the only prayer he had said in a long
time."
"Oh my!" cried little Hugh. "I did think people could nevah sleep
unless they say their prayers. That's what nurse says. Doesn't she,
Alice?"
And just here Kris had to wipe his eyes, but he took the little fellow's
hand in his and went on.
"Soon he found shelter under a cliff, where no snow was, and with his
flint and steel struck a light, and made with sticks and logs a big fire.
After this he felt warm and better all over and fell asleep. When he
woke up it was early morning, and looking about, he saw in the rock
little yellow streaks and small lumps, and then he knew he had found a
great mine of gold no man had ever seen before. By and by he got out
of the valley and found his companions, and in the spring he went to
his mine, which, because he had found it, was all his own, and he got
people to work there and dig out the gold. After that he was no longer
poor, but very, very rich."
"And was he good then?" said Hugh.
"And did he go home," said Alice, "and buy things?"
"Yes, he went. One day he went home and at night saw his house and
little children, and--but he will not stay, because there is no love
waiting in his house, and all the money in the world is no good unless
there is some love too. You see, dear, a house is just a house of brick
and mortar, but when it is full of love, then it is a home."
"I like that man," said Hugh. "Tell me more."
"But first," said Alice, "oh! we do want to see all our presents."

"Ah, well. That is all, I think; and the presents. Now for the presents."
Then he opened a bag and took out first a string of great pearls, and
said, as he hung them around Alice's neck, "There, these the oysters
made for you years ago under the deep blue sea. They are for a
wedding gift from Chris. They are too fine for a little maid. No Queen
has prettier pearls. But when you are married and some one you love
vexes you or is unkind, look at these pearls, and forgive, oh! a hundred
times over; twice, thrice, for every pearl, because Kris said it. You
won't understand now, but some day you will."
"Yes, sir," said Alice, puzzled, and playing with the pearls.
Said Hugh, "You said, Mr. Khwis, that the oysters make pearls. Why
do the oysters make pearls?"
"I will tell you," replied Kris. "If a bit of something rough or sharp gets
inside the oyster's house, and it can't be got rid of, the oyster begins to
make a pearl of it, and covers it over and over until the rough, rude
thing is one of these beautiful pearls."
"I see," said Hugh.
"That is a little fairy tale I made for myself; I often make stories for
myself."
"That must be very nice, Mr. Khwis. How nice it must be for your little
children every night when you tell them stories."
"Yes--yes"--and here Kris had to wipe his eyes with his handkerchief.
"Isn't that a doll?" said Alice, looking at the bag.
"Yes; a doll from Japan."
"Oh!" exclaimed Alice.
"And boxes of sugar-plums for Christmas," he added. "And, Hugh, here
are skates for you and this bundle of books."

"Thank you, sir."
"And these--and these for my--for Alice," and Kris drew forth a
half-dozen delicate Eastern scarves and cast them, laughing, around the
girl's neck as she stood delighted.
"And now I want to trust you. This is for--for your mother; only an
envelope from Kris to her. Inside is a fairy paper, and whenever she
pleases it will turn to gold--oh! much gold, and she will be able then to
keep her old home and you need never go away, and the pony will
stay."
"Oh! that will be nice. We do sank you, sir; don't we, Alice?"
"Yes. But now I must go. Kiss me. You will kiss me?" He seemed to
doubt it.
"Oh! yes," they cried, and cast their little arms about him while he held
them in a