MsCharlotte's Stuff: Christmas

Chapter 17: The Race

Claus rushed back to the castle to delay the contest. The Pigwidgen was impatient. He knew only he could lift the box of magic because it was screwed to the top of the North Pole. He was anxious to defeat Claus at last.

"But give me a change of clothes!" begged Claus. "What I am wearing is not suitable for so serious a contest."

"Oh, very well," said the Pigwidgen crossly, and he ordered clothes brought to Claus.

Nothing large enough to fit could be found. Finally the pygmies discovered a bolt of red cloth. Quickly they cut out and stitched together a red suit. It was a fine and handsome outfit, but unfortunately, too large. Claus stuffed several pillows under his coat to make it fit. Then, looking like a roly poly red rubber ball, he followed the Pigwidgen to the lake.

The tiny box sat on top of the ice. Claus bent over. He wrapped his hands around the box. He gave a mighty heave. The box did not move. Claus pried. He pushed. He pulled. The box did not move.

The Pigwidgen cried, "You have lost! Now you will turn to stone!"

Claus shook his head and heaved once more. Suddenly the ice split. There was a snap below the water and Claus raised the box high over his head.

The Pigwidgen turned pale. "You have lifted the North Pole itself!" he gasped incredulously.

Claus smiled. He knew that it was Patrick Tweedleknees who had done it. The elf had broken under the ice near shore and had swam underwater to the pole. All the time Claus was heaving, Tweedleknees was under the ice sawing on the pole until the tip broke free.

The Pigwidgen said mournfully, "All my power is now yours."

"And what of the curse that has put all the children in the land to sleep?" asked Claus. "And the curse that keeps all elves underground?"

"You may break them," said the Pigwidgen. "The power is yours. My people are yours. This land is yours. But there is one thing you must know. No human being who has come to this land can leave. Though you will live forever you can never go home again."

"Never?" asked Claus.

"Once each year and then only if you have a message to give," replied the Pidwidgen.

Claus was very sad. What was the good of living forever and having so much magic power if he could not do what he had loved the most: to sit in his little workshop at home and make toys for the children of the village?

Tweedleknees appeared. He tugged at Claus' big red trousers. "It is a good land," he said gruffly. "The elves can move here from their underground caves. The pygmies can stay here. We can all make toys and once a year you can take them not only to your own village but to children everywhere. All the world will love you and call you Saint Nicholas or Santa Claus."

Claus brightened. "I can fill a sled with toys and the reindeer can fly me," he said happily. "I will send for Mrs. Claus and she can make sugar plums and sweet meats to stuff the stockings."

"And always wear red because that red suit has brought us luck," said Tweedleknees.

"But," said the Pigwidgen, "what of the message you must give in order to visit the world?"

"That's easy," said Claus. "I shall deliver our toys on Christmas Eve and my message will be "Merry Christmas!"

And that is the tale of how Saint Nicholas came to be the Santa Claus we know today. It may be true or it may not. It really doesn't matter. The message is the same:

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!