The Baby and the Silver Bell
Boy, did winter come on fast. One day I was in my Santa Shorts and the next day I had to put on long pants and a sweater. But, that isn’t too bad. Mrs. Claus cooks up some great soups when it gets cold and Santa loves her soup. And, she also bakes fresh bread to go with the soup. Santa loves that too. I better quit talking about food, it is making me hungry and Santa has to watch his weight – HO, HO, HO.
Santa understands that you got a lot of rain, while up here at the North Pole we got a lot of snow. My elves tell me there is even a bit of early snow on the Sierra Nevada range in California.
Sometimes people worry that if there is too much snow, Santa won’t be able to make it to their house. No problem, as they say. Santa and the reindeer can travel in all kinds of weather and can find your house no matter what. The only problem Santa has is when he is asked to be somewhere before Christmas and doesn’t travel by sleigh. Now and then there is too much snow.
The one problem that Santa is having is that while the elves are trying to get everything ready for the big day, they are still waiting for letters from some of you telling Santa what you want and how good you have been. Of course, there are some people that don’t have to write letters to Santa telling what they want. They are the little babies.
Santa really loves the very little ones and, if you don’t know it, Santa understands what they are saying, no matter the language. Babies are so pure and ask Santa for something soft or fun, if anything at all. What is most important to them is that Santa brings something special for their mother or father, big brother or sister, or someone else who has been taking care of them. In spite of the fact that you might not be able to understand what they are saying, they do love and care a lot about all the people who take care of them, so remember that the next time they need to be held, hugged, watched or cared for.
One time, many, many years ago, Santa dropped down a chimney and while putting the presents under the tree, felt like someone was watching.
I turned around and found a baby looking at me from a crib right next to the still warm fireplace. Apparently I accidently woke the baby, who looked up and didn’t cry, but just smiled.
That baby knew who Santa was, all babies do. I gently tucked the baby back in, and checked the list. What did I find? Somehow, that one and only time, someone was missing from Santa’s list – that one little baby. I was very lucky that the baby had been put there by the fireplace.
Well, everyone who has been good gets a present from Santa, and all babies have been good. That is one thing Santa knows for sure. There weren’t any extra presents in the sleigh, but in my pocket was a shiny silver bell from Prancer’s harness. It had been loose and I was supposed to give to Mrs. Claus, so that she could sew it back on. But, in the rush of Christmas, I had forgotten to do that. (Mrs. Claus sometimes asks me how I can always remember which children have been good or bad, but forget simple chores, like having a bell sewed back on.)
I knew the bell was too big for the baby to swallow and didn’t have any sharp edges that might hurt the baby, so I took the bell from my pocket and gently put it in the crib, next to the baby. The baby smiled and reaching over, bumped the bell, making it ring. The baby laughed and Santa smiled. Then, up the chimney I went.
Santa has wondered ever since what happened to that bell. Maybe the baby went on to be a famous musician or even a collector of bells. Or, maybe the bell has been passed down for many generations to each new baby when it is born. Whatever has happened, I am sure that bell has made many people happy. I know that Mrs. Claus, Prancer and all the other reindeer were happy when they found out what Santa had done with it.
Well, Santa has to go check on the elves to make sure that everything is on schedule. A few minutes ago I heard a loud crash from the workshop, and better go check on it. The elves love to play silly tricks on Santa, so I better be careful.
Keep sending all those letters to Santa and, most of all, mind your manners, listen to your parents and teachers, be kind and, especially, take good care of each other.
Love, your good friend, Santa Claus