arms， smiling. "And out came the vendegum. Those are the little<br >men who live in the ice mountains way up at the top of the<br >world， under the North Star."<br > "This is the same story she told last year，" Hans murmured<br >to himself， over by the window. He was thirteen， and had de-<br >cided that he knew too much to listen to children s fairy tales.<br > Stubbornly he peeped out through the thick glass panes again，<br >squinting into the storm. He grinned， as all at once a sleigh<br >took form in the shapeless whiteness of the farmyard. "It s them!" "<br >he shouted triumphantly. "Here they come!"<br > The open sleigh， drawn by two reindeer， pulled up before<br >the barn door. A stocky man in his late fifties climbed down<br >from its seat and offered his hand to its other occupant.<br > His wife， Anya， pushed aside her lap robe and climbed down<br >to stand in the snow beside him. She smiled as she saw the<br >anticipation in his eyes.<br > "As they entered the barn， the waiting children swarmed<br >around them， laughing and shouting. The clamoring children<br >were hugging Claus and pulling at the bulging sack he carried.<br >In a grinning chorus they cried， "Happy Christmas， Uncle Claus!"<br > Beaming with pleasure and pride， Claus began to take from<br >the bag， one at a time， a wonderful assortment of hand-carved<br >wooden toys.<br > Anya watched her husband with the children， her eyes shin-<br >ing.<br > "How lucky you are， Anya，" Marta said softly.<br > Lucky? she thought. To be married for thirty years to a won-<br >derful man who loves children so， and never blessed with one<br >of our own?<br > The evening passed swiftly for the happy adults and children，<br >with much laughter and little thought of the worsening weather<br > outside. Only Claus s reindeer， tethered to a fence post in the<br >yard， were aware of the rising wind， the deepening snow.<br > Axel， Hans s father， went to the window， rubbing away the<br >frost to peer outside. "Claus， stay the night，" he urged. "You<br > can t get through."<br > "With my reindeer?" Claus laughed， trying to reassure him.<br > "Donner and Blitzen can get through anything!"<br > The couple left the barn， carrying the warm wishes of the<br > others with them into the stormy night.<br > Donner and Blitzen snorted and shuddered as Claus tugged<br > on the reins. With a final wave to the friends still gathered in<br >