When four of Santa's elves got sick, the trainee elves did not produce toys
as fast as the regular ones, and Santa began to feel the pre-Christmas
pressure.
Then Mrs. Claus told Santa her Mother was coming to visit, which stressed
Santa even more. When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three
of them were about to give birth and two others had jumped the fence and
were out, Heaven knows where.
Then when he began to load the sleigh, one of the floorboards cracked, the
toy bag fell to the ground and all the toys were scattered. So, frustrated,
Santa went in the house for a cup of apple cider and a shot of rum. When he
went to the cupboard, he discovered the elves had drunk all the cider and
hidden the liquor. In his frustration, he accidentally dropped the cider
jug, and it broke into hundreds of little glass pieces all over the kitchen
floor.He went to get the broom and found the mice had eaten all the straw
off the end of the broom.
Just then the doorbell rang, and irritated Santa marched to the door,
yanked it open, and there stood a little angel with a great big Christmas
tree. The angel said very cheerfully, "Merry Christmas, Santa. Isn't this
a lovely day? I have a beautiful tree for you. Where would you like me to
stick it?"
And so began the tradition of the little angel on top of the Christmas tree.
The Chester Merchants wish you and your family a happy and healthy holiday season. All the best to you and yours.
Suzi Fraser
for the Chester Merchants Group