Santa was standing by a sparkling tree all covered with pretty candles, such as they had burned for the joss, and on top of the tree was a great shining star.
“What is that?” said Ah Gong, pointing with his chubby forefinger to the star.
“That? It is the star of Bethlehem,” said the pretty lady, with a queer catch in her voice, while for the first time in her life she realized a little of the true meaning of the star.
They did not understand, and clung closer to each other as they neared the wonderful Santa Claus. He must have come from a very cold country, for he was dressed all in fur, from head to foot, and had rosy cheeks and long white whiskers.
“See,” whispered the little girl to her brother, “it is the heap good ’Melican Santa; do you see him?”
“Yes--yes--I see him; I no ’flaid now,” he said, edging closer to him.
The beautiful lady was whispering to Santa Claus--actually whispering. What a brave lady she must be, and they wondered vaguely what she could have to say to him. And, wonder of wonders! Santa came right up to them, and putting out his big warm hand, clasped the trembling little cold hands of the two children, and said: “What do you want me to bring you?”
Was there ever anything so wonderful? That he should notice them, and speak to them? Their eyes almost danced out of their heads at this unexpected question. It had never occurred to their innocent little hearts that he would bring them anything, because they were only Chinese, and the Chinese did not believe in Santa Claus; they only believed in the Moon Rabbit.
As he spoke, visions of wonderful things flitted through their minds,--things they dared not name. The lady said to Ah Chee: “Tell him, dear; he would like to give you something.”
Before the child thought, she had spoken the words: “Could you--oh, _could_ you--bling me--a--doll?”
“A doll? Why, yes; of course you shall have a doll,” he said, as the lady looked at him in a meaning way. And then all the boy in little Ah Gong’s repressed nature broke forth, and he hurriedly gasped: “A knife--I likee knife.”
The lady smiled at Santa again, and he said: “And what else, my little man?”
“No--no--” whispered the timid sister, “that too muchee--Santa no likee give so muchee.”