He took a peep into the stocking, and what do you suppose he saw? There in the stocking was a little gold cane, just the right size for a little dwarf. “Well,” said the dwarf, “that is a pretty nice cane, but mind you, I did not hang that stocking up!” By and by he went into the kitchen to wash his dishes, and imagine his surprise to see all his dishes dry and hanging in their right places. “I want my own supper!” he roared. Then he lifted a plate from the shelf, and under it he saw a new penny. Then he took a spoon from the drawer and out rolled another penny, so it went on, until he got down the dish-pan to wash his dishes, and a whole bag full of pennies rolled down and nearly choked him! Then the little dwarf looked at his pennies and he laughed until he cried. “I can never count them all,” he said. He put all the pennies in little piles. “I shall be quite rich,” he cried. “I wish Santa Claus would call again.” Then the little dwarf went back and looked at his gold cane. He walked up and down the room with his cane in his hand. [Illustration: “_A bag full of pennies rolled down_”] “I wish Santa Claus had left another red stocking,” he said. “I would like to wear fine red stockings!” Then he tripped on the edge of the rug and he rolled the rug up and saw another red stocking and a red cap and a pair of red mittens! He was so happy he shouted with delight, “Old Santa is a merry elf, And I will have a care, When Christmas comes again next year, My stocking will be there!” Then what do you suppose that comical little dwarf did? He put on his red cap and his red stockings and his red mittens, and he just curled up on the rug and went to sleep! The Ink-Bottle Babies fell asleep long before the end of the story was reached, but the Ink-Bottle Mamma liked the story so well that she read it on to the end to herself. Then the Ink-Bottle Mamma went to bed. It was now Christmas Eve. Did Santa Claus remember the Ink-Bottle Babies, and did he fill all their stockings full? Well, I guess he did! and the Ink-Bottle Babies all woke up early and cried, “Oh Ma! please bring us our stockings,” and the Ink-Bottle Mamma brought in twenty-five stockings full of apples and nuts and toys. But the great joy of the day was still to come. Molly and Polly had their beds near the window and they cried, “Oh Ma, here comes a farmer’s wagon!” Sure enough the wagon came and stopped right at their door. Out jumped the farmer and his wife! The twenty-five Ink-Bottle Babies cried, “Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!” and the farmer and his wife called, “Twenty-five babies, all in a row; This is Christmas day, you know!” Then the farmer and his wife made a bow and the Ink-Bottle Babies clapped their hands and shouted, “Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!” CHAPTER V A WONDERFUL DREAM