DECEMBER 28: Homes without Chimneys
“When they began to build these great, big apartment houses, years ago, Santa Claus was on the lookout,” said daddy. ‘Now,’ he said to himself, ‘I must think out a way to get to the children who will live in those big buildings.’
“The people went on building, and they were so interested in watching the floors grow—one went right on top of the other—that they seemed to forget all about Santa Claus and his one trip of the year, which is worth more than anything else that happens.
“And then the people began to build fire-escapes. For they said that when the buildings were so large and there were so many rooms and so many families, they must have a way of getting out in case of fire. And from top to bottom of every building—on every side—they put fire escapes, so that no home was without one.
“‘Well,’ said Santa Claus, as he drove his reindeer over the roofs of the city that night, to see about his Christmas trip, ‘that is something I like! Now I know what to do!’
“So when Santa Claus goes to the city homes where there are no chimneys he leaves his reindeer on the roof, and down he goes on the fire-escape to every single home, and in he gets with his pack. For did you ever know any place locked up so tightly but that there was a way for Santa Claus to get in?
“Oh, yes, Santa Claus visits the cities and the villages and the farms. He just has to do a little differently in some homes than in others. But it makes no difference to him what they may build, for, after all, Santa Claus is Santa Claus, and he always makes a way to visit children every Christmas! For he is the children’s King and he reigns over Christmas Day—the greatest day of all!”