Here Grandmother herself sneezes.  And the Wind Fairies are heard outside, like this: 

  z—­z—­z z—­z—­z z—­Z—­Z—­Z—­z—­z—­z

How the wind does blow tonight, says GRANDMOTHER.  Children, it seems to me very cold in this room. She looks around to see what makes it so chilly. Why, bless me, she says, they have forgotten to light the fire. She rises, the children also, and they all go toward the fire-place. Frank, says GRANDMOTHER, hand me the matches. He brings them.  She stoops at the hearth, the children standing around, and soon a bright glow appears and is seen to dance about. There, that will soon make a fine blaze, says she. Hold up your hands, children, and warm them.

But suddenly from up the chimney comes the voice of JACK FROST:  Hello there, you people, put that fire out. Grandmother and the children are startled. Do you hear? shouts JACK FROST. Put it out.  Santa Claus is coming.  Do you hear what I say?  SANTA CLAUS IS COMING.  Put out that fire.

Why, children, cries GRANDMOTHER, I had forgotten all about that.  Quick!  We must indeed put the fire out at once.  Ned, bring me that pitcher of water.

He brings it; she throws the water on the fire.  The glow disappears and a great hissing sound is heard, loud at first, then dying away, like this: 

  S—­S—­S—­s—­s—­s—­s—­s—­s—­s—­s—­s—­s—­s

There! says GRANDMOTHER.  It is quite out, you see.  And now, you must hang up your stockings, quickly, and hurry into bed. A shrill whistle is heard outside.  What was that?  GRANDMOTHER asks.

It sounded like a whistle out of doors, answers MARGARET; and she goes to the window and looks out. Why, Grandmother, says she, it’s beginning to snow.

Good! says GRANDMOTHER.  That will make it easier for Santa Claus to get here in his sleigh.  So make haste with your stockings, and then, before you get into bed, we will read from the Good Book about what happened on the first Christmas night so many, many years ago.

They bring their stockings and hang them in a row over the fire-place.  Meantime Grandmother has taken the big Bible, and seated herself in the low chair in the middle of the room.  The children, when the stockings are hung, group themselves beside her, standing, looking over her shoulders, her arms around some of them.  Then GRANDMOTHER reads: 

And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.  And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, “Be not afraid; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all the people.  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be the sign unto you:  Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger?”