Santa told Basil to go and fetch Margaret soshe could get her special present.

So, Basil was off in a flash to the burrowand, breathlessly, told Margaret to come right away! “Santa wantsto see you! He came specially to bring something!”

“What!? Santa is here?! For Me?!” cluckedMargaret. Margaret did not run, she FLEW to the Old Oak Tree! OldAgnes went running as fast as she could — she was not going to missseeing Santa for herself. Basil stayed with Marygrey.

“Ho Ho Ho … Ho Ho Ho!” laughed Santa, asMargaret flew in and landed right in front of him. “Margaret,” saidSanta, “I have heard about how your eggs did not hatch again, so Ihave brought you something that will cheer you up on this wonderfulChristmas Eve.” With that, Santa reached way down in his bag andlifted out the most beautiful Rooster that Margaret had ever seen.His name was Reginald. Reginald was very glad to get out of thebag, even if it was Santa’s bag, and he was even more glad when hesaw Margaret. He cock-a-doodle-do-ed his most polite “good evening”to Margaret and she Clucked her best “how-do-you-do” to Reginald.It was love at first sight!

Santa called Wooffer to come to him andpatted him on the head and said, “Wooffer, you are such a good dog,one of a kind. Would you like to come to the North Pole with me andbe one of my elves?”

Wooffer did not have to think about it. Hewanted to stay right where he was with his friends and his mom, sohe said, “No, thank you, Santa.”

Santa understood. It was the best place inthe world for a dog to be. So, Santa leaped back into his sleighand was off in a twinkle. “Ho Ho Ho!” they all heard him laugh ashe disappeared among the stars. This would be a night all of themwould remember for a lot of Christmas Eves to come.