The sweet milk and cookies left for me by the sleeping children had added to my joy. When I emerged through the chimney after leaving toys for them, I saw a man in my sleigh struggling with the reindeer.
He, obviously a thief, might have thought he was outwitting another thief in disguise.
He took to his heels on seeing me. Feeling only sympathy for him, I didn’t want to catch him.
“Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas!” I called after him, laughing loudly.