SANTA'S BAD DAY

One particular Christmas season a long time ago, Santa was getting ready
for his annual trip, but there were problems. Four of his elves got
sick, and the trainee elves did not produce the toys as fast as the
regular ones so Santa was beginning to feel the pressure of being behind
schedule. When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of
them were about to give birth and two had jumped the fence. Then when he
began to load the sleigh one of the boards cracked and the toy bag fell
to the ground and scattered the toys.

So, frustrated, Santa went into the house for a cup of coffee and a shot
of whiskey. When he went to the cupboard, he discovered that the elves
had hid the liquor and there was nothing to drink. In his frustration,
he accidentally dropped the coffee pot and it broke into hundreds of
little pieces all over the kitchen floor. He went to get the broom and
found that mice had eaten the straw it was made from.

Just then the doorbell rang and Santa cussed on his way to the door. He
opened the door and there was a little angel with a great big Christmas
tree. The angel said, very cheerfully, "Merry Christmas Santa. Isn't it
just a lovely day? I have a beautiful tree for you-where would you like
me to put it?"

Thus began the tradition of the little angel on top of the Christmas
tree.