He took off his tiny wrist watch and handed it to Santa. "This is for you Santa," he said, "so you will always know when to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. I know it's small, but you can wear it around your thumb."
"What a novel idea" said Santa, with a big HO, HO, HO! "A thumb watch." Reaching into his magic sack, he pulled out a little alarm clock. It was programed to ring every time it was time to eat, but Kris Mouse, who had never gotten anything but peppermint leaves and cranberries in his stocking, could hardly believe it. He had only received one present in his whole life. Now, this was his second. Just then the little alarm rang. "It must be snack time," said Santa, and out of the blue a piece of hot pepper cheese appeared.
"I love my alarm clock. Thank you," said Kris Mouse, "this is a wonderful Christmas."
"Well," said Santa, "It's time to go on my rounds. My reindeer must be wondering what's keeping me. Dancer and Prancer and Donder and Blitzen, and what is that other reindeer's name? I always forget."
"Vixen," said Kris Mouse, "I remember it because it rhymes with Nixon. I want to be president one day, so I memorized the names of all the presidents, from George Washington on."
"HO, HO!" laughted Santa. "The first mouse president. I would vote for you. Let me know if you run."
"I will," said Kris Mouse, "I sure will. And thanks for the alarm clock and the hot pepper cheese, even though it made me sneeze."
"HO, HO," said Santa, "you're a poet, and a thoughtful little mouse as well. because you gave up something you like."
"Well," said Kris Mouse, "I guess grandmouse is right. He always says, 'do a good deed with all your might.'"
"You are a poet indeed," said Santa. "But do old Santa a favor, use the broom I left, and clean the chimney."
Then laying a hanky over his nose, and giving a nod, up the chimneyhe rose. He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle ("what took you so long?" snorted Vixen. "We're 4,000 miles behind schedule"), then away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight, "Merry Christmas to all, and to Kris Mouse a good night."
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