It was going to be a white Christmas. The trees had lost their
leaves and their branches were covered with snow. The air was
unbearably cold but the feeling of happiness and anticipation
was everywhere.

In Santa's workshop, the elves were busy wrapping presents. All
year they had spent their days building toys, assembling toys and painting
them with bright oranges, reds, blues and greens. Now, before midnight
all the presents needed to be packed onto Santa's sleigh.

Sylvester, elf number twenty-two, was outside hitching Rudolph
to Santa's sleigh for his yearly trip around the world.

"Why aren't you singing, Sylvester?" Rudolph asked.

"Because I'm not at all happy this year. I have made presents
for the children all year long. I put them together. I painted them.
But, I never get a present on Christmas. Why isn't there ever a present
for me?" Sylvester asked.

Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer, shook his head from side to side.
Then he said, "Sylvester, don't you know it's better to give than to
receive? Why, Santa tells us that every year. Haven't you been listening?"

"Yes, Rudolph. I have been listening to Santa for twenty-two years
but I want a present for Christmas. I want my very own Christmas present."

Rudolph thought for a few minutes, shook his head from left to
right, then said, "Sylvester, come with us tonight. Hop onto Santa's
sleigh. Fly with us to all the good little boys and girls around the
world."

"Why should I go with you," Sylvester asked.

"Because you've never seen Christmas. You've only prepared for
Christmas. Come see it tonight."

Sylvester hesitated before saying, "Okay, I would like to see
Christmas."

Quickly, Sylvester climbed into Santa's sleigh, laid down behind
his large sack of toys and covered his head with Santa's red wool
blanket. He didn't want Santa to see him. If Santa knew he was in the sleigh, he would tell him to return to the big dining room where Mrs. Claus was serving hot chocolate and macaroons to all the elves before their bedtime.

Sylvester laid as still as he could. He heard whistling to the tune of Jingle Bells coming closer and closer. Then, he felt the sleigh tip from side to side as Santa Claus climbed into it.

"Onward, Rudolph, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen," he commanded.

Within minutes, the sleigh and all the reindeer were flying through
the sky on this cold, Christmas Eve.

"Almost there," Santa shouted with glee.

Sylvester took the blanket off himself and peeked over the side of
the sleigh. He saw lights in the distance. Twinkling, colorful lights.
More lights than he had ever seen. They lit up the dark, night sky. He could
hear soft, beautiful singing, "Oh, holy night, the stars are brightly
shining." "It's the stars making the beautiful lights," Sylvester
whispered softly. "How lovely."

A small town appeared below. Little boys and girls from near and far
were gathered around a tall, beautiful snow covered Christmas tree. "Joy
to the world," they sang.

Santa landed the sleigh in the middle of town square. Quickly, he
grabbed his sack full of toys and climbed out exclaiming, "Ho, ho, ho.
Merry Christmas to all."

The children jumped up and down clapping their hands with great
excitement. Slyvester stood, ever so quietly, next to Rudolph as he
watched Santa distribute gifts to all the boys and girls. He watched
as each child took the presents and carefully unwrapped them. He
recognized the red wagon he made, the green and orange race car he
assembled and the blue and red bicycle he painted. He saw all the toys
he had worked on for so many days and hours during the year.

But, more important than the gifts, he saw the joy and the excitement
coming from each child. He heard their laughter and laughed with them.
For the first time, Sylvester knew the true spirit of Christmas. He saw
and felt the joy coming from the children as they received their gifts.
He knew this joy was coming from the giving and not the receiving.

With tears of happiness in his eyes, Sylvester said to Rudolph, "Santa
was right, Rudolph. It is better to give than to receive. The children
are so happy with the toys I made for them. I will always remember this
night. Because of what I could do, I brought happiness to the boys
and girls. That is my Christmas present. I have happiness. I can't
wait to get home and start working building toys for next year.

Rudolph smiled, "Merry Christmas, Sylvester."

"Merry Christmas," Rudolph.