When four of santa's elves got  sick, and the trainee elves did not
produce the toys as fast as the regular  ones, santa was
beginning to feel the pressure of  being behind schedule.

Then mrs. Claus told santa that  her mum was coming to visit.

This stressed santa even more.

When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that  three of them
were about to give birth and two had jumped
the fence and were out, heaven knows where.

More stress.

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 apple cider
and a shot of rum.

When he went to the cupboard, he discovered that the  elves had
hidden the liquor, and there was nothing to drink.

In his frustration, he accidentally dropped the  cider 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 end
of the broom.

Just then the doorbell rang, and irritable santa  trudged 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
a lovely day? I have a beautiful tree for you.
Where would you like me to stick it?'

and so began the tradition of the little angel on  top of the
christmas tree.