10th form "Chrisrmas Stocking" Reading / Grammar

1. Hardly a house in Britain or in America but _____ up the children's stocking by the side of the chimney for Father Christmas, or Santa Claus, on the Christmas Eve.

2. So, the generation of children go eagerly to them on Christmas morning to see what Santa Claus _____ into them.

3. Yet, the practice has _____ to do with Christmas, or Christian festival.

4. Its only connection is with Santa Claus, or, ____ the name its correct appelation, Saint Nicholas.

5. The saint, who liked to do good by stealth, heard that three lovely sisters who lived in a poor cottage on the outskirts of a town were so poor that if they wanted to continue ____ at all, a life of shame was the only alternative,

6. The good saint ____ his way to their home one night, and threw a gift of three gold pieces through the smoke-hole of the cottage.

7. There were no chimneys in those days and the smoke ____ out through the hole cut in the roof.

8. Instead of the gold pieces falling on the hearth, as he had expected, they fell into the stockings of the girls, which ____ up over the fire to dry after washing.

9. Hence, when the tale became known, the custom of hanging up stockings over the fire came into ____ and Christmas Day was chosen for the doing, because it was Saint Nicholas' Day.

10. Hence, also, the idea that Santa Claus _____ down the chimney.