The true story of Espo the Rabbit and Santa's great list of naughty and nice children

Oh, I'm quite certain that you're heard about Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. I'm absolutely positive you've also heard of all the other Reindeer as well. You might even have heard of Mrs. Clause, the Elves, the sleigh the Santa's great ride across the world on Christmas Eve to deliver presents. Why, you even know about the great lists that Santa keeps on all the good boys and girls. You know the one, the one that determines which children get presents and which children get bags of coal. Yes, yes, I am quite sure that you have heard of the lists but do you know how they started? Do you know how Santa keeps track of all the children and knows who is naughty and who is nice? Some people will tell you its "Christmas Magic" but they are simply mistaken. How do I know you ask? Well I will tell you that when I was just a young boy Captain O'Rourke told me the story - the true story of how Santa helped a rabbit named Espo and how Espo came to help Santa and in so doing Christmas was changed forever. You see, I know its true, the Captain told me so and he would never lie. He told me and now I will tell you - exactly as he told me the story. You see (the Captain began telling his story) the men and I were in camp outside of Petersburgh and winter had come early that year. The tents were cold, food was scarce and everyone was tired of the war. I sent out a group of men to see if they could find anything to eat. We used to call this foraging for food. When the men returned from foraging they had scant little to offer. One man, a Sargent, had his hand inside of his coat. With a smile he pulled a plump rabbit out of his coat and held him out to me. "For you Sir" he said "And a Merry Christmas to you as well." "He should make a fine meal sir!" the man said as he held out the rabbit to me. I thanked the Sargent and accepted the rabbit. I had a cage brought to my tent and placed the rabbit inside thinking that he would indeed make a fine dinner. What happened next would change my way of thinking about rabbits forever! I no more than closed my tent flap when that rabbit commenced to speaking to me. He said "Please Captain, you must, umm, you must help me. I have an important mission that I just must complete. If you insist on eating me for dinner I will fail and you see I so did promise. You understand don't you?" Well I can tell you I certainly did not understand. In fact I thought someone was playing a joke on me and was about call for my watchman to check around the back of the tent to see who was playing such a joke when that same rabbit said to me "I just can't let Santa down not after all he did for me. And especially not on Christmas Eve!" Christmas Eve! Why I had not even thought of that. Most people know that at special times animals, if they wish, can talk and one of those times is Christmas Eve. I decided not to call the watchman and instead turned back to the rabbit. "Now Talk" I told him. "Tell me everything and be quick about it. I am a busy Captain and yes even hungry. Your words will decide your fate. Let's here your story." And so began the tale of Espo. Espo explained to the Captain that several years before he and his family had been living way up north. As Espo was very fond of the grass that grew as the snow melted in the spring he and his family had traveled further and further north in search of this early grass. They had traveled north following the green grass as first spring and then summer had arrived. The grass was good and they ate their fill and traveled on. Thinking that by continuing north they would continue to find this delicious grass they had traveled so far north that they found themselves in a land without any grass. And then the weather turned towards winter and before they knew it the little family of rabbits was in a very bad way. Espo and the others huddled together for warmth and wondered what to do. Just as things looked beyond all hope an unfamiliar sound was heard. It was the sound of sleigh bells. Beyond all belief the little family looked on as a jolly fat man with a hugh white beard landed on the ice just a short distance from them. The reindeer, glad for a short rest, began to paw at the ice in search of a morsel or two. "Ho Ho Ho what do we have here?" the fat man exclaimed. "Are you looking to become a Polar Bear meal?" he laughed as he said this and even though Espo and the others didn't know what a Polar Bear was they began to like this man who had found them. "I'ts a good thing I have sharp eyes and spotted you as I was flying over. Why you folks are southern rabbits. You should be far from here this time of year. It's a good thing I spotted you as we returned from delivering all those toys. You might not have lasted through the night." Espo, to cold to reply just nodded his head towards the fat man. "Well, lets go then. I can't leave you out here like this, mamma will want to see you." And with that the fat man gathered up the rabbits and, after putting the babies inside his beard, gave the order for the reindeer to move out. And so it was, Espo and the others found themselves at the North Pole itself. Santa, by now they knew it was Santa, and Mrs. Clause were delighted to have the rabbits at the village. The rabbits played, ate green grass Mrs. Clause grew for them and generally had a great time. Espo, understanding the great gift that Santa had given him and his family, wanted to do something nice for Santa. He watched and listed and learned all about how the North Pole worked. You know, what the elves do, what the reindeer do all of that sort of thing. He tried his hand at making toys but his ears kept getting in the way. He tried to pull the sleigh but although he could hop a very long way he could not fly like the reindeer. And then an opportunity came for Espo to help. As Santa toiled over his great list of Children, his heart and his head weary with the task of trying to watch all of the children the world over a thought came to Espo. I could do that, we could do that, the rabbits of the world could do this. He spoke to the others about his idea and all were in complete agreement. The rabbits would help Santa keep track of the good boys and girls as well as the bad. Santa, upon hearing the idea, proclaimed it to be a capital idea and all agreed to start right away. And so it has been ever since. Rabbits all over the world watch the little children to see which are naughty and which are nice. If you don't believe this simply look outside your window and you will probably see a rabbit sitting there. He's not just enjoying the grass. He's keeping watch for Santa. In this way Santa can keep track of all the worlds children all year long. And thanks to Espo he always knows exactly who is behaving and who isn't. In this way Espo related his story to the Captain. Then the captain said "I have one final question for you. If you are so good at this watching business and have been doing it for so long how come you got caught by my Sargent?" Espo, if it's possible for such a thing to happen, reddened in the face just a bit from embarrassment. "Well, I'm not as young and spry as I used to be and the grass around here is especially tasty and, well, I ate a bit more than I guess I should have." As he said this he patted his round belly. "Rather like Santa's now I'm afraid." With this the Captain burst out laughing. "All right what can I do to help?" he asked Espo. Espo replied that he was terribly late in meeting Santa and due to his capture he would probably miss him altogether. It would be the first time since promising to help Santa that he would fail and he felt terrible about it. "Santa won't know where to look for me now" he cried. The Captain replied with a wink in his eye "I think I have an idea." With that the Captain picked up Espo and tucked him into his own coat. He picked up his pillow from the bead and then, leaving the tent he headed towards a group of men. In a hushed tone he told Espo "You'll need to be quiet now. Good luck!" When he arrived at the group of men they all snapped to attention and saluted. He returned the salute and asked that the men load one of the cannon's with a 1/2 charge of powder. The men dutifully loaded the powder into the gun. The Captain explained that he intended to fire a "Christmas Salute" and that no cannon ball was needed. Since a louder sound can be produced from a cannon that has wadding or stuffing in front of the powder than without the men were not surprised when the Captain stuffed the pillow he was carrying into the end of the barrel. "Now, when I tell you to fire do so right away". What the men had not seen was that the Captain had allowed a very nervous Espo to climb into the barrel after the pillow had been put in. It was the Captain's intention that if Santa could not come to Espo then Espo would go to Santa! Everyone stood in silence staring at the night. The men's breath was visible against the black sky lit up by the full moon. Suddenly and without warning something was seen crossing the sky. High up and moving fast it went. The Captain, standing a short way from the cannon heard a small voice call out "That's him! That's Santa!" As the sleigh moved into sight the Captain gave the order to "Fire!" and the gun roared to life. For just a split second Espo could be seen waving back at the Captain and then the Sleigh dipped from its course and swooped him up. As the sleigh slipped from sight all of the men thought they heard a hearty "Ho Ho HO! but none could be sure of it. The Captain, thinking it's a good thing he has sharp eyes, returned to his tent still hungry but happy nonetheless. The next day upon awaking the Captain found that his men had found a large bag of sweets just outside of the camp and had determined that they had been lost by a passing column of wagons the day before. The Captain knew better and said to himself "Thanks Espo and Merry Christmas". And that's exactly how the Captain told it and its true every word of it. I know it for the Captain wouldn't make something like that up. Besides, if everyone knew the secret then children might try to be good just in front of the rabbits and not all the time but trust me - they will see you! Still not convinced? Take a look at any Christmas card or picture, look at the wrappings that come from the North Pole and will see Espo and his family right there for all to see. They are always there and will always be there right at Santa's side. But now that you know the entire story you will know that's its the rabbit that's keeping an eye on you and not the other way around and you will know that you better be good for goodness sake!