One particular Christmas season a long time ago, Santa was getting ready
for his annual trip ... but there were problems everywhere. Four of his
elves got sick, and the trainee elves did not produce the toys as fast as
the regular ones, so Santa was beginning to feel the pressure of being
behind schedule.

Then, Mrs. Claus told Santa that her mom 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 coffee and a shot
of whiskey. When he went to the cupboard, he discovered that the elves had
hid the liquor and there was nothing to drink. In his frustration, he
accidentally dropped the coffeepot 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 it was made from. Just then the doorbell
rang and Santa cussed on his way 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 just a
lovely day? I have a beautiful tree for you. Isn't it just a lovely tree?
Where would you like me to stick it?"

Thus began the tradition of the little angel on top of the Christmas tree.