How did Santa get his elves?

[quote]In pagan times, Elves were believed to guard homes against evil. If you were good, the elves would be good to you, but if you were bad, they would play tricks on you. They were known to give people nightmares by sitting on their head while they were asleep.

To keep the elves well fed, happy and out of mischief, people left a bowl of porridge on the doorstep at night.[/quote]

Santa saw their actual nature was good so co-opted them to help him in his work. :)