The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-12-21
THE GIANTS GIFT.
A Christmas Story.
BY FRANK Z STOCKTON.

BY FRANK STOCKTON.
Mitchkin, of whom this story is told,
was good little boy, but as poor as
church-mOuse. In fact, he was great
deal poorer, for a church mouse al
ways has good suit of clothes, if
nothing else. And little Mitchkin had
not even that.
No matter how cold or wet it was,
he went barefooted, and as the years
rolled on his trowsers became very
short, so that in time he went toler-
ably barelegged also. Mitchkin's
mother had to spin hard all day to help
along, and his father was stableman
at the baron's castle. These poor people
lived in cottage in the woods, and
whenever they had enough to eat they
were just as happy as if it were the
birthday of the whole family.
It was the day before Christmas,
some centuries ago. that the baron's
horses we're being led to water. The
baron had bought good many new
horses, and he and his guests had
come out in front of the castle to see
the long line of prancing steeds as
they were led by. There were SO
many prancing steeds that there were
not men enough about the stables to
lead them; so Mitchkin's father had
brought his little boy up to the castle
that day to help lead the ponies. AS
the little fellow passed by the lords
and ladies, holding tight to a very
small milk-white steed which belonged
to the baron's youngest daughter, the
ladies all exclaimed:
"What a lovely pony, and what
poor little barefooted boy!''
The baron was in high good-humor
cracking his long whip and making
jokes with every body-and just as
Mitchkin came opposite to him, he
gave the little fellow cut on his bare
legs, just to see him jump. Mitchkin
did jump and howl too, and came very
near letting the little milk-white steed
go, but he didn't. The baron laughed
at his antics. but all the ladies said it
was '.too bad" and the baron's little
daughter cried outright. Mitchkin's
father was good way in front lead
ing a fiery charger, so he didn't see
the cruelty to his little boy; but what
he would have done if he had, am
sure do not know. The baron, who
was rather ashamed when all the
ladies seemed so shocked and his little
daughter criec, called out to Mitch
kin:
"Never mind, little fellow Bring
me your stocking on Christmas and I'll
fill it,
When Mitchkin heard this, he was
50 delighted that he Immediately for
got the pain in his leg. When he went
home that night, he asked his mother
for stocking, but she had none to
give him, for none of the family could
afford to wear them. Poor little
Mitchkin went to bed and cried him.
self to sleep. When his father came
home, his mother told him what their
little boy had wanted.
"Well, it's a hard thing" said the
father "but I'm rather glad you had
no stocking to give him, for it would
have been Of no use unless it was filled
and that we could never do.
And then he had his supper and
went to bed too for it's very tiresome
work leading fiery chargers to water
when you have to do it all day long.
After little while Mitchkin woke up.
He touldn't tell what was the matter
with him. The full moon was shining
in at the window, and he felt some
how as if the moonlight tickled him
and kept him awake. So he got up to
hang his clothes in front of the little
window of his room. Happening to
look out of the window, he saw, far
down in the woods, little light.
Hello y said he, "old Mother Ca
vourt up yet! She must have lots of
knitting to do. Perhaps she might
lend me a stocking. I'll 60 and ask
her right off,
So instead Of hanging his clothes in
front Of the window, Mitchkin put
them on. and slipping down to the
ground without any trouble, for the
cottage was q very low one, he started
briskly for Mother Cavourt's. When
he reached her door, he knocked.
"Come I'M" cried Mother Cavourt !;
and he walked in and shut the door be-
hind him.
There she was, knitting away, and
she had q basket by her side nearly
full of stockings that she was going to
sell at the castle. But the old woman
was not willing to lend even one of
them so, in answer to Mitchkin, she
said:
''Ill lend you stocking, Mitchkin,
If you will find me some lobscouse-
shells to sharpen my knitting needles
with"
She did not tell him that lobscouse-
shells are only found on one lonely
island in the middle of the Tartaric
Ocean. and the only one she ever saw
was the one she was using, which had
been handed down to her from past
generations. Little Mitchkin looked
at this, and said perhaps he might find
some in the brook in the woods. and
Mother Cavourt said there was no
knowing. So off went little Mitchkin
to look for some. When he reached
the brook he found it frozen, and he
looked about for a stone with which
to break the ice. But all of q sudden
he heard a great crash. and everything
Iarf- u;o <raf thnnrhf that