Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1894-12-25

OiO "iO BoOu wy anu SiIi ucIe
and others who must have some Christ
mas gifts, said Santa Claus.
Then he went into the cottage, and
Vigg went with him. The family were
all gathered around the Christmas tree,
and the father was reading from the BIZ
BILE about the child Jesus Santa Claus
slipped his presents inside the door
without their seeing him and softly
went back with Vigg to the sled. Then
/ they started again through the dark
wood
After awhile Santa Claus stopped in
front OF big building, from every win
dow of which shone a bright light. He
found many presents for this house
when he opened his chest, SO many that
Vigg wondered and marveleds at them.
There were bracelets, necklaces, wells
and buckles and silk and velvet and
gold and silver and all sorts of precious
stones.
"What are all these for?" he asked
'They are for fishes" said Santa
Claus, with wink. "For the young
ladies to catch fishes.''
Now they went to the kings palace,
which was much larger than even the
last fine house.
Here are couple Of presents for the
prince" said Santa Claus. 1--WE will
soon finish here, and then we will &c
to the great king in the mountain, and
then home to Mother Gertrude on the
heath"
Once more he opened the chest, and
Vigg saw all the wonderful things he
took out.
Santa Claus and Vigg again mounted
the sled, and away they went again
through the dark wood.
"Now we are going to see the noun
tain king" said Santa Claus.
Vigg was very quiet and thoughtful
for awhile. Then he asked anxiously,
''Is your chest empty now?"
"Pretty nearly" said Santa Claus
as he put his pipe in his mouth.
"You have presents for all the rest.
Haven't you any for me?" asked Wigs
plaintively.
"Oh, you need not be afraid shall
forget you," laughed Santa Claus.
"Your present is at the bottom of the
chest "
"Oh, please, show it to mel" Vigg
pleaded.
"Can't you wait till you get home
tomorrow" asked Santa Claus.
"No, no; let me see it now," said
Vigg..
"There it is, answered his compan-
ion, turning around to his chest and
pulling from it pair Of thick woolen
stockings
SIS that all?" asked Vigg.
"Aren't you glad to have them?" re-
piled Santa Claus. "You know there
are holes in the ones you have on.'
Eyes, but Mother Gertrude could have
mended them. You give the prince such
fine things. 1 think you might have
something pretty for me too'
Santa Claua did not say a word, but
he laid the stockings back in the chest
and blew long whiffs of smoke from his
pipe and looked very thoughtful.
No one spoke word for a long while,
and Vigg's thoughts were full of envy.
He was angry that the prince should
have had such beautiful things, and
only the woolen stockings were given to
him.
Then they came to great mountain,
with high, straight wall Of rock, and
Santa Claus stopped the sled and got
out and gave an oat cake to each of the
four horses, Rapp and Snapp and Matt
and Latt. Then, taking Vigg by the
hand, he knocked at the mountain wall.
It opened before them, and they went
in.
They had taken only few steps when
Vigg became very much frightened, for
the inside of the mountain seemed to
be dreadful place. 1t would have been
as black as night but for the light which
shone from the eyes Of the snakes and
toads which were crawling on the walls
and in the damp recesses among the
stones.
81 want to go home to mother" said
Vigg.
"I thought you were Swedish boy, /"
replied Santa Claus. And Vigg did not
say word.
"How do you like toads-that one,
for instance?' asked Santa Claus after
they had gone ON a little farther. He
pointed to green animal which was
sitting ON stone, with its round eyes
staring at the boy.
cit is dreadfull'' faltered Vigg.
"You had the toad brought here,
replied Santa Claus. ''Do you see how
puffed up he is? That is from envy. You
see you wished that you had the prince IS
gifts and didn't like the present gave
you. A snake or toad comes here for
every bad thought that enters into any
ones heart.
81 am very sorry" said 1Vigg ut
was very naughty and ugly Of me, and ]
am ashamed. -
They went ON and on. through many
crooked roads. deeper and deeper into
the mountains. After awhile it began
to grow lighter, and at last they turned
q corner and came into grand hall
The walls were made Of mountain crys-
tails, which glittered brilliantly In the
light of torches held by innumerable
dwarfs, who were ranged around three
sides of the great hall The light shin
ing through the crystals lighted it with
all the colors of the rainbow.
On the fourth side Of the hall was the
king in his golden chair, dressed in en-
mine and velvet. sprinkled with precious
tones, but his face was very grave and
thoughtful.
Beside him sat his daughter, all