Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1894-12-18

from other houses. AT last Santa Claus
stopped his team before little house.
"Thore are a good boy and girl here
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 Bi-
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 a big building. from every win
dow Of which shone bright light. He
found many presents for this house
when he opened his chest, so many that
Vigg wondered and marveled at them.
There were bracelets necklaces, wells
aud buckles and silk aud 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 n wink. For the young
ladies TO catch fishes. "
Now they went to tho 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 go
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 ont.
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,
lis your chest empty nowy"
Pretty nearly" said Santa Claus
A. he put his pipe in his mouth.
"You have presents for all the rest.
Haven't you any for me:" asked Vigg
plaintively.
"Oh, you need not be afraid / shall
forget you" laughed Santa Clans
Your present is Mt the bottom of the
chest
"Oh, please, snow IL to met vigg
pleaded.
Cant you wait till You get home
tomorrow" asked Santa Claus.
"No, no; let me sec IL now," said
yigg.
There IL is, 4" answered his compan-
ion, turning around 10 his chest and
pulling froin IL pair Of thick wooden
stockings
''Is that ally" asked vigg.
Aren't you glad TO have them?' re-
piled Sa's1 Claus "You know there
are holes IA the ones you have on"
YES, but Mother Gertrude could have
mended them. You give the prince such
fine things think you might have
something pretty for me too.
Santa Claus did not say a word. but
he laid the stockings back in the chest
and blew long whitfs Of smoke from his
pipe and looked very thoughtful.
No one spoke word for 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 WOODEN stockings were given TO
him.
Then they came To a great mountain,
with n high, straight wall Of rock, and
Santa Claus stopped the sled and got
out and gave an cat cake to each Of the
four horses, Rapp aud Snapp and Matt
and Latt Then, taking Vigg by the
hand, he knocked at the mountain wall
| 1t opened before them, and they went
I'm.
They had taken only n few steps when
Vigg became very much frightened, for
tho inside of the mountain seemed to
be n dreadful place. IL would have been
as black rs night but for the light which
shone from the eyes Of the snakes and
toads which We're crawling on the walls
and in the damp recesses among tho
stones.
81 want 90 go home TO mother" said
Vigg
81 thought you were Swedish boy, "
replied Santa Claus. And Vigg did not
say word.
li'N wv NNu llhN Abl'lN---Nliab Nii'b
for instancc?" asked Santa Claus after
they had gone on little farther. He
pointed TO n green animal which was
sitting on a stone, with its round eyes
staring at the boy.
1T is dreadful" faltered Vigg.
"You had the toad brought here"
replied Santa Claus. "Do you see how
pulled up he isy That Is from envy. You
see you wished that you had the princes
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 "
IL am very sorry, " said Vigg at
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 il began
to grow lighter, and at last they turned
corner and came into grand hall.
The walls were made Of mountain orys-