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

seen ON ali Its vast expnnse-a little cot
tsgc, old and gray. Travellers who pass.
ed over the moor often said, How lone.
ly the poor people must DO who live
therer'
But the cottage was n very nice ono
Of its kind. Moss grew all over the roof,
protecting 1t from the cold and wind.
The chimney was broad and strong, and
the roof, with its thatch Of turf, looked
In summer like green velvet covered
with little red and yellow blossoms. AT
the end Of the house was n tiny garden,
where grew potatoes, carrots and cab.
bagcs. and by the fence were peoples
and roses Upon bank close by stood
an aspen tree, and at the cottage win
dow hung n little curtain. The whole
place was very neat and clean
The cottage and the garden belonged
90 Mother Gertrude, who lived there
alone with little boy named Vigg,
whom sho had adopted.
Early in the morning Of the day be-
fore Christmas Mother Gertrude had
started for the grocery IN the village,
-
moor. The san was setting, but she was
not at home yet, and Nigg was very
lonely In the cottage, for there was per-
feet silence amid the vast snow plain,
which was all that no could see. All
day long he had not heard the sound of
n single horses bell.
IL is hard TO tell how long no had been
sitting there when he heard the bell Of
n horse dashing over the snow. He
sprang TO the window and looked eager
" out to see who could bo coming, for
he knew Mother Gertrude would not
have any bells. The stars wero lighted
oil over the heavens. and they twinkled
and sparkled in the darkness Of tho
night Far away there was something
very black on the snow. IL came nearer
and nearer, and the bells rang ont louder
and louder. Suddenly sled drove up
TO tho cottage and stopped at the win.
dow.
It was sled with four horses, and
the horses were smaller than any ponies
Vigg had ever seen. The little man who
drove them had pulled hard on tho reins
to stop them, and they were jumping
and rearing and making the snow fly In
every direction.
Keep quiet, Rappi Be still, Snappl
Matt, stand quietl Latt, keep in your
skinr shouted the little man in tho
sled as he jumped out and came 10 the
window where Vigg was standing with
eyes dilated with wonder. Vigg had
never seen man who looked like him,
but then no bad never seen many men.
He was little old man, just matching
his horses in size. His flce was full OF
wrinkles, and his whiskers were like
white moss.
His clothes were Of fur from head TO
foot, and in ono side OF his mouth he
held pipe while the smoke came out
of the other side.
GOOD evening. Pug Nose" he said,
Vigg answered, with some dignity,
GOOD evening.
"Oh, Mother Gertrude isn't home
yet, and You arc alone and have to DO
for good hour yet. Are you not
afraidI"
81 am q Swedish boy" answered
Vigg. Mother Gertrude had taught him
that Swedish boys were always brave.
"Oh, you are q Swedish boy, are
youi" said the littlo old man. rubbing
his nose with his mittens, and taking
the Pipe from his mouth. "Do you know
who l amp
"No, said Vigg, "but do you know
who l amp
Tho old man took off his cap and made
the boy low bow.
81 have tho honor Of talking TO
Nigg" said he. You are the great
fighter Of tho country and have Just
put on your first pair Of trousers. You
are not afraid of the largest whiskers
I'm the world. You are Vigg, and | am
Santa Claus. Have the honor Of being
known To yOu?'
"Oh, you are Santa Claus You must
be "a good mani" cried Vigg. Mother
has often spoken Of you. OF course |
know who you are.
"Thank you for your compliment "
laughed Santa Claus. you can't tell
much about mo from hearsay Will you
go out with me for a rider"
II would like TO-, said Vigg doubt
fully, "but l can't, for mother is not
home yet, and if | am not here when
she comes what would she Think"
"You will be home before she gets
back, A." Santa Claus answered. Come
along"
Vigg sprang out. 1t was very cold,
and NIgg was not dressed very warmly.
His little sack was very tight, and his
wooden shoes had made holes in his
stockings. Santa Claus locked the door
and lifted Vigg into the sled, covered
him up with blanket, blew some smoke
out of his pipe, cracked his whip, and
of they flew.
They were very soon far away from
the heath and came 20 dark wood
Mother Gertrude had told Vigg about
this wood. The trees were so big and
high that it seemed to him rs il the
stars were on the boughs. Sometimes
between the trunks of the trees ono
could catch glimmer Of the lights