The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-12-15
VIGG'S CHRISTMAS.


tage, old and gray. Travellers who pass
ed over the moor often said, ''How lone
ly the poor people must be who live
thare!"
But the cottage was a very nice ono
of it's kind. Moss grew all over the roof'
protecting 10 from tho cold and wind.
The chimney was broad and strong, ana
the roof, with its thatoh OF turf, looked
I'm summer like green velvet covered
with little red and yellow blossoms. AT
the end OF tho house was tiny garden,
where grew potatoes, carrots and cab
bages, and by the fence were poppies
and roses. Upon bank close by stood
an aspen tree, and at the cottage win
dow hung little curtain. The whole
place was very neat and clean.
The cottage and the garden belonged
20 Mother Gertrude, who lived there
alone with little boy named Vigg,
whom she had adopted.
Early in the morning of the day be-
fore Christmas Mother Gertrude had
started for the grocery In the village,
which. lay at long distance over the
moor, The sun was setting, but she was
not at home yet, and Vigg was very
lonely in the cottage, for there was per-
feet silence amid the vast snow plain,
which was all that he could see All
day long ho had not heard the sound Of
q single horses bell
II is hard TO tell how long he had been
sitting there when he heard the bell OF
a horse dashing over the snow. He
sprang TO the window and looked eager
" out to sec who could bo coming for
ne knew Mother Gertrude would not
have any bells. The stars were lighted
all over the heavens, and they twinkled
and sparklod in sthe darkness Of the
night Far away there was something
very black on the snow. 1t came nearer
and nearer, and the bells rang out louder
and louder. Suddenly sled drove up
co the cottage and stopped at the win.
dow.
IL was sled with four horses. and
the horses were smaller than any ponies
Nigg 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, Rappl BE still. Snappl
Matt, stand quietl Latt, keep in your
skinV shouted the little man In the
sled as ho jumped ont and came to the
window whore Vigg was standing with
eyes dilated with wonder. yigg had
never seen man who looked like him,
but then he had never seen many men.
He was little old man, just matching
his horses i'm size. His face was full Of
wrinkles, and his whiskers were like
white moss.
His clothes were of fur from head to
foot, and in one side OF his mouth he
held o 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 homo
yet, and yen are alone and have to be
for good hour yet. Are you not
afraid?'
II am Swedish boy" answered
Vigg. Mother Gertrude had taught him
that Swedish boys were always brave.
"Oh, you are q Swedish boy, are
you?" said the little old man. rubbing
his nose with his mittens, and taking
the pipe from his mouth. "Do you know
who amp"
"No, said vigg, "but do you know
who amp"
Tho old Imam took Off his cap and made
the boy n low bow.
"'I have the honor Of talking to
Vigg," said be. "You are the great
fighter OF the country and have just
put on your first pair of trousers You
arc not afraid of the largest whiskers
in the world. You are vigg, and am
Santa Claus. Have the honor Of being
known to your"
"Oh, you arc Santa Claus You must
be a good manr' cried vigg. Mother
has often spoken of you. OF course
know who you are"
'Thank you for your compliments,
laughed Santa Claus. "You can't tell
much about me from hearsay. Will you
go out with mo for ride?'
II would like TO, said Vigg doubt
fully, "bht / 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" Santa Claus answered. Come
rlongp
Nigg sprang out. 1t was very cold,
nnd Vigg was not dressed very warmly.
His little sack was very tight, and his
wooden shoes bad made holes in his
stockings Santa Claus locked the door
and lifted Vigg into the sled, covered
him M with blanket, blew some smoke
out of his pipe, cracked his whip, and
off they flow.
They Were very soon far away from
the heath and came to dark wood.
Mother Gertrude had told Vigg about
this wood. The trees were so big and
high that it seemed to him as If the
stars Were on the boughs. Sometimes
between the trunks of the trees one
could catch q glimmer of the lights