Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1894-12-25
VIGG'S CHRISTMAS.

The snow lay shining over the moor
land, and only one dwelling could be
seen on all its vast expanse-a little cot.
tage, old and gray. Travellers who pass.
ed over the moor often said, "How lone.
ly the poor people must be who live
therer'
But the cottage was very nice one
Of its kind. Moss grew all over the roof,
protecting it from the cold and wind.
The chimney was broad and strong, and
the roof, with its thatoh Of turf, looked
In summer like green velvet covered
with little red and yellow blossoms. AT
the end Of the 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
to 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 he had not heard the sound of
q single horses bell.
1t is hard to tell how long he had been
sitting there when he heard The bell of
horse dashing over the snow. He
sprang to the window and looked eager
ly out to see who could be coming, for
he knew Mother Gertrude would not
have any bells. The stars were lighted
all over the heavens, and they twinkled
and sparkled in the 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
to the cottage and stopped at the win
dow.
1t was a 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 the reins
to stop them, and they were jumping
and rearing and making the snow fly in
every direction.
"Keep quiet, Rapp! Be still, Snappl
Matt, stand quiet! Latt, keep in your
skinp' shouted the little man in the
sled as he jumped out and came to the
window where Vigg was standing with
eyes dilated with wonder. Vigg had
never seen a man who looked like him,
but then he had never seen many men.
He was little old man, just matching
his horses in 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 a 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 are alone and have to be
for good hour yet. Are you not
afraid?'
IT am a Swedish boy" answered
Vigg. Mother Gertrude had taught him
that Swedish boys were always brave.
"Oh, you are q Swedish boy, are
your" 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
The old man took off his cap and made
the boy low bow.
".I have the honor of talking to
Vigg," said he. "You are the great
fighter of the country and have just
put on your first pair Of trousers. You
are not afraid of the largest whiskers
in the world. You are vigg, and am
Santa Claus. Have 1.-the honor Of being
known to your"
"Oh, you are Santa Claus! You must
be a good MANI cried vigg. Mother
has often spoken of you. OF course l
know who you are.'
''Thank you for your compliment, :"
laughed Santa Claus. "You can't tell
much about me from hearsay. Will you
90 out with me for rider
''I would like to-" said vigg doubt
fully, "but can't, for mother is not
home yet. and If I am not here when
she comes what would she think?"
"You will be home before she gets
back. +" Santa Claus answered s''Come
alongp'
vigg sprang out. 1t was very cold.
and Vigg was not dressed very warmly.
His little sack was very tight, and his
wooden shoes had made holes in his
stockings. Santa Claus looked the door
and lifted Vigg into the sled. covered
him up with a blanket, blew some smoke
out of his pipe, cracked his whip. and
off they flew.
They were very soon far away from
the heath and came to q 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. Somettpes
betwoon the trunks of the trees one