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


Now they went to the kings palace,
which was much larger than even the
last fine house.
"Hero are couple of presents for the
prince" said Santa Claus. "Wo will
soon finish here, and then we will 20
to the great king in the mountain, and
then home to Mother Gertrude on the
heath.
Onoe more be 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 tho dark wood.
"Now we are going to SEQ the noun
tain king" said Santa Claus.
yigg was very quiet and thoughtful
for awhile. Then he asked anxiously,
"Is your chest empty now?"
Pretty nearly" said Santa Claus
ns he pus his pipe in his month.
"You have presents for all the rest
Haven't you any for mef'' asked vigg
plaintively.
"Oh, you need not be afraid l shall
forget you." laughed Santa Clans.
"Your present is at the bottom of the
chest"
"Oh, please, show it to mel" vigg
pleaded.
Cant You wait till you get home
tomorrow" asked San,a Claus.
"No, no; let me see it now," said
vigg
"There ID ISL answered his compan-
ion, turning around to his chest and
pulling from ii pair of thick woolen
stockings
"Is that allf" asked vigg.
"Arcn't you glad to have then?" Pc
piled Santa Claus. lyon know there
are holes in the onos you have on. "
"Yes, but Mother Gertrude could have
mended them. You give the prince such
fine things. l think you might have
something pretty for me too
Santa Claus did not say word, but
he laid the stockings back i'm the chest
and blew long whifis of smoke from his
pipe and looked very thoughtful.
No one spoke "A 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 woolen stockings were given to
him.
Then they came TO great mountain,
with a high, straight wall Of rock, and
Santa Claus stopped the sled and got
out and gavo 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.
1t 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
ms 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.
Il want to 60 home to mother" said
vigg.
81 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 little farther He
pointed to green animal which was
sitting on stone, with its round eyes
staring at the boy.
'It is dreadful" 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 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. "It
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
a 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 tho rx,nbow.
On the fourth xsee of the hall was. the
king in his golden chair, dressed in er-
mine and velvet, sprinkled with precious
tones, but his face was very grave and
thoughtful
Beside him sat his daughter, ali
dressed in silver gauze, most beautiful
to look upon. She was pretty, but very
very pale, and seemed TO bo dying.
In the middle of the hall hung hur
pair of scales, and around the scalJ
stood great many dwarfs, layin
weights now on one side and now
the other.
In frcnt Of the king stood a grec
crowd of brownies from oil the House
and cottages for miles around. The,
told the king where they lived, ant
what they and theirmasters had though
and said and done during the last yeaI
IT, ayorxv .,ooI tbo,,c,lk o,I xx-a,x, r,oo1