The Elk Mountain pilot., 1910-12-22

TQH through his every
RT 4 window OF to shake
q We the door As II to say.
II am King Wind. let me I'M" or to
harass the animals a. they stood in
their chilly stables. No wind. but
cold. oh. 80 cold! Tho moon was steel
blue ~ II frost bitten. The stars
blinked with the cold. II was 10 be-
low zero, the village folk said. and
that IL very cold.
Two travellers trudged the road that
wound up and around the hill. Swing
your arms. sigurd." said one. and him
self commenced slapping his armpits.
We will try at the next house." he
continued. "'Tss Christmas eve. and
how can they turn us away on such .
night?"
Ahead = farmhouse threw 4 vel
come yellow glare on the snow. The
travellers hurried on. encouraged. Soon
they stood under the caves of the lit
tic house 10 alone In the snow. and
before the door. Fridthjof pulled the
old brass knocker down heartily. "Oh,
ho, Within" he cried. Have you food
and bed for hungry travellers this
Christmas eve7" They heard bus
tie and stir inside. The door swung
open anj the farmer. q huge man with
a big voice. peered out Come In"
he said.
The two stamped the snow on their
feet and entered. The best hearth
seats were given them and the farm
er's daughter appeared. bearing n
pitcher Of steaming. home brewed ale
AIonx with II came smoked mutton
and goodly piles OF nat brod. Sigurd
and FridthJof toasted their shins
dreamily content. Behind them the
farmers wife and daughter clattered
diligently with silver dishes and y
bountifur Christmas feast.
Sigurd looked NJ in surprise. DO
you eat your Christmas dinner Mt
night" he asked The farmer settled
into his creaking armchair and his
tovial face became serious. Years
ago." he began. tho goblins. or the
hill people came down. took posses.
sion Of my farm and demanded that I
turn my place over to them every
Christmas night. Before We go We
must set them . feast with silver
dishes. dared not disobey them. lest
they run of with my horses and ruin
my crops. So. you see. have no real
Christmas ever Then he added.
you cannot stay. for they will Kill
you. too"
DO they come every Chrstmss!"
asked siEurd.
Every Christmas."
Sigurd turned to Fridthjof. What
shall We do" he asked. get out or
stay"
.stay by an means" asserted
siGurd.
As you please. gentlemen" the
farmer exclaimed. my sleigh Ii
ready at the door. Good night and .
merry Christmas to you"
Left alone. the two guests undressed
and went to bed.
Pretty soon away over the hills
they heard the silvery Jingle Of COB
lin sleigh bells. SiEurd drew the cur
tains. Nearer and nearer came the
jinglinE and now they could hear
shouts. and hoof beats. Then they
heard them draw up In front OF the
house with a great clatter Of har-
nesses. hoofs and sleigh bells. They
could hear the goblins putting their
tiny ponies into the farmers sheds.
Then with 4 great shout they entered
the house.
The two luckless fellows in bed
kept very stiri and barely breathed.
Noisf1y the goblins seated themselves
and started to eat with an uproar Of
Gathering dishes. working jaws and
spirited conversation. Many a mys-
terry Of disappearing hay bundles.
sheep or farm tools long discussed
among the village and fisher folk
was explained by boastins narriYons
Of the evil. jabbering goblins below.
At last Sigurd dared peek over.
twfxt the curtains. He saw little.
white bearded men with red noses
and slittering eyes. high peaked hats
and fat bellies. To one end at the
head Of the table sat the chief. whose
bigger red nose. fatter belly. higher
hat and gruffer manner characterized
! Mn, Z. such. When he beloved forth
his orders for food the others stepped
right lively.
OF a sudden tho chief cried out:
"wuf. smell Human" Immediately
| the room became chaos. Search was
maze everywhere, uuucT SHoiib- III
| cupboards-
The chief himself was the most dill
gent searcher. and presently he made
straight for the curtains that covered
the beds. Our travellers lay tense.
almost scared to death. Sigurd
eripped a shoe convulsively by the
toe when he saw the chief approach.
The goblin looked into the lower
berth and then. climbing In a stool. he
peered into the upper one. He could
lust manage to get his nose on the
edge of the bed. and Sigurd brought
his shoe heel down. Bing! Bing!
awful hard on that good gobiin's red.