St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-12-24

/ ~
III y 5 the door as If to say.
II am King Wind, let me I'M" or to
harass the animals as they stood IN
their chilly stables. No wind. but
cold. oh. so cold! The moon was steel
blue as if frost bitten. The stars
blinked with the cold. 1t was 10 be-
low zero, the village folk said, and
that is 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 armplts.
1--WE will try at the next house. ne
continued. "'Tis Christmas eve, and
how can they turn us away ON sucn
night?"
Ahead a farmhouse threw a wei
come yellow glare on the snow. me
travellers hurried on, encouraged Soon
thew stood under the caves OF the III
tie house so alone in the snow, ana
before the door. Fridthjof pulled the
old brass knocker down heartily. ION,
bo within" he cried Have you food
and bed for hungry travellers this
christmas eve?" They heard bus
tie. and stir inside. The door swung
omen and the farmer, huge man with
big voice, peered .out. come H.
he said.
The two stamped the snow on their
feet and entered. The best neartn
seats we're given them and the farm
er's daughter appeared, bearing a
nitcher of steaming, home breWed ale.
Along with it came smoked mutton
and goodly piles of fiat brod. Sigurd
and Fridthiof toasted their Sims
dreamily content Behind them the
farmers wife and daughter ciattereo
diligently with silver dishes ana a
bountiful Christmas feast.
sigurd looked up in surprise. DO
Won eat your Christmas dinner at
nfght?" he asked The farmer settled
into his creaking armchair ana MS
ioviaI face became serious. Years
ago" he began, "the COLLINS. or the
hill people, came down, took posses
sion of my farm and demanded that
turn nv place over to them every
Christmas night. Before we go we
must set them a feast with silver
dishes. I dared not disobey them, lest
they run off with my horses and ruin
nv 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 Christmas:
asked Sigurd.
Every Christmas"
Sieurd turned to Fridthjof. What
shall we do" he asked. "get out or
stay?"
"stay by all means" asserted
sigurd.
"As you please, gentlemen" the
farmer exclaimed. "My sleigh is
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. Sigurd drew the cur
tains. Nearer and nearer came the
iingling 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 COLLINS putting their
tiny ponies into the farmers sheds.
, Then with a great shout they entered
the house.
THE two luckless fellows in, bed
kept very still and barely breathed.
Noisily the COLLINS 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 boasting variations
of the evil, jabbering COLLINS below.
At last Sigurd dared peek over,
, twixt the curtains. He saw little,
white bearded men with red noses
and glittering 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
him as such. When he beloved forth
! his orders for food the others stepped
right lively.
OF a sudden the chief cried out
"Wuf. smell Human" Immediately
the room became chaos Search was
made everywhere, under chairs, In
cupboards-everywhe
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
gripped shoe convulsively by the
: toe when he saw the chief approach.
The goblin looked into the lower
berth and then. climbing in stool, he
peered into the upper one. He could
Just manage to get his nose on the
edge Of the bed, and Sigurd brought
his shoe heel down, Bling! Bling,
awful hard on that good COLLINS red
. tender nose. He let out one tremend
. GUS yell and his men dismayed al
fear in their leader, stampeded out OF
. the house to the sleighs. The CHIEF
followed them.
! sigurd and Fridthjof could hea,
them frantically hitch up and heard
. them drive of, singing dolefully until
! the great white silence OF the hills
swallowed them up.
' The villagers say that the farne,
I was never again bothered by the
wicked hill people, but lived happily
, ever afterward with his family.
3 sarsst Thing.
Don't you think Christmas Is more
). l rhoorfNr tuhan to-