The new era., 1910-12-15

TN through his every
~ u window or to shake
Is We the door as II to say,
II am King Wind, let me in!" 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 armpits.
I'VE will try at the next house." he
continued. "'Tis Christmas eve, and
how can they turn us away on such
night?"
Ahead farmhouse threw vel
come yellow glare on the show. The
travellers hurried on, encouraged. Soon
they stood under the caves of the lit
tie house so 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 ever" They heard bus
tie and stir inside The door swung
open anS the farmer, huge man with
big voice, peered out. Come in,'
he said
The two stamped the snow off their
feet and entered. The best hearth
seats were given them and the farm
er's. daughter appeared. bearing a
pitcher of steaming, home brewed ale.
Along with 1t came smoked mutton
and goodly piles of fiat brod. sigurd
and Fridthjof toasted their shins
dreamily content. Behind them the
farmers wife ard daughter clattered
diligently with silver dishes and
bountiful Christmas feast.
Sigurd looked up in surprise. do
YOU eat your Christmas dinner Mt
night?" he asked. The farmer settled
into his crealsing armchair and MS
jovial face became serious. Years
ago." he began, "the goblins, or the
hill people, came down, took posses
sion of my farm and demanded that
turn my place over to them every
Christmas night Before we go we
must set them feast with silver
dishes. l dared not disobey them, lest
they run off 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 Christmas? z
asked Sisurd.
Every Christmas"
sigurd 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
jingling 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 a great shout they entered
the house.
The two luckless fellows in bed
kept very still and barely breathed.
Noisily the goblins seated themselves
and started to eat with an uproar OF
Gathering dishes, working jaws and
spirited conversation. Many 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 goblins 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
upboards-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
/ 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 goblin's red,
tender nose. He let out one tremend-