The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1910-12-08

| TIH through MS every
| - n Il window or TO shake
| u w. the door as II to say,
| ~ am King Wind let me I'M" or to
| hnrass 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
| blnEed with the cold. II 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, slgurd" said one, and him
self commenced slnpping his armpits.
I'VE will try at the next house. he
continued "Tis Christmas eve and
how can they turn uF away on such
night?"
Ahead q farmhouse threw n wei
conc yellow glare on the snow. 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 F'ridthjof pulled the
old brass knocker down heartily. "Oh,
no, within" he cried. Have you food
and bad for hungry travellers this
Christmas eve?" They heard bus
tie and stir inside. The door swung
open an. the farmer. a huge man with
a big voice. peered out. Come In
he said.
The two stamped the snow OF their
feet and entered. The best hearth
seats wore given them and the farm
er's daughter appeared bearing
pitcher OF steaming. home brewed ale.
Along with It came smoked mutton
and goodly piles OF fat brod Sigurd
and Fridthjof toasted their shins
drcamily content. Behind them the
farmers wife and daughter clattered
diligently with silver dishes and
bountiful Christmas feast.
Sigurd looked up In surprise. DO
you eat your Christmas dinner At
nlght?" he asked. The farmer settled
into his creaking armchair and his
tOyial face became serious Years
ago" he began, the COLLINS or the
hin people, came down, took posses
sion Of my farm and demanded that !
Christmas night Before we 20 We
must set thom feast with silver
dishes. dared not dIsobcy them lest
they run of with my horses and ruin
my crops. So you see. hare no real
Christmas ever" Then he added
you cannot stay, for they will Nil
you. too"
DO they come every Christmas"
asked Sigurd.
Every Christmas"
Slgurd turned 70 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 Mt the door Good night and a
merry Christmas 20 you"
Left alone the two guests undressed
and went to bed.
I 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 thev could hear
q shouts and hoof beats Then they
heard them draw up In front Of the
4 house with great chatter Of har
nesses hoofs and sleigh bells. They
I could hear the COLLINS putting their
tiny ponies into the farmers sheds
Then with a great shout they entered
the house.
Tho two luckless fellows In bed
kept very still and barely breathed
Noisily tho 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 folH
\ was explained by boasting variations
OF the evil jabbering COLLINS below.
1 At last sigurd dared peek over
1 twixt the curtains. He saw little
I white bearded men with red rose'
and giitterlng eyes, high peaked hat,
. and fat bellies. To one end at the
head of the table sat the chief whose
. bigger red nose. fatSer belly, higher
. hat and gruffer manner characterized
Z him as such When he beloved fortt
y his orders for food the others stepped
Y right lively
z or sudden the chief cried out
z "wuf, smell Human" Immediately
2 the room became chaos Search wal
y made everywhere under chairs. ir
y nboards-cverywhore
. The chief himself was the most dill
. gent scarcher. and presently he mad,
2 straight for the curtains that covered
2 the beds Our travellers lay tense
2 almost scared to death. sigurt
. gripped n shoe convulsivcly by tn,
q toe when he saw the chief approach.
d The goblin looked into tho lowe
n berth and then climbing IN n stool. h,
peered into tho upper one. He coult
Just manage to get his nose on tn,
edge OF the bed, and Sigurd brough
his shoe heel down, Bing! Bling
| awful hard IN that good aohiin's red