Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1910-12-29

t%EA w. the door as II to say,
f'I 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 It was 10 be-.
low zero, the village folk said, and
that is very cold. n: - #z
Two travellers trudged the road that
wound up and around the hill "Swirg
your arms, Sigurd," said one, and him.
self commenced Shaping his armpits.
1--WE will try at the next house, he
continued. "'Tis Christmas eve, and
how can they turn US away on such
night?" IL Gen.
Ahead a farmhouse threw q vel
come 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. Fridthjof pulled the
old brass knocker down heartily. ooh.
no, Within he cried. Have you foo .
and bed for hungry travellers this
Christmas eve?" 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
ers daughter appeared, bearing a
pitcher of steaming, home brewed ale.
Along with it came smoked mutton
and goodly piles of fiat brod. Sigurd
and Fridthjof toasted their shins
dreamily content. Behind them the
farmers wife and daughter clattered
diligently with silver dishes and a
bountiful Christmas feast.
Sigurd looked up in surprise. DO
you eat your Christmas dinner at
night?" he asked. The farmer settled
into his creaking armchair and his
jovial 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 my place over to them every
Christmas night. Before We 20 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 sec, have NO real
Christmas ever" 4. Then he added,
"you cannot stay. for they viii kin
you. too" " =
DO they come every Ohristmas!''
asked sigurd.
sUs~>,>,
Sigurd turned to Fridthjof. What
shall We d." he asked, got out or
stay?", 5~" -A.:. D.
"stay by all MEANS" asserted
Sigurd. $500. -.
AS you please, gentlemen" the
farmer exclaimed. my sleigh is
ready at the door. Good night and a
merry Christmas to you"
Left alone, the two guests undressed
and went to bed. ,e
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 great clatter Of har-
nesses, hoofs and sleigh bells. They
could hear the COLLINS putting their
tiny ponies into the farmers sheds.
Then with q 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 = 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. q
At last Sigurd dared peek over,
twixt the curtains. He saw little.
white bearded men with red noses
and glitterins 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 sudden the chief cried out:
"Wuf, I smell Human" Immediately
the room became chaos Search was
made everywhere, under chairs. in
pboards-everywhere
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 a shoe. convulsively BY the
toe when he So ~ the chief approach.
The goblin looked into tho 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! Bing!
awful hard on that good COLLINS red,
tender nose. He let out one tremend.