The Ordway new era., 1911-01-06

Two travellers trudged the road that
wound up and around the hill. "Swing
your arms. Sigurd." said one. and him.
e commenced slapping his armpits.
'Mc will try at the next house," he
tua'inucd. "'Tis Christmas eve. and
how can they turn us away on such
nI"it?"
An"ad farmhouse threw vel
conr yellow glare on the snow. The
travellers hurried on. encouraged. Soon
Il " stood under the caves Of the lit.
Il" house so alone in the snow, and
|, lore the door. Fridthjof pulled the
Obi brass knocker down heartily. "Oh.
ho. Within" he cried Have you food
and he'd for hungry travellers this
Christmas eve?" They heard a bus
Tie and stir inside. The door swung
oI,n nns the farmer. huge man with
big voice, peered out. Come In,
he said.
The two stamped the snow of their
fcc' and entered. The best hearth
Sous we're given them and the farm
ers daughter appeared. bearing
pitcher Of steaming, home brewed ale.
Along with 1t came smoked mutton
ard goodly piles OF fiat brod. Sigurd
ard Fridthjof toasted their shins
dr"amily content. Behind them the
farmers wife and daughter clattered
diligently with silver dishes and
bountIful Christmas feast.
Sigurd looked up in surprise. DO
yon eat your Christmas dinner mt
night" he asked. The farmer settled
into his crcaking armchair and his
jovlal face became serious. Years
ago" he began. tho 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 n feast with silver
dl hes. dared not disobcy them. lest
they run off with my horses and yuin
M crops. So. you see. I have no real
Christmas ever" Then he added
won cannot stay. for they will Kill
yor too"
10 they come every Christmas?"
asked Sigrrd.
Every Christmas"
Sigurd turned to Fridthjof What
shall we do" he asked. get out or
stny?"
"Stay by all means" asserted
Sigurd.
"As you please. gentlemen" the
farmer exclaimed. "Ny sleigh Is
ready ut the door. Good night and n
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
tnins. Nearer and nearer came the
jinrIing and now they could hear
shouts and hoof beats. Then they
heard them draw up in front OF the
house with great clatter OF hnr-
ncsses. hoofs and sleigh bells. They
could hear the goblins putting their
tjny Monies into the farmers sheds.
Then with n great shout they entered
the house.
Tho two luck'ess fellows in bed
kent very still and barely breathed.
Noisily tho 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 hoasfing narrntions
Of the evil. jabbcring goblins below.
At last Sigurd dared peek over.
twixt the curtains. He saw little.
white bearded men with red noses
and clit,cring 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.
or n sudden the chief cried out:
"wuf, I smell Human" Immediately
the room became chaos. Search was
made everywhere. under chairs. in
upboards-everywhcr
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 a stool. he
peered into the upper one. He could
'ust 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. lie let out one tremend-
Gus yell and his men dismayed 'at
fear in their leader. stampeded out OF
the house to the sleighs. The chief
followed them.
Sigurd and Fridthjof could hear
them frantically hitch up and heard
them drive Off singing dolefully until
the great white silence of the hills