Mr. Kris Kringle | Page 5

blaze. The
man leaned heavily upon a chair back, his lips moving, a great stir of
emotion shaking him as he gazed on the little ones. But he said again,
quickly:
"Yes, yes, I'm Kris Kringle," and then, with much amusement, "and
what do you mean to do with your sword, my little man?"
"It was to kill the wobber, sir; but you mustn't be afraid, because you're
not a wobber."

"And he really won't hurt you," added Alice.
"Good gracious!" exclaimed Kris, smiling, "you're a gallant little
gentleman. And you have been--are you always a good boy to--your
mother?"
"I has been a vewy good boy." Then his conscience entered a protest,
and he added: "for two whole days. I'll go and ask mamma to come and
tell you."
"No, no," said Kris. "It is only children can see me. Old folks couldn't
see me."
"My mother is vewy young."
"Oh! but not like a child; not like you."
"Please, sir, do let us see the presents," said Alice, much at her ease.
For now he pushed a great chair to the fire, and seated them both in it,
saying: "Ah! the poor little cold toes." Then he carefully closed the
door they had left open, and said, smiling as he sat down opposite them:
"I have come far--very far--to see you."
"Has you come far to-night?" said the little host, with rising courage.
"No, not far to-night." Then he paused. "Is--is your mother--well?"
"Yes," said Hugh, "she is vewy well, and we are much obliged."
"May we soon see the presents?" said Alice. "They did say you would
not come to-night because we are poor now."
"And," added Hugh, "my pony is sold to a man, and his tail is vewy
long, and he loves sugar--the pony, I mean; and mamma says we must
go away and live in the town."
"Yes, yes," said Kris. "I know."
"He knows," said Hugh.

"Oh! they know everything in fairyland," said Alice.
"Was you evah in faywyland, sir?" asked Hugh.
"Yes."
"Where 'bouts is it, sir, and please how is it bounded on the north? And
what are the pwincipal wivers? We might look for it on the map."
"It is in the Black Hills."
"Oh! the Black Hills," said Alice. "I know."
"Yes, but you're not sleepy? Not a bit sleepy?"
"No, no."
"Then before the pretty things hop out of my bag let me tell you a
story," and he smiled at his desire to lengthen a delicious hour.
"I would like that."
"And I hope it won't be very, very long," said Alice, on more sordid
things intent.
"That's the way with girls, Mr. Kwingle; they can't wait."
"Ah, well, well. Once on a time there was a bad boy, and he was very
naughty, and no one loved him because he spent love like money till it
was all gone. When he found he had no more love given him, he went
away, and away, to a far country."
"Like the man in the Bible," said Hugh, promptly. "The--the--what's his
name, Alice?"
"The prodigal son," said Kris, "you mean--"
"Yes, sir. The pwodigal son."

"Yes, like the prodigal son."
"Well, at last he came to the Black Hills, and there he lived with other
rough men."
"But you did say he was a boy," said Alice, accurately critical.
"He was gwowed up, Alice. Don't you int--inter--"
"Interrupt, you goosey," said Alice.
"One Christmas Eve these men fell to talking of their homes, and made
up their minds to have a good dinner. But Hugh--"
"Oh!" exclaimed the lad, "Hugh!"
Mr. Chris nodded and continued. "But Hugh felt very weak because he
was just getting well of a fever, yet they persuaded him to come to
table with the rest. One man, a German, stood up and said, 'This is the
eve of Christmas. I will say our grace what we say at home.' One man
laughed, but the others were still. Then the German said,
'Come, Lord Christ, and be our guest, Take with us what Thou hast
blest.'
When Hugh heard the words the German said he began to think of
home and of many Christmas eves, and because he felt a strangeness in
his head, he said, 'I'm not well; I will go into the air.' As he moved, he
saw before him a man in the doorway. The face of the man was sad,
and his garment was white as snow. He said, 'Follow me.' But no others,
except Hugh, saw or heard. Now, when Hugh went outside, the man he
had seen was gone; but being still confused, Hugh went over the hard
snow and among trees, not knowing what he did; and at last after
wandering a long time he came to a steep hillside.