Chapter1:
Santa and the Pigwidgen
Chapter2:
The Curse
Chapter3:
Claus Begins A Trip
Chapter4:
Patrick Tweedleknees
Chapter5:
The Sopchoppy Ferry
Chapter6:
Four Gifts
Chapter7:
The Giant
Chapter8:
The Donkey
Chapter9:
The Snake Nest
Chapter10:
The Dagger
Chapter11:
The Door In The Wall
Chapter12:
The Pygmies
Chapter13:
The Pigwidgen
Chapter14:
The Eating Contest
Chapter15:
The Drinking Contest
Chapter16:
The Race
Chapter17:
Merry Christmas To All
Christmas Stories Index
Main Site Index


    Chapter 1: Santa and the Pigwidgen


    Many years ago there lived a man who had an extraordinary love for children.

    Claus, as he was then called, lived in a village on a mountainside in a far-away land. He and his wife had no little ones of their own but there house was always filled with boys and girls.

    Claus liked it that way. He told stories. He made up songs. He kept the cookie jar filled. He carved tiny wooden toys and gave them to the children. He was always giving then little gifts - especially at Christmas time. He scarcely had time to do his real work which was to make shelves and chairs and beds to sell to the villagers.

    People could not understand how Claus could spend so much time playing with the children. He never seemed to worry about making a living.

    Then one day some boys playing in Claus' attic found a fat black purse. The purse clinked when the boys shook it. They went home and told their parents that Claus had a treasure of gold in his attic.

    Now gold had never been seen in that far-away place and everyone was amazed. All the villagers went to the Claus' house and told him what they had heard. They asked if they could see the treaure and merely feel the gold in their fingers.

    "I have no gold!" exclaimed Claus.

    "But the purse?" urged a villager. "Can't we even SEE the purse?"

    Claus went to the attic and came back with the black leather purse. The sides bulged and the contents truly jingled like gold.

    "If it's not gold, what is it?" asked an old man eagerly.

    "I do not know," said Claus. "Many years ago a traveler stayed the night in my father's house. He left the purse and said he would return for it some day. He made my father promise never to open it. My father kept his promise. When he died he made me promise the same thing and the purse has been forgotten all these years."

    "Open it!" cried the villagers. "Surely such a promise was not meant to stand forever!"

    "For me it was," said Claus stubbornly.

    The village elder spoke up slyly and said, "But Claus, WE didn't make any such promise. Surely I can open the purse just for one peek."

    "Yes, why not!" cried everyone, moving closer. "Yes, yes!" chorused the children. "Just a peek!" And suddenly the elder leaned over the purse and opened the clasp.

    There was a hiss and a screech. The lamps sputtered. A strange warm breeze blew through the house. The villagers stumbled back against the walls and Claus cried out, "Mercy me! What have you done?"