| 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 |
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Claus leaned over the old woman and gently shook her bony shoulders. "You've got to tell me what you know!" he cried. "All the children of the land are sleeping because of this Pigwidgen curse." "A Pigwidgen curse is a fearful thing," wheezed the crone. "That is why you had best go home." "Who is the Pigwidgen?" asked Claus. "Where does he live? What does he do?" The old woman closed her eyes. "I don't remember," she whined. "I am very old." She pressed her lips together and would not say another word. Claus begged and teased and threatened but the old woman would not speak or open her eyes or even breathe. "She is dead," thought Claus in despair. At that instant the crone's eyes popped open and she crackled, "Ice cream always helps a person to remember." Claus rushed to an ice cream store and brought back all the ice cream he could carry. The ancient one ate seven quarts in seven different flavors. When the last box was licked clean she said, "When I was a girl a hundred years ago a crooked-legged elf told me about the Pigwidgen. Go to him and he will tell you, too." "A hundred years ago!" gasped Claus. "Where could I find such a reature now?" "On the Sopchoppy River Ferry," replied the crone. "Where is that?" asked Claus. "When night has come, take the crooked road out of town. When you come to the fork take the middle road to the weeping willow tree. Circle the willow 14 times." "And then?" cried Claus. But the old crone's eyes had closed again He mouth folded together. No more would she say. Claus left her. He went through the town asking directions to the crooked road. No one had heard of such a road. Nor had anyone heard of the Sopchoppy River Ferry. Claus waited until dark. Then he walked to the four edges of the town. Nowhere did he see a crooked road. Four times he went to the four edges of the town. On the fourth time when he came to the fourth side the moon had come out and he saw a crooked road where before a straight road had been. Claus was very tired but he raced down the loony, ziggity zaggity, yawing, catawampous road. At last he came to a fork. One road branched left and one road branched right. The middle road was not a road at all but only a path laid down by the moon. Claus followed the path. He ran on until the path was blocked by a giant willow tree. Although it was winter the tree was in full leaf. Claus circled the tree 14 times. The circle grew wider and larger until he was miles from the tree. When he had counted 14 times he fell on the ground in exhausted sleep. A glittering light in the face awakened him. He opened his eyes to find a tiny elf leaning over him. The elf waved a flashlight made of fireflies and shouted, "Wake up! Wake up!" "W-who are you?" stammered Claus. "Patrick Tweedleknees," snapped the elf and he gave the astonished Claus a pinch on the nose. |