Chapter Eight

The First Christmas Chimney

      When Nicholas was about fifty years old, and his hair and beard were becoming as white as the snow, a strange family came to live in the village. Not much of a family you may think, just one small old man, brown and wrinkled like a nut and a skinny little girl who drew back shyly from the crowd of villagers, who had gathered as they always did when someone new came to live.

      "His name is Carl Dinsler." one woman whispered. "The old squire’s housekeeper told me about him. She said that he was very rich. He must be rich to be able to buy the big old house up on the hill."

      "He may be rich but he doesn’t look it." remarked another. "Did you notice that poor little child he had with him? She looks as though she needs a good square meal. Who is she anyway?"

      "She’s his grand-daughter. Her parents died a little while ago and they say the old man bought the house on the hill so that they could be alone."

      "Do you know what he has done?" asked one little boy of the interested crowd. "He’s nailed up all the gates and left only the front one open and that one he keeps locked with a bolt as large as this." He spread out his hands to show the size. "And

page 26

13a

      For many days after that disastrous Christmas Eve, the villagers heard sounds of sawing and hammering coming from Nicholas’ wood shed. They wondered what he was building, and whenever anyone asked him what it was he would jokingly say, "Just wait and see."

      The villagers soon forgot their curiosity when an exciting piece of news spread through the village.

      "What’s this I hear about the squire, Otto?" Nicholas asked his old friend.

      "Ah," said Otto, puffing away on his pipe. They say things have not gone too well for him over the last few years, so now he’s going to sell some of his land and furniture to pay back the people he owes money to. The sale is tomorrow, so why don’t you come up with us Nicholas?"

      "Now what would I be wanting to buy from the squire? I don’t need any more land and I can make furniture every bit as good as any he has in the house. As a matter of fact I made some of it."

      "What about his animals?" asked Otto. "He has two fine horses and a team of reindeer."

      "That’s true," said Nicholas, finally interested enough to put down his work. "Lufka is too old to be of much help to me now. I think I will go up there with you tomorrow and see some of the excitement."

page 23