Chapter Three The Sled Race At the rope maker’s cottage most of the winter evenings were spent by the children learning how to wind and untangle masses of twine, and to most of the simple net mending. Nicholas discovered that by loosening strands of flaxen coloured hemp he could make the most realistic hair for the little wooden dolls he still found time to carve. When he left at the end of one year, the rope maker’s five little children found five small toys waiting for them on the mantle of their fireplace. Nicholas did not forget his promise to the three Bavran children, but made a special trip to their house on that Christmas morning with their gifts. As the years went by, Nicholas became more and more skilful with his father’s pocket knife and all the children came to expect one of Nicholas’ toys on Christmas day. No child was ever disappointed, for the young wood carver always knew exactly what each child would like. Christmas was only a week away when Nicholas, now aged fourteen, arrived at the school playground to find all his friends in a group chattering excitedly. "What’s happening?" he enquired. "There’s going to be a sled race on Christmas morning," said Otto. "It will start from the Squire’s gate at the top of the hill and finish at the big pine on the far side of his house.’ page 6
|
4b |
when you
were smaller than your own children are now. Then things
changed when they started putting out stockings instead
of bags and now you want me to change again and leave
them inside. Well I suppose I must keep up with the times
and if you all think it’s better to have them
inside, then inside I will go" So from then on Nicholas would quietly creep into the houses on Christmas Eve and sit in front of the fire, slowly filling the stockings. Often the children would leave him a drink and a piece of cake, as they knew that he had a long night of exhausting work. One Christmas Eve, old Nicholas found it harder than usual to leave each home. The warm fire made him feel drowsy and his old bones ached as he wearily pulled himself up to go. He made slow progress from one house to another until thankfully he arrived at his last stop, his back hurting from carrying his bulky sack, his head drooping with tiredness and his heart heavy as he realised how old he must be. The work he had done with such enthusiasm for so many years was now almost too much for him. He dropped into a chair by the fire with a deep sigh of relief and it was a long time before he recovered enough to start filling the stockings. Even then he did it very slowly and it hurt as he reached down into the bottom of the sack, each time straightening himself with growing difficulty. He finished filling four of the five stockings but with the fifth one still empty in his hand he fell sound asleep. About an hour later he woke with a start when he felt a hand shaking him. "Are you alright Nicholas?" asked a worried voice, "I got up to see if the fire had gone out and found you still here. Why it’s nearly dawn." page 43 |