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.’
“And the prize,” interrupted Hans, “is a grand new sled with metal runners.”
“Nicholas, you’ll enter won’t you? That’s not a bad sled you have, even though you...”
"Hush Jan.” whispered another. “It’s not nice to remind Nicholas that he built his own sled, just because our fathers had ours made for us.”
But Nicholas was not listening to the conversation. He was thinking swiftly. Finally he turned to the others and asked, “What time does the race begin?”
“Nine o’clock sharp on Christmas morning.” was the reply.
Nicholas shook his head doubtfully.
“I don’t know if I can make it,” he said slowly. He was thinking of the chest full of toys which he had planned to deliver to all the children on Christmas morning, especially the one for Elsa the wood cutter’s daughter, as she lived outside the village.
“Perhaps if I get up very early and really hurried,” Nicholas said to himself, then suddenly he realized that the race would pass right by Else’s cottage. The doll could be dropped off in a few seconds, allowing him to continue without loosing any time at all.
“I’ll be there! I’ll be there! At nine o’clock sharp and you had better watch out for that prize!” he shouted gleefully. Christmas morning was bright and sunny, with fresh crisp snow. Nicholas had been up long before the sun, and as usual had left toys in every doorway As the children set off with their sleds for the race, the whole village followed behind to watch the excitement. But there was no sign of Nicholas. Unfortunately one of his old sled’s wooden runners had broken under the strain of carrying the heavy load of toys. As he desperately tried to lash it together with rope, he could hear the faint echo of the Squire’s horn coming from the top of the hill. The race had started. Nicholas was deeply disappointed because he knew he had missed the chance to win the new sled, but as he had to go to the wood cutter’s cottage anyway to deliver Elsa’s present, he turned the battered sled upright and made a dash for the hilltop. As he reached the starting line, Nicholas saw his friends speeding off, looking like little black specks in the distance.
“Come on Nicholas,” called the villagers, “Let’s give you a good push to get you started. One, two, three. Off you go.”
Nicholas flew down the hill, his face stinging in the wind, faster and faster he went, the wooden runners hardly touching the hard packed snow. The black specks were becoming larger and Nicholas knew he must have been catching up to the other children. Larger and larger they became until Nicholas nearly fell off his sled with amazement. They had stopped and were waiting for him just in front to he woodcutter’s cottage.
“Hurry up Nicholas.” encouraged little Josef, “We would have waited for you at the top, but the Squire became impatient and made us start when the horn blew. You know we’d have waited for you if we could.”
“Yes,” shouted Otto, “now go and leave that doll in Elsa’s doorway, and let’s go! From now on just see how long we’ll wait for you! First come, first served for the new sled with metal runners.”
With a noisy whoosh, twenty children were off and the race continued over the frozen creek, through patches where they had to carry their sleds, zigzagging between trees and then the long hard pull up the hill behind the Squire’s house. Nicholas could only see one boy in front of him just as the big pine tree came into view. His mind was on how much he needed that new sled for his Christmas deliveries. Nicholas flew along so fast that for a moment he thought he would sail right through the tree splitting it in two, but just in time he steered his sled to one side and jumped off. When he pulled off his woolly hat, he could hear the shouts and cheers from the villagers. He had won the race. It was like a dream come true.
All the children pulled Nicholas home on his new sled and each mother and father that they passed, waved and smiled proudly, as happy as if it was
their own child that had won the race.
Dont' forget to look at Santa's favourite toy.