St. Nicholas, Vol. 5, No. 5, March, 1878

VOL. V.
No. 5.
MARCH, 1878.
TABLE OF CONTENTS & ILLUSTRATIONS
BY KATHARINE LEE.
Once upon a time, in a very small village on the borders of one of the great pine forests of Norway, there lived a wood-cutter, named Peder Olsen. He had built himself a little log-house, in which he dwelt with his twin boys, Olaf and Erik, and their little sister Olga.
Merry, happy children were these three, full of life and health, and always ready for a frolic. Even during the long, cold, dark winter months, they were joyous and contented. It was never too cold for these hardy little Norse folk, and the ice and snow which for so many months covered the land, they looked on as sent for their especial enjoyment.
The wood-cutter had made a sledge for the boys, just a rough box on broad, wooden runners, to be sure, but it glided lightly and swiftly over the hard, frozen surface of snow, and the daintiest silver-tipped sledge could not have given them more pleasure.
They shared it, generously, with each other, as brothers should, and gave Olga many a good swift ride; but it was cold work for the little maid, sitting still, and, after a while, she chose rather to watch the boys from the little window, as they took turns in playing reindeer.
One day they both wanted to be reindeer at once, and begged Olga to come and drive, but the chimney corner was bright and warm, and she would not go.
Of course, said Olaf; what else could one expect? She is only a girl! I would far rather take Krikel; he is always ready. Hi! Krikel! come take a ride! and he whistled to the clever little black Spitz dog that Peder Olsen had brought from Tromsöe for the children.