"The Tomt, the Tomt," cried Sigrid.
"Is there any naughty child here, who doesn't deserve a present?" asked the gnome. He hopped about and made a great deal of noise for a small person.
Anders hid behind his mother's skirt. He was always a little afraid of Tomt, who is much like our Santa Claus.
"No, we haven't any naughty children," replied the father.
"Then I shall leave some presents from my packet," cried Tomt. He darted out into the hall and came back slowly tugging some large packages. Then he vanished as quickly as he had come.
"Now, Erik, you may bring the baskets and help me give out the presents," said Major Lund.
Beneath the low boughs of the fir-tree were several large baskets, heaped with presents. Major Lund read aloud the verse on each neat package before Erik passed it. Oh, such a heap of presents for each and all! It was quite late in the evening before all the bundles were opened. What a hand-shaking and kissing there was!
"I thought that looked like a foot-pusher when Tomt brought it in," said Sigrid, who shone with happiness over her new treasure.
"How proud I am of my children," said Mrs. Lund, as Sigrid and Erik were thanking her for their gifts. "I am sure I had no idea you could knit so well. I shall use the cozy for afternoon coffee to-morrow. And the Viking ship tray is really beautiful, Erik."
Little children should have been abed and asleep when the family finally sat down to their supper. But it was Christmas Eve, and nobody minded. Among all the good things that Sigrid ate that night, I must tell you about two dishes that every Swedish girl eats for her Christmas supper,—lut-fisk and rice porridge. The big bowl of porridge had a crisscrossing of powdered cinnamon over the top. Inside was one almond. The person who found it would be the next one in the family to be married.