"I will give Arvid a big club," said the father. "He will get along all right, having that."
So it happened that Arvid and his sister Hanna went to town to buy the treat of white rolls and milk. By this time the snow was piled in great drifts on the ice, and the children had difficulty in dragging the sled, so that when they turned toward home the early darkness was already beginning to settle down. They trudged through the snow as fast as they could, but the drifts were much higher than before, and darkness came on in earnest while they still had quite a long distance to go.
As they struggled on, something black moved in the darkness. When it came nearer, the children saw that it was a wolf.
"Don't be afraid, Hanna," said Arvid. "I have a good club." And with these words, he raised it threateningly.
The wolf was now close beside the children but made no attempt to harm them. He only howled, but the howling was extraordinary for it sounded as if he uttered words in it,—words that the children could understand. "It is so cold, so cold," howled the wolf. "And my little ones have nothing to eat. Give me some bread for them in the name of mercy."
"Poor little things!" said Hanna. "We will give you our two rolls for them, and we ourselves will eat hard bread to-night, but father and mother must have their Christmas treat."
"Many thanks," said the wolf as he took the two fresh rolls and glided away.
The children strove on through deeper and deeper snow, but in a little while they heard some creature treading heavily behind them. It proved to be a bear.
The bear growled out something in his own language, and at first the children could not find out what he meant although they tried hard; but the bear kept on growling and finally, strangely enough, the children understood. The bear, too, desired a Christmas gift.
"It is so cold, so cold," growled the big creature. "All the water everywhere is frozen and my poor little ones have nothing to drink. Be merciful and give me a little milk for them."