Everybody was happy and contented. They sang songs and cracked nuts
and ate the Christmas cakes to their hearts' content.

"I think I like the ones shaped like gnomes the best," said Hans.
"They have such comical little faces. Do you know, every time I go
out in the forest, it seems as though I might meet a party of gnomes
hunting for gold."

"I like the animal cakes best," said Bertha. "The deer are such
graceful creatures, and I like to bite off the horns and legs, one at
a time."

"A long time ago," said their father, "they used to celebrate
Christmas a little different from the way we now do. The presents
were all carried to a man in the village who dressed himself in a
white robe, and a big wig made of flax. He covered his face with a
mask, and then went from house to house. The grown people received
him with great honours. He called for the children and gave them the
presents their parents had brought to him.

"But these presents were all given according to the way the children
had behaved during the year. If they had been good and tried hard,
they had the gifts they deserved. But if they had been naughty and
disobedient, it was not a happy time for them."

"I don't believe the children were very fond of him," cried Hans.
"They must have been too much afraid of him."

"That is true," said his father. "But now, let us play some games.