The most interesting character in this game was a black boy called Jacob (Peter's lieutenant), who made things lively for us by always keeping one eye open--a wise precaution to guard himself from danger, and to keep us on the jump.

Hickory nuts, sweet cider, and _olie-koeks_ (a Dutch name for a fried cake with raisins inside) were our refreshments when there came a lull in the fun.
As St.Nicholas was supposed to come down the chimney, our stockings were pinned on a broomstick, laid across two chairs in front of the fireplace.

We retired on Christmas Eve with the most pleasing anticipations of what would be in our stockings next morning.

The thermometer in that latitude was often twenty degrees below zero, yet, bright and early, we would run downstairs in our bare feet over the cold floors to carry stockings, broom, etc., to the nursery.

The gorgeous presents that St.Nicholas now distributes show that he, too, has been growing up with the country.