Preface to The Goblins’ Christmas poem

Once upon a time I visited Fairy-land and spent a day in Goblin-town.

The people there are much like ourselves, only they are very, very small

and roguish. They play pranks on one another and have great fun. They

are good natured and jolly, and rarely get angry. But if one does get

angry, he quickly recovers his good nature and joins again in the sport.

 

If a Goblin should continue angry he would take on some visible form.

Perhaps he would become a toad or a squirrel, or some other little

animal, and would have to live here on the Earth-plane forevermore. But,

if he keeps good natured, he can come here and have his fun, and not be

seen by any one except a Seer, or very wise person.

 

The Goblins are gracious to the wise people now, but they were not

always so. A long, long time ago, on a Christmas-eve, the Fairy-folk

were having great sport. All the little people of the Unseen-world had

gathered together in the Earth-realm. There were Brownies, and Gnomes,

and Elves; even some little Cherubs had joined them. They were having a

wild dance and a gay time when who should appear but Kris Kringle! Now

the Fairies did not know that he was a Magician, or Seer, and so they

tried to make sport of him. But Kris by his wonderful magic, changed

them into the most beautiful toys. They became straight little

jumping-jacks, and dolls in bright dresses, and the dearest little

rabbit with white, soft fur. And somewhere in the bottom of the sleigh

one was turned into a cute little Teddy-bear. Then old Kris tucked all

these toys into his roomy sleigh, and shook the reins of his waiting

steed. “Go on!” he said, “For I’ve many, many a chimney to reach

tonight.”

 

Now this is the tale of “The Goblins’ Christmas” that the moonbeams

told, as they heard it from the Fairy-Queen, who declares that every

word of it is perfectly true.

 

roguish (adjective): naughty; mischievous

good natured (adjective): in a happy mood

prank (noun): a joke or trick you play on someone for fun

jumping jack (noun): toy dancing man with strings

roomy (adjective): spacious; has lots of space

reins (noun): the straps attached to a horse and held by a driver

steed (noun): horse

declare (verb): to state firmly