Now, one evening which was not like other evenings, for it was Christmas Eve, Mummy Tyl put her little ones to bed and kissed them even more lovingly than usual. She felt a little sad because, owing to the stormy weather, Daddy Tyl was not able to go to work in the forest; and so she had no money to buy presents with which to fill Tyltyl and Mytyl's stockings. The Children soon fell asleep, everything was still and silent and not a sound was heard but the purring of the cat, the snoring of the dog and the ticking of the great grandfather's clock. But suddenly a light as bright as day crept through the shutters, the lamp upon the table lit again of itself and the two Children awoke, yawned, rubbed their eyes, stretched out their arms in bed and Tyltyl, in a cautious voice called:
"No," said Tyltyl. "How can I be asleep, when I'm talking to you?"
"I say, is this Christmas Day?" asked his sister.
"Not yet; not till to-morrow. But Father Christmas won't bring us anything this year."
"I heard Mummy say that she couldn't go to town to tell him. But he will come next year."
"A good long while," said the boy. "But he will come to the rich children to-night."
"Hullo!" cried Tyltyl of a sudden. "Mummy's forgotten to put out the lamp!... I've an idea!"
"But we mustn't," said Mytyl, who always remembered.
"Why, there's no one about!... Do you see the shutters?"
"It's the lights of the party," said Tyltyl.
"The rich children opposite. It's the Christmas-tree. Let's open the shutters...."
"Of course we can; there's no one to stop us.... Do you hear the music?... Let us get up."
The two Children jumped out of bed, ran to the window, climbed on the stool in front of it and threw back the shutters. A bright light filled the room; and the Children looked out eagerly:
"I can't," said poor little Mytyl, who could hardly find room on the stool.
"It's snowing!" said Tyltyl. "There are two carriages, with six horses each!"
"There are twelve little boys getting out!" said Mytyl, who was doing her best to peep out of the window.
"Don't be silly!... They're little girls...."
"What are those gold things there, hanging from the branches?"
"Why, toys, to be sure!" said Tyltyl. "Swords, guns, soldiers, cannons...."