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Long, long ago there were two brothers, the one was rich and. the other was poor. On Christmas eve the poor one had not a morsel of bread or meat in his house, and so he went to his brother and asked him for mercy's sake to give him something for Christmas. It was not the first time the brother had had to give him, and he was not very much pleased to see him this time either.

"If you will do what I ask of you, I will give you a whole ham of pork," said he.

The poor man promised immediately, and was very thankful besides.

"There you have it, now go to hell, ' ' said the rich one, and threw the ham at him.

"What I have promised, I suppose, I must keep," said the other. He took the ham and started. He walked and walked the whole day, and at twilight he came to a place where everything looked so bright and splendid.

"This must be the place," thought the man with the ham.

Out in the wood-shed stood an old man with a long white beard, cutting wood for Christmas.

"Good evening," said the man with the ham.

"Good evening, sir. Where are you going so late? " said the man.

"I am on my way to hell, if I am on the right road," said the poor man.

"Yes, you have taken the right road; it is here," said the old man. "Now when you get in, they will all want to buy your ham, for pork is rare food in