The Cottage

the Cottage

by Stephanie Burt

illustratedby Pete Warner

The Cottage Printed London, UK December 2014 1st Edition Copyright © Stephanie Burt 2014 All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the author.

Text © Stephanie Burt Illustrations © Pete Warner The Cottage™

Thanks to those who make Christmas special every year...

Copyright © Stephanie Burt 2014 The Cottage™

Once upon a time

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there was a small cottage that was surrounded by glistening snow and sat in an enchanted forest.

In this little cottage, a fireplace was burning bright with glowing amber against three knitted stockings, waiting to greet St. Nicholas.

The children were tucked up in bed imagining of what tomorrow brings, with sugar plum fairies dancing around and toy soldiers marching above their wondering dreams.

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Outside on that cold and moonlit starry night, a few miles away from the cottage was a hopeful Santa, lost in the woods.

With a stack of presents set to be delivered the cheerful Saint Nick was growing anxious, searching far and wide.

Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks…

In the distance, a glimmer of hope – a sign of red and gold,

“Lapland, no.

The North Pole, not this time.

Antarctica, that’s miles away from here!

The Cottage, yes!”

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And with a Ho! Ho!

Ho!

He flew towards the cottage with his nine most trusted reindeer.

With a crash and a bang, they landed on the roof clattering their hoofs and ringing their bells, “Ho! Ho! Ho! What a racket you lot make!� as Santa chuckled while his big belly shook, and his cheeks turned all red like cherries.

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The children suddenly sprung up from bed with excitement;

did they imagine the bells, or the gleeful laughter of Santa?‌

Their doubt was swiftly pushed away with the tumble of St. Nicholas as he came down the chimney, covered in soot and a loud sneeze bellowing around the house.

Rushing down the stairs towards the clatter, the children froze in amazement and delight as Good Old Saint Nick stood before them, placing their gifts so carefully under the beautiful twinkling Christmas tree.

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He turned towards them and gave them a big smile, he then winked and waved just as he flew back up the chimney – the children ran towards the frosted windows and there they saw his red sleigh full of presents and a jingle of bells from them all – Blitzen, Comet, Cupid, Dasher, Dancer, Donner, Prancer, Vixen… and with a dazzling red light, lighting up the starry sky, a young Rudolph led them on as they rode away into the starry night.

The children full of happiness fell back into their beds with smiles on their faces, they closed their sleepy eyes and drifted off back into their dreams – except one that whispered just before he rested his head, whispered in the silence, “Merry Christmas Saint Nick, until next year.”

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THE END

Afterword This book is an adapted version of ‘A Visit from St. Nicholas’ by Clement Clarke Moore. This has not breached any copyright and has only used the poem as an inspiration and basis of ‘The Cottage’.

I would like to thank, all of those who have inspired me to write this particularly my family who are always so entranced and hold on to the magic of Christmas that is becoming more lost.

I would also like to thank Pete Warner for allowing my story to come alive through his beautiful illustrations.

“Do you believe in Santa?”

“I believe that the spirit of Santa lives in us forever.”

A lost Santa in the woods, anxious to deliver the Christmas presents.

Will he find

the Cottage?

Will he deliver the Christmas gifts on time?‌

The debut book by Stephanie Burt.