Dec

24

This is one of my favorite stories. I hope you enjoy it, and I wish you a Merry Christmas. — Victor Niederhoffer

High on the mountainside by the little line cabin in the crisp clean dusk of evening Stubby Pringle swings into saddle. He has shape of bear in the dimness, bundled thick against cold. Double stocks crowd scarred boots. Leather chaps with hair out cover patched corduroy pants. Fleece-lined jacket with wear of winters on it bulges body and heavy gloves blunt fingers. Two gay red bandannas folded together fatten throat under chin. Battered hat is pulled down to sit on ears and in side pocket of jacket are rabbit-skin earmuffs he can put to use if he needs them.

Stubby Pringle swings up into saddle. He looks out and down over worlds of snow and ice and tree and rock. He spreads arms wide and they embrace whole ranges of hills. He stretches tall and hat brushes stars in sky. He is Stubby Pringle, cowhand of the Triple X, and this is his night to howl. He is Stubby Pringle, son of the wild jackass, and he is heading for the Christmas dance at the schoolhouse in the valley.

[For the entire text of the story, please follow this link].


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8 Comments so far

  1. Jeff Watson on December 24, 2014 3:38 pm

    Thank you very much for posting. Now we can carry on a family tradition that began in 2007 or so, where I first read Stubby Pringle to our assemblage of family members and friends. Then we discussed it. The Christmas Eve reading and discussion has continued, It’s always been the hit of the party, assisted with well fortified egg nog. Happy holidays to you all.

  2. Anonymous on December 25, 2014 2:08 am

    I read it every Christmas Eve thanks to you!

  3. Rob Ivanoff on December 25, 2014 4:31 pm

    Very fun read, Vic. Thank you for posting. Rob

  4. James on December 25, 2022 1:33 am

    Reading tonight as every Christmas Eve

  5. CeeEss on December 25, 2023 12:49 am

    It’s been a family tradition to read this each Xmas eve since I saw it here over a decade ago. The little kids are not so little any more (in college) and now read this with sound effects of a penny theater. Thanks for introducing us to this treasure of a tale.

  6. CeeEss on December 25, 2024 12:05 am

    CeeEss reporting back… one more year of this dong bonging ding busted dang blatted story re-read on Xmas eve. Thanks again for introducing us to it!

  7. Anonymous on December 28, 2024 12:41 pm

    I come here for this every Christmas.

  8. James Cook on December 25, 2025 12:41 am

    Thanks for this Christmas tradition!

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