This story is a childhood favorite of mine. I have many fond memories of being snuggled up with my brother and sister listening to my mom read this story on Christmas Eve. It's a good ole Texas-style Christmas story and I now share it with my boys as well. Merry Christmas! A short story by Jack Schaefer (first published in December 1963) High on mountainside by little line cabin in the crisp, clean dusk of evening Stubby Pringle swings into saddle. He has shape of bear in dimness, bundled thick against cold. Double socks 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 wor...