text: > fill the stocking with the stones
  You have already taken a large quantity of the gnome's ore. It would be impolite to remove any more.
  
  > go southeast
  You are standing in the middle of a stone lined path that leads through the snow-covered forest from the northwest to the east. To the north, the ground dips down much lower than the path upon which you now stand.
  
  You suddenly hear a rustling above you, but before you can react, you are pummeled by clumps of snow as the icy patches are dislodged from the branches above.
  
  > go east
  The front of a small wooden cottage faces to the west on the far side of this forest clearing. Without the concealing canopy of branches, you see shiny points of light twinkle in the dark sky. The underbrush has grown thick in this area, but it has been cleared away to the east and also looks passable to the southeast. The stone-lined path leads back into the forest to the west. The windows of the cottage appear dark, but curls of smoke billow from the chimney.
  
  > Go east
  The wooden floorboards creak and groan as you tread upon them. The front door is closed to the east, and a short flight of steps lead back to the forest clearing.
  
  > Go up
  You push open the trap door and climb up into the cottage. The trap door swings closed with a thud behind you.
  
  The cottage is warm and cozy. Burning candles resting in sconces along the walls twinkle brightly illuminating the room in flickering yellow light. The cottage appears to be just a one-room dwelling. The front door is closed to the west. A large walk-in wardrobe has been pushed up against one of the walls; its door hangs open. The portion of the room near the trap door would seem to serve as the kitchen equipped with cupboards from which hang cups and saucers. Near the center of the room stands a modest table surrounded by a few chairs. Centered in the middle of the table is a large glass dome that is now empty. Aside from various knickknacks strewn about, you notice a large couch with fluffy pillows facing the fireplace.
  
  Soft pink and blue lights emanate from the black kettle in the fireplace as it hangs above smoldering embers.
  
  > look in the kettle
  You peer over the lip of the kettle and see dazzling pastel colors emanating from the round rocks. Shimmering hues of pinks, purples, and blues brighten the darkened fireplace with magical light.
  
  > take the rocks
  You scoop the brightly glowing rocks out of the tepid water remaining in the kettle and fill the stocking with them.
  
  > Inventory
  You are carrying:
  a stocking
  shining fairy glow rocks (providing light)
  handsome leather shoes
  a candle stick
  
  > give the rocks to the dryad
  (first taking shining fairy glow rocks)
  You wouldn't be able to hold all of the glow rocks in your hands, so you decide to leave them in the stocking.
  
  > give stocking to the dryad
  The dryad peers into your opened stocking and his gaping eyes fill with glee. He exclaims, "Well! Now there is one fine solstice treat! Oh, I'm so pleased our paths did meet! Now, take this lamp to light your way, and may the morrow bring you one fine solstice day!" You hold the stockingful of glowing rocks to the dryad, and he scoops it up with one of his gangly limbs. The dryad then flings the opened stocking with a grand swooping motion sending the multitudes of glowing rocks high into the air. Where the brightly lit rocks land, he grasps them with surrounding twigs. The oak is lit with the brightly colored stones from tip to trunk in glowing purple, pink and blue hues. The dryad's eyes curve into blissful arcs and you can see his mouth curved in a huge grin. The branch supporting the lantern dips down well within your reach.
  
  > take the lantern
  Taken.
  
  You suddenly hear a rustling above you, but before you can react, you are pummeled by clumps of snow as the icy patches are dislodged from the branches above.
  
  > go to the southwest
  This large tunnel of rock leads out of the caves to the south and continues back into the caves to the northeast. Metal tracks line the center of the tunnel.
  
  > Go south
  Dense foliage has surrounded the area at the mouth of the cave. The tracks lead out of the cave for few yards where they are buried under a large pile of coal that is illuminated in the moonlight.
  
  > take the coal
  You grab a handful of the black coal.
  
  > check your inventory
  You are carrying:
  lumps of black coal
  a lantern (providing light)
  handsome leather shoes
  a candle stick
  
  > put the coal on snowman
  As soon as you put the coal pieces one by one on the top sphere of the snowman to form his eyes, nose, and mouth, the snowman begins to sway back and forth. A jolly voice suddenly emanates from the snowman. "Whoopee!" he cheers and begins to bounce up and down. The snowman bounces in a large circle around you singing over and over again, "Oh how jolly it is to be, a snowman so fine as you can see." He giggles and laughs and spins 'round and 'round. Then off to the distant horizon he jumps in wild zigzags and fanciful twirls. You hear his voice trail off as he dances into the distance humming "La, dee dee, dee da, dee dee!" When his figure becomes a mere speck on the horizon, you turn around and notice that a distinct hole has been trimmed away from the thicket behind the spot where the snowman was standing to the southwest.
  
  > go to the southwest
  Neatly trimmed hedges form pathways to the south and west. An opening has been sheared through the row of hedges to the northeast.
  
  A little white snow sprite carrying a golden bell runs atop the snow laughing and tumbling. As soon as it spots you, it runs right up to you stops just a few feet away.
  
  > Go west
  Snow crunches beneath your feet when you walk down the pathway. The breezes are very gusty in this area as the wind blowing down from the night sky is funneled through the twists and turns of the hedge maze. Collected snow in the branches of the hedges is continually swept up by the breezes causing little snow flurries which gradually cover the footprints you leave behind.
  
  Paths through the neatly trimmed hedges lead to the west, east, and southwest.
  
  Suddenly, you are smacked in the head by a snowball. You whirl about to see a devilish little snow sprite giggling at you. It suddenly jumps up, does a back flip and then disappears into the snow.
  
  > go west
  The row of hedges leads to the west and east.
  
  Suddenly, you are smacked in the head by a snowball. You whirl about to see a devilish little snow sprite giggling at you. It suddenly jumps up, does a back flip and then disappears into the snow.
  
  > Go west
  This hedge pathway has been shaped into a tidy corner leading to the east and south.
  
  > go to the south
  The only way out of this area is a pathway leading back to the north.
  
  A beautiful, snow-dusted, angel statue adorns one corner along this pathway in the hedge maze.
  
  > examine angel
  The stone angel and the elaborate pedestal upon which she rests has been beautifully carved out of alabaster stone. She gracefully kneels, looking down at you with a most serene expression.
  
  > touch angel
  The white stone is smooth and cold.
  
  > go north
  This hedge pathway has been shaped into a tidy corner leading to the east and south.
  
  A little white snow sprite runs right by you carrying a large golden bell in both its hands over its head. It giggles and laughs mischievously, then does a few somersaults and disappears back into the snow.
  
  > go east
  The row of hedges leads to the west and east.
  
  > Go east
  Paths through the neatly trimmed hedges lead to the west, east, and southwest.
  
  > go southwest
  Powdery snow flurries toss your hair about as you walk down this pathway that leads to the northeast and to the south.
  
  Suddenly, you are smacked in the head by a snowball. You whirl about to see a devilish little snow sprite giggling at you. It suddenly jumps up, does a back flip and then disappears into the snow.
  
  > go south
  One pathway through the shaped hedges leads to the north, and two more lead to the southwest and southeast.
  
  A beautiful, snow-dusted, angel statue adorns one corner along this pathway in the hedge maze.
  
  > examine angel
  The stone angel and the elaborate pedestal upon which she rests has been beautifully carved out of alabaster stone. The glorious angel looks skyward with majestically outstretched arms. Her long gown swirls as if in a gust of wind revealing her dainty slippers beneath.
  
  You hear an impish high-pitched giggle approaching from the pathway to the north.
  
  > examine the slippers
  The stone angel and the elaborate pedestal upon which she rests has been beautifully carved out of alabaster stone. The glorious angel looks skyward with majestically outstretched arms. Her long gown swirls as if in a gust of wind revealing her dainty slippers beneath.
  
  Footsteps softly crunch in the snow close by.
  
  > Clean angel
  Little is changed by this.
  
  A little snow sprite wearing a green scarf comes galloping in from the north. Another snow sprite comes cartwheeling in right behind. They head toward the pathway to the southeast, then turn around and wave their arms motioning for you to follow. With an impish giggle, they disappear to the southeast leaving tiny footprints behind.
  
  > get the slippers
  The stone statue is quite massive and entirely to heavy for you to even budge.
  
  > go southeast
  Pathways lead through the hedge maze to the northwest, to the south and southwest.
  
  A trail of tiny footprints lead into this pathway from the northwest, but suddenly stop here in a most peculiar fashion.
  
  > look at the footprints
  The footprints in the snow are tiny and have very pointy toes; however, they are slowly filling in with the blowing powdered snow. The trail of footprints lead into this pathway from the northwest, but then abruptly stop here. The snow is completely undisturbed any where else save for your own foot trails.
  
  > Dig
  What do you want to dig?
  
  > search the snow
  When the wind gusts, the snow that has gathered on the hedges blows down the pathways throughout the maze in puffs of snow flurries. Your footsteps are quickly filled in by the gusting snow.
  
  > listen
  You hear only the whispering wind murmuring soft secrets which, alas, you cannot understand.
  
  Alas! The tiny footprints have become completely filled in by powdered snow.
  
  > Go southwest
  The twists and turns of the green hedges look so much alike, that you loose your way. After walking and walking, you eventually find yourself back at the start of the hedge maze.
  
  Neatly trimmed hedges form pathways to the south and west. An opening has been sheared through the row of hedges to the northeast.
  
  A mischievous little snow sprite is standing here making faces at you and giggling.
  
  > go west
  The hedges arc gracefully from the southeast to the southwest. An additional pathway leads to the east.
  
  > Go southeast
  The shaped hedges lead to the northwest, south, and east.
  
  A little white snow sprite runs right by you carrying a large golden bell in both its hands over its head. It giggles and laughs mischievously, then does a few somersaults and disappears back into the snow.
  
  > Go east
  You are in a small enclosed area with the only pathway leading back to the west.
  
  A beautiful, snow-dusted, angel statue adorns one corner along this pathway in the hedge maze.
  
  > examine angel
  The stone angel and the elaborate pedestal upon which she rests has been beautifully carved out of alabaster stone. With clasped hands, the angel looks peacefully down upon you.
  
  > Pray
  Nothing seems to have changed.
  
  > go south
  One pathway through the shaped hedges leads to the north, and two more lead to the southwest and southeast.
  
  A beautiful, snow-dusted, angel statue adorns one corner along this pathway in the hedge maze.
  
  > examine angel
  The stone angel and the elaborate pedestal upon which she rests has been beautifully carved out of alabaster stone. The glorious angel looks skyward with majestically outstretched arms. Her long gown swirls as if in a gust of wind revealing her dainty slippers beneath.
  
  You hear an impish high-pitched giggle approaching from the pathway to the north.
  
  > Go southwest
  The twists and turns of the green hedges look so much alike, that you loose your way. After walking and walking, you eventually find yourself back at the start of the hedge maze.
  
  Neatly trimmed hedges form pathways to the south and west. An opening has been sheared through the row of hedges to the northeast.
  
  A mischievous little snow sprite is standing here making faces at you and giggling.
  
  > Go southwest
  Pathways through the green hedges lead to the north, south, east, and northeast.
  
  A little white snow sprite carrying a golden bell runs atop the snow laughing and tumbling. As soon as it spots you, it runs right up to you stops just a few feet away.
  
  > go east
  This is a small enclosed area with the only pathway leading back to the west.
  
  A beautiful, snow-dusted, angel statue adorns one corner along this pathway in the hedge maze.
  
  > look at the angel
  The stone angel and the elaborate pedestal upon which she rests has been beautifully carved out of alabaster stone. The angel looks upward into the night sky and appears to be singing a most lovely hymn.
  
  Suddenly, you are smacked in the head by a snowball. You whirl about to see a devilish little snow sprite giggling at you. It suddenly jumps up, does a back flip and then disappears into the snow.
  
  > look at the pedestal
  The stone angel and the elaborate pedestal upon which she rests has been beautifully carved out of alabaster stone. The angel looks upward into the night sky and appears to be singing a most lovely hymn.
  
  > turn angel
  It is fixed in place.
  
  A little white snow sprite carrying a golden bell runs atop the snow laughing and tumbling. As soon as it spots you, it runs right up to you stops just a few feet away.
  
  > ask the sprite about the bell
  The snow imp cuddles the bell lovingly, "So small, so shiny! My beautiful ... beautiful ... bell." He lets out a sudden giggle and starts waving it over his head tauntingly.
  
  The snow sprite does flips and cartwheels across the top of the snow and then suddenly disappears beneath.
  
  > take the snow
  You reach down and pick up a handful of snow.
  
  A little white snow sprite carrying a golden bell runs atop the snow laughing and tumbling. As soon as it spots you, it runs right up to you stops just a few feet away.
  
  > throw the snow at the sprite
  (the handful of snow at the snow sprite)
  You hurl the handful of snow at the little sprite. He lurches to the side to avoid being pelted. Even though the sprite is much to quick to be hit, he seems to have a newfound respect for you ... for a moment. But, then he pokes his tongue out at you and continues with his usual antics.