And even though Karl was hardened by the war, he still hated the cold. It became even harder, since his wife, Frieda, gave birth to their second child in November, Rosina. That meant that his first child, two year old Josef, had to help with the work around the house with his thirteen year old cousin, Fritz. Karl couldn't do the work, since he worked as a Street cleaner down in the village. He stood up every day at 5:30 o'clock in the morning to pick up wood under the extended Roof outside. Then the entire family warmed themselves up on the oven. Soon Karl got out into the little horse staple to feed the horses, get the snow plough and went to work with the horses whilst Joseph and Fritz started feeding the chickens and cleaning around the house. Somewhere in the evening Karl would go back through the forest up on the mountain to the black forest hut and they'd all eat and pray. Then they went to bed. That was how every december day went for them. Except this one.

Karl woke up, soked in sweat. Well, that was normal since he came back from the frontlines of the first World War. Since then he always dreamt the same dream. He looked to the little statue of the virgin Mary next to the door and spoke a quick "Ave Maria". After he threw over his warm cloak and old hat he looked out of the green tainted windows. Normally he could see the heavy forested valley and the village from the window, but on this day there was a huge snow storm outside. Karl let out an angry "Heidenei!". Then he went out to pick up wood from the orderly stocked pile under the extended roof outside. 

"Grüß Gott.".

Karl looked around to see an old lady in the snow on the path to the village. She had a crooked nose and a pile of dry wood on her back.