the life and adventures of santa clause-第10章

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The　harness　was　more　difficult　to　prepare；　but　Claus　twisted　strong　cords　together　and　knotted　them　so　they　would　fit　around　the　necks　of　the　deer；　in　the　shape　of　a　collar。　　From　these　ran　other　cords　to　fasten　the　deer　to　the　front　of　the　sledge。

Before　the　work　was　completed　Glossie　and　Flossie　were　back　from　the　Forest；　having　been　granted　permission　by　Will　Knook　to　make　the　journey　with　Claus　provided　they　would　to　Burzee　by　daybreak　the　next　morning。

〃That　is　not　a　very　long　time；〃　said　Flossie；　〃but　we　are　swift　and　strong；　and　if　we　get　started　by　this　evening　we　can　travel　many　miles　during　the　night。〃

Claus　decided　to　make　the　attempt；　so　he　hurried　on　his　preparations　as　fast　as　possible。　　After　a　time　he　fastened　the　collars　around　the　necks　of　his　steeds　and　harnessed　them　to　his　rude　sledge。　　Then　he　placed　a　stool　on　the　little　platform；　to　serve　as　a　seat；　and　filled　a　sack　with　his　prettiest　toys。

〃How　do　you　intend　to　guide　us？〃　asked　Glossie。　　〃We　have　never　been　out　of　the　Forest　before；　except　to　visit　your　house；　so　we　shall　not　know　the　way。〃

Claus　thought　about　that　for　a　moment。　　Then　he　brought　more　cords　and　fastened　two　of　them　to　the　spreading　antlers　of　each　deer；　one　on　the　right　and　the　other　on　the　left。

〃Those　will　be　my　reins；〃　said　Claus；　〃and　when　I　pull　them　to　the　right　or　to　the　left　you　must　go　in　that　direction。　　If　I　do　not　pull　the　reins　at　all　you　may　go　straight　ahead。〃

〃Very　well；〃　answered　Glossie　and　Flossie；　and　then　they　asked：　〃Are　you　ready？〃

Claus　seated　himself　upon　the　stool；　placed　the　sack　of　toys　at　his　feet；　and　then　gathered　up　the　reins。

〃All　ready！〃　he　shouted；　〃away　we　go！〃

The　deer　leaned　forward；　lifted　their　slender　limbs；　and　the　next　moment　away　flew　the　sledge　over　the　frozen　snow。　　The　swiftness　of　the　motion　surprised　Claus；　for　in　a　few　strides　they　were　across　the　Valley　and　gliding　over　the　broad　plain　beyond。

The　day　had　melted　into　evening　by　the　time　they　started；　for；　swiftly　as　Claus　had　worked；　many　hours　had　been　consumed　in　making　his　preparations。　　But　the　moon　shone　brightly　to　light　their　way；　and　Claus　soon　decided　it　was　just　as　pleasant　to　travel　by　night　as　by　day。

The　deer　liked　it　better；　for；　although　they　wished　to　see　something　of　the　world；　they　were　timid　about　meeting　men；　and　now　all　the　dwellers　in　the　towns　and　farmhouses　were　sound　asleep　and　could　not　see　them。

Away　and　away　they　sped；　on　and　on　over　the　hills　and　through　the　valleys　and　across　the　plains　until　they　reached　a　village　where　Claus　had　never　been　before。

Here　he　called　on　them　to　stop；　and　they　immediately　obeyed。　　But　a　new　difficulty　now　presented　itself；　for　the　people　had　locked　their　doors　when　they　went　to　bed；　and　Claus　found　he　could　not　enter　the　houses　to　leave　his　toys。

〃I　am　afraid；　my　friends；　we　have　made　our　journey　for　nothing；〃　said　he；　〃for　I　shall　be　obliged　to　carry　my　playthings　back　home　again　without　giving　them　to　the　children　of　this　village。〃

〃What's　the　matter？〃　asked　Flossie。

〃The　doors　are　locked；〃　answered　Claus；　〃and　I　can　not　get　in。〃

Glossie　looked　around　at　the　houses。　　The　snow　was　quite　deep　in　that　village；　and　just　before　them　was　a　roof　only　a　few　feet　above　the　sledge。　　A　broad　chimney；　which　seemed　to　Glossie　big　enough　to　admit　Claus；　was　at　the　peak　of　the　roof。

〃Why　don't　you　climb　down　that　chimney？〃　asked　Glossie。

Claus　looked　at　it。

〃That　would　be　easy　enough　if　I　were　on　top　of　the　roof；〃　he　answered。

〃Then　hold　fast　and　we　will　take　you　there；〃　said　the　deer；　and　they　gave　one　bound　to　the　roof　and　landed　beside　the　big　chimney。

〃Good！〃　cried　Claus；　well　pleased；　and　he　slung　the　pack　of　toys　over　his　shoulder　and　got　into　the　chimney。

There　was　plenty　of　soot　on　the　bricks；　but　he　did　not　mind　that；　and　by　placing　his　hands　and　knees　against　the　sides　he　crept　downward　until　he　had　reached　the　fireplace。　　Leaping　lightly　over　the　smoldering　coals　he　found　himself　in　a　large　sitting…room；　where　a　dim　light　was　burning。

From　this　room　two　doorways　led　into　smaller　chambers。　　In　one　a　woman　lay　asleep；　with　a　baby　beside　her　in　a　crib。

Claus　laughed；　but　he　did　not　laugh　aloud　for　fear　of　waking　the　baby。　Then　he　slipped　a　big　doll　from　his　pack　and　laid　it　in　the　crib。　　The　little　one　smiled；　as　if　it　dreamed　of　the　pretty　plaything　it　was　to　find　on　the　morrow；　and　Claus　crept　softly　from　the　room　and　entered　at　the　other　doorway。

Here　were　two　boys；　fast　asleep　with　their　arms　around　each　other's　neck。　　Claus　gazed　at　them　lovingly　a　moment　and　then　placed　upon　the　bed　a　drum；　two　horns　and　a　wooden　elephant。

He　did　not　linger；　now　that　his　work　in　this　house　was　done；　but　climbed　the　chimney　again　and　seated　himself　on　his　sledge。

〃Can　you　find　another　chimney？〃　he　asked　the　reindeer。

〃Easily　enough；〃　replied　Glossie　and　Flossie。

Down　to　the　edge　of　the　roof　they　raced；　and　then；　without　pausing；　leaped　through　the　air　to　the　top　of　the　next　building；　where　a　huge；　old…fashioned　chimney　stood。

〃Don't　be　so　long；　this　time；〃　called　Flossie；　〃or　we　shall　never　get　back　to　the　Forest　by　daybreak。〃

Claus　made　a　trip　down　this　chimney　also　and　found　five　children　sleeping　in　the　house；　all　of　whom　were　quickly　supplied　with　toys。

When　he　returned　the　deer　sprang　to　the　next　roof；　but　on　descending　the　chimney　Claus　found　no　children　there　at　all。　　That　was　not　often　the　case　in　this　village；　however；　so　he　lost　less　time　than　you　might　suppose　in　visiting　the　dreary　homes　where　there　were　no　little　ones。

When　he　had　climbed　down　the　chimneys　of　all　the　houses　in　that　village；　and　had　left　a　toy　for　every　sleeping　child；　Claus　found　that　his　great　sack　was　not　yet　half　emptied。

〃Onward；　friends！〃　he　called　to　the　deer；　〃we　must　seek　another　village。〃

So　away　they　dashed；　although　it　was　long　past　midnight；　and　in　a　surprisingly　short　time　they　came　to　a　large　city；　the　largest　Claus　had　ever　visited　since　he　began　to　make　toys。　　But；　nothing　daunted　by　the　throng　of　houses；　he　set　to　work　at　once　and　his　beautiful　steeds　carried　him　rapidly　from　one　roof　to　another；　only　the　highest　being　beyond　the　leaps　of　the　agile　deer。

At　last　the　supply　of　toys　was　exhausted　and　Claus　seated　himself　in　the　sledge；　with　the　empty　sack　at　his　feet；　and　turned　the　heads　of　Glossie　and　Flossie　toward　home。

Presently　Flossie　asked：

〃What　is　that　gray　streak　in　the　sky？〃

〃It　is　the　coming　dawn　of　day；〃　answered　Claus；　surprised　to　find　that　it　was　so　late。

〃Good　gracious！〃　exclaimed　Glossie；　〃then　we　shall　not　be　home　by　daybreak；　and　the　Knooks　will　punish　us　and　never　let　us　come　again。〃

〃We　must　race　for　the　Laughing　Valley　and　make　our　best　speed；〃　returned　Flossie；　〃so　hold　fast；　friend　Claus！〃

Claus　held　fast　and　the　next　moment　was　flying　so　swiftly　over　the　snow　that　he　could　not　see　the　trees　as　they　whirled　past。　　Up　hill　and　down　dale；　swift　as　an　arrow　shot　from　a　bow　they　dashed；　and　Claus　shut　his　eyes　to　keep　the　wind　out　of　them　and　left　the　deer　to　find　their　own　way。

It　seemed　to　him　they　were　plunging　through　space；　but　he　was　not　at　all　afraid。　　The　Knooks　were　severe　masters；　and　must　be　obeyed　at　all　hazards；　and　the　gray　streak　in　the　sky　was　growing　brighter　every　moment。

Finally　the　sledge　came　to　a　sudden　stop　and　Claus；　who　was　taken　unawares；　tumbled　from　his　seat　into　a　snowdrift。　　As　he　picked　himself　up　he　heard　the　deer　crying：

〃Quick；　friend；　quick！　　Cut　away　our　harness！〃

He　drew　his　knife　and　rapidly　severed　the　cords；　and　then　he　wiped　the　moisture　from　his　eyes　and　looked　around　him。

The　sledge　had　come　to　a　stop　in　the　Laughing　Valley；　only　a　few　feet；　he　found；　from　his　own　door。　　In　the　East　the　day　was　breaking；　and　turning　to　the　edge　of　Burzee　he　saw　Glossie　and　Flossie　just　disappearing　in　the　Forest。



9。　　〃Santa　Claus！〃


Claus　thought　that　none　of　the　children　would　ever　know　where　the　toys　came　from　which　they　found　by　their　bedsides　when　they　wakened　the　following　morning。　　But　kindly　deeds　are　sure　to　bring　fame；　and　fame　has　many　wings　to　carry　its　tidings　into　far　lands；　so　for　miles　and　miles　in　every　direction　people　were　talking　of　Claus　and　his　wonderful　gifts　to　children。　　The　sweet　generousness　of　his　work　caused　a　few　selfish　folk　to　sneer；　but　even　these　were　forced　to　admit　their　respect　for　a　man　so　gentle…natured　that　he　loved　to　devote　his　life　to　pleasing　the　helpless　little　ones　of　his　race。

Therefore　the　inhabitants　of　every　city　and　village　had　been　eagerly　watching　the　coming　of　Claus；　and　remarkable　stories　of　his　beautiful　playthings　were　told　the　children　to　keep　them　patient　and　contented。

When；　on　the　morning　following　the　first　trip　of　Claus　with　his　deer；　the　little　ones　came　running　to　their　parents　with　the　pretty　toys　they　had　found；　and　asked　from　whence　they　came；　they　was　but　one　reply　to　the　question。

〃The　good　Claus　must　have　been　here；　my　darlings；　for　his　are　the　only　toys　in　all　the　world！〃

〃But　how　did　he　get　in？〃　asked　the　children。

At　this　the　fathers　shook　their　heads；　being　themselves　unable　to　understand　how　Claus　had　gained　admittance　to　their　homes；　but　the　mothers；　watching　the　glad　faces　of　their　dear　ones；　whispered　that　the　good　Claus　was　no　mortal　man　but　assuredly　a　Saint；　and　they　piously　blessed　his　name　for　the　happiness　he　had　bestowed　upon　their　children。

〃A　Saint；〃　said　one；　with　bowed　head；　〃has　no　need　to　unlock　doors　if　it　pleases　him　to　enter　our　homes。〃

And；　afterward；　when　a　child　was　naughty　or　disobedient；　its　mother　would　say：

〃You　must　pray　to　the　good　Santa　Claus　for　forgiveness。　　He　does　not　like　naughty　children；　and；　unless　you　repent；　he　will　bring　you　no　more　pretty　toys。〃

But　Santa　Claus　himself　would　not　have　approved　this　speech。　　He　brought　toys　to　the　children　because　they　were　little　and　helpless；　and　because　he　loved　them。　　He　knew　that　the　best　of　children　were　sometimes　naughty；　and　that　the　naughty　ones　were　often　good。　　It　is　the　way　with　children；　the　world　over；　and　he　would　not　have　changed　their　natures　had　he　possessed　the　power　to　do　so。

And　that　is　how　our　Claus　became　Santa　Claus。　　It　is　possible　for　any　man；　by　good　deeds；　to　enshrine　himself　as　a　Saint　in　the　hearts　of　the　people。



10。　　Christmas　Eve


The　day　that　broke　as　Claus　returned　from　his　night　ride　with　Glossie　and　Flossie　brought　to　him　a　new　trouble。　　Will　Knook；　the　chief　guardian　of　the　deer；　came　to　him；　surly　and　ill…tempered；　to　complain　that　he　had　kept　Glossie　and　Flossie　beyond　daybreak；　in　opposition　to　his　orders。

〃Yet　it　could　not　have　been　very　long　after　daybreak；〃　said　Claus。

〃It　was　one　minute　after；〃　answered　Will　Knook；　〃and　that　is　as　bad　as　one　hour。　　I　shall　set　the　stinging　gnats　on　Glossie　and　Flossie；　and　they　will　thus　suffer　terribly　for　their　disobedience。〃

〃Don't　do　that！〃　begged　Claus。　　〃It　was　my　fault。〃

But　Will　Knook　would　listen　to　no　excuses；　and　went　away　grumbling　and　growling　in　his　ill…natured　way。

For　this　reason　Claus　entered　the　Forest　to　consult　Necile　about　rescuing　the　good　deer　from　punishment。　　To　his　delight　he　found　his　old　friend；　the　Master　Woodsman；　seated　in　the　circle　of　Nymphs。

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