the life and adventures of santa clause-第11章

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of　Nymphs。

Ak　listened　to　the　story　of　the　night　journey　to　the　children　and　of　the　great　assistance　the　deer　had　been　to　Claus　by　drawing　his　sledge　over　the　frozen　snow。

〃I　do　not　wish　my　friends　to　be　punished　if　I　can　save　them；〃　said　the　toy…maker；　when　he　had　finished　the　relation。　　〃They　were　only　one　minute　late；　and　they　ran　swifter　than　a　bird　flies　to　get　home　before　daybreak。〃

Ak　stroked　his　beard　thoughtfully　a　moment；　and　then　sent　for　the　Prince　of　the　Knooks；　who　rules　all　his　people　in　Burzee；　and　also　for　the　Queen　of　the　Fairies　and　the　Prince　of　the　Ryls。

When　all　had　assembled　Claus　told　his　story　again；　at　Ak's　command；　and　then　the　Master　addressed　the　Prince　of　the　Knooks；　saying：

〃The　good　work　that　Claus　is　doing　among　mankind　deserves　the　support　of　every　honest　immortal。　　Already　he　is　called　a　Saint　in　some　of　the　towns；　and　before　long　the　name　of　Santa　Claus　will　be　lovingly　known　in　every　home　that　is　blessed　with　children。　　Moreover；　he　is　a　son　of　our　Forest；　so　we　owe　him　our　encouragement。　　You；　Ruler　of　the　Knooks；　have　known　him　these　many　years；　am　I　not　right　in　saying　he　deserves　our　friendship？〃

The　Prince；　crooked　and　sour　of　visage　as　all　Knooks　are；　looked　only　upon　the　dead　leaves　at　his　feet　and　muttered：　〃You　are　the　Master　Woodsman　of　the　World！〃

Ak　smiled；　but　continued；　in　soft　tones：　〃It　seems　that　the　deer　which　are　guarded　by　your　people　can　be　of　great　assistance　to　Claus；　and　as　they　seem　willing　to　draw　his　sledge　I　beg　that　you　will　permit　him　to　use　their　services　whenever　he　pleases。〃

The　Prince　did　not　reply；　but　tapped　the　curled　point　of　his　sandal　with　the　tip　of　his　spear；　as　if　in　thought。

Then　the　Fairy　Queen　spoke　to　him　in　this　way：　〃If　you　consent　to　Ak's　request　I　will　see　that　no　harm　comes　to　your　deer　while　they　are　away　from　the　Forest。〃

And　the　Prince　of　the　Ryls　added：　〃For　my　part　I　will　allow　to　every　deer　that　assists　Claus　the　privilege　of　eating　my　casa　plants；　which　give　strength；　and　my　grawle　plants；　which　give　fleetness　of　foot；　and　my　marbon　plants；　which　give　long　life。〃

And　the　Queen　of　the　Nymphs　said：　〃The　deer　which　draw　the　sledge　of　Claus　will　be　permitted　to　bathe　in　the　Forest　pool　of　Nares；　which　will　give　them　sleek　coats　and　wonderful　beauty。〃

The　Prince　of　the　Knooks；　hearing　these　promises；　shifted　uneasily　on　his　seat；　for　in　his　heart　he　hated　to　refuse　a　request　of　his　fellow　immortals；　although　they　were　asking　an　unusual　favor　at　his　hands；　and　the　Knooks　are　unaccustomed　to　granting　favors　of　any　kind。　Finally　he　turned　to　his　servants　and　said：

〃Call　Will　Knook。〃

When　surly　Will　came　and　heard　the　demands　of　the　immortals　he　protested　loudly　against　granting　them。

〃Deer　are　deer；〃　said　he；　〃and　nothing　but　deer。　　Were　they　horses　it　would　be　right　to　harness　them　like　horses。　　But　no　one　harnesses　deer　because　they　are　free；　wild　creatures；　owing　no　service　of　any　sort　to　mankind。　　It　would　degrade　my　deer　to　labor　for　Claus；　who　is　only　a　man　in　spite　of　the　friendship　lavished　on　him　by　the　immortals。〃

〃You　have　heard；〃　said　the　Prince　to　Ak。　　〃There　is　truth　in　what　Will　says。〃

〃Call　Glossie　and　Flossie；〃　returned　the　Master。

The　deer　were　brought　to　the　conference　and　Ak　asked　them　if　they　objected　to　drawing　the　sledge　for　Claus。

〃No；　indeed！〃　replied　Glossie；　〃we　enjoyed　the　trip　very　much。〃

〃And　we　tried　to　get　home　by　daybreak；〃　added　Flossie；　〃but　were　unfortunately　a　minute　too　late。〃

〃A　minute　lost　at　daybreak　doesn't　matter；〃　said　Ak。　　〃You　are　forgiven　for　that　delay。〃

〃Provided　it　does　not　happen　again；〃　said　the　Prince　of　the　Knooks；　sternly。

〃And　will　you　permit　them　to　make　another　journey　with　me？〃　asked　Claus；　eagerly。

The　Prince　reflected　while　he　gazed　at　Will；　who　was　scowling；　and　at　the　Master　Woodsman；　who　was　smiling。

Then　he　stood　up　and　addressed　the　company　as　follows：

〃Since　you　all　urge　me　to　grant　the　favor　I　will　permit　the　deer　to　go　with　Claus　once　every　year；　on　Christmas　Eve；　provided　they　always　return　to　the　Forest　by　daybreak。　　He　may　select　any　number　he　pleases；　up　to　ten；　to　draw　his　sledge；　and　those　shall　be　known　among　us　as　Reindeer；　to　distinguish　them　from　the　others。　　And　they　shall　bathe　in　the　Pool　of　Nares；　and　eat　the　casa　and　grawle　and　marbon　plants　and　shall　be　under　the　especial　protection　of　the　Fairy　Queen。　And　now　cease　scowling；　Will　Knook；　for　my　words　shall　be　obeyed！〃

He　hobbled　quickly　away　through　the　trees；　to　avoid　the　thanks　of　Claus　and　the　approval　of　the　other　immortals；　and　Will；　looking　as　cross　as　ever；　followed　him。

But　Ak　was　satisfied；　knowing　that　he　could　rely　on　the　promise　of　the　Prince；　however　grudgingly　given；　and　Glossie　and　Flossie　ran　home；　kicking　up　their　heels　delightedly　at　every　step。

〃When　is　Christmas　Eve？〃　Claus　asked　the　Master。

〃In　about　ten　days；〃　he　replied。

〃Then　I　can　not　use　the　deer　this　year；〃　said　Claus；　thoughtfully；　〃for　I　shall　not　have　time　enough　to　make　my　sackful　of　toys。〃

〃The　shrewd　Prince　foresaw　that；〃　responded　Ak；　〃and　therefore　named　Christmas　Eve　as　the　day　you　might　use　the　deer；　knowing　it　would　cause　you　to　lose　an　entire　year。〃

〃If　I　only　had　the　toys　the　Awgwas　stole　from　me；〃　said　Claus；　sadly；　〃I　could　easily　fill　my　sack　for　the　children。〃

〃Where　are　they？〃　asked　the　Master。

〃I　do　not　know；〃　replied　Claus；　〃but　the　wicked　Awgwas　probably　hid　them　in　the　mountains。〃

Ak　turned　to　the　Fairy　Queen。

〃Can　you　find　them？〃　he　asked。

〃I　will　try；〃　she　replied；　brightly。

Then　Claus　went　back　to　the　Laughing　Valley；　to　work　as　hard　as　he　could；　and　a　band　of　Fairies　immediately　flew　to　the　mountain　that　had　been　haunted　by　the　Awgwas　and　began　a　search　for　the　stolen　toys。

The　Fairies；　as　we　well　know；　possess　wonderful　powers；　but　the　cunning　Awgwas　had　hidden　the　toys　in　a　deep　cave　and　covered　the　opening　with　rocks；　so　no　one　could　look　in。　　Therefore　all　search　for　the　missing　playthings　proved　in　vain　for　several　days；　and　Claus；　who　sat　at　home　waiting　for　news　from　the　Fairies；　almost　despaired　of　getting　the　toys　before　Christmas　Eve。

He　worked　hard　every　moment；　but　it　took　considerable　time　to　carve　out　and　to　shape　each　toy　and　to　paint　it　properly；　so　that　on　the　morning　before　Christmas　Eve　only　half　of　one　small　shelf　above　the　window　was　filled　with　playthings　ready　for　the　children。

But　on　this　morning　the　Fairies　who　were　searching　in　the　mountains　had　a　new　thought。　　They　joined　hands　and　moved　in　a　straight　line　through　the　rocks　that　formed　the　mountain；　beginning　at　the　topmost　peak　and　working　downward；　so　that　no　spot　could　be　missed　by　their　bright　eyes。　　And　at　last　they　discovered　the　cave　where　the　toys　had　been　heaped　up　by　the　wicked　Awgwas。

It　did　not　take　them　long　to　burst　open　the　mouth　of　the　cave；　and　then　each　one　seized　as　many　toys　as　he　could　carry　and　they　all　flew　to　Claus　and　laid　the　treasure　before　him。

The　good　man　was　rejoiced　to　receive；　just　in　the　nick　of　time；　such　a　store　of　playthings　with　which　to　load　his　sledge；　and　he　sent　word　to　Glossie　and　Flossie　to　be　ready　for　the　journey　at　nightfall。

With　all　his　other　labors　he　had　managed　to　find　time；　since　the　last　trip；　to　repair　the　harness　and　to　strengthen　his　sledge；　so　that　when　the　deer　came　to　him　at　twilight　he　had　no　difficulty　in　harnessing　them。

〃We　must　go　in　another　direction　to…night；〃　he　told　them；　〃where　we　shall　find　children　I　have　never　yet　visited。　　And　we　must　travel　fast　and　work　quickly；　for　my　sack　is　full　of　toys　and　running　over　the　brim！〃

So；　just　as　the　moon　arose；　they　dashed　out　of　the　Laughing　Valley　and　across　the　plain　and　over　the　hills　to　the　south。　　The　air　was　sharp　and　frosty　and　the　starlight　touched　the　snowflakes　and　made　them　glitter　like　countless　diamonds。　　The　reindeer　leaped　onward　with　strong；　steady　bounds；　and　Claus'　heart　was　so　light　and　merry　that　he　laughed　and　sang　while　the　wind　whistled　past　his　ears：


　　　〃With　a　ho；　ho；　ho！　　　　　And　a　ha；　ha；　ha！　And　a　ho；　ho！　ha；　ha；　hee！　　　　　Now　away　we　go　　　　　O'er　the　frozen　snow；　As　merry　as　we　can　be！〃


Jack　Frost　heard　him　and　came　racing　up　with　his　nippers；　but　when　he　saw　it　was　Claus　he　laughed　and　turned　away　again。

The　mother　owls　heard　him　as　he　passed　near　a　wood　and　stuck　their　heads　out　of　the　hollow　places　in　the　tree…trunks；　but　when　they　saw　who　it　was　they　whispered　to　the　owlets　nestling　near　them　that　it　was　only　Santa　Claus　carrying　toys　to　the　children。　　It　is　strange　how　much　those　mother　owls　know。

Claus　stopped　at　some　of　the　scattered　farmhouses　and　climbed　down　the　chimneys　to　leave　presents　for　the　babies。　　Soon　after　he　reached　a　village　and　worked　merrily　for　an　hour　distributing　playthings　among　the　sleeping　little　ones。　　Then　away　again　he　went；　signing　his　joyous　carol：


　　　〃Now　away　we　go　　　　　O'er　the　gleaming　snow；　While　the　deer　run　swift　and　free！　　　　　For　to　girls　and　boys　　　　　We　carry　the　toys　That　will　fill　their　hearts　with　glee！〃


The　deer　liked　the　sound　of　his　deep　bass　voice　and　kept　time　to　the　song　with　their　hoofbeats　on　the　hard　snow；　but　soon　they　stopped　at　another　chimney　and　Santa　Claus；　with　sparkling　eyes　and　face　brushed　red　by　the　wind；　climbed　down　its　smoky　sides　and　left　a　present　for　every　child　the　house　contained。

It　was　a　merry；　happy　night。　　Swiftly　the　deer　ran；　and　busily　their　driver　worked　to　scatter　his　gifts　among　the　sleeping　children。

But　the　sack　was　empty　at　last；　and　the　sledge　headed　homeward；　and　now　again　the　race　with　daybreak　began。　　Glossie　and　Flossie　had　no　mind　to　be　rebuked　a　second　time　for　tardiness；　so　they　fled　with　a　swiftness　that　enabled　them　to　pass　the　gale　on　which　the　Frost　King　rode；　and　soon　brought　them　to　the　Laughing　Valley。

It　is　true　when　Claus　released　his　steeds　from　their　harness　the　eastern　sky　was　streaked　with　gray；　but　Glossie　and　Flossie　were　deep　in　the　Forest　before　day　fairly　broke。

Claus　was　so　wearied　with　his　night's　work　that　he　threw　himself　upon　his　bed　and　fell　into　a　deep　slumber；　and　while　he　slept　the　Christmas　sun　appeared　in　the　sky　and　shone　upon　hundreds　of　happy　homes　where　the　sound　of　childish　laughter　proclaimed　that　Santa　Claus　had　made　them　a　visit。

God　bless　him！　　It　was　his　first　Christmas　Eve；　and　for　hundreds　of　years　since　then　he　has　nobly　fulfilled　his　mission　to　bring　happiness　to　the　hearts　of　little　children。



11。　　How　the　First　Stockings　Were　Hung　by　the　Chimneys


When　you　remember　that　no　child；　until　Santa　Claus　began　his　travels；　had　ever　known　the　pleasure　of　possessing　a　toy；　you　will　understand　how　joy　crept　into　the　homes　of　those　who　had　been　favored　with　a　visit　from　the　good　man；　and　how　they　talked　of　him　day　by　day　in　loving　tones　and　were　honestly　grateful　for　his　kindly　deeds。　　It　is　true　that　great　warriors　and　mighty　kings　and　clever　scholars　of　that　day　were　often　spoken　of　by　the　people；　but　no　one　of　them　was　so　greatly　beloved　as　Santa　Claus；　because　none　other　was　so　unselfish　as　to　devote　himself　to　making　others　happy。　　For　a　generous　deed　lives　longer　than　a　great　battle　or　a　king's　decree　of　a　scholar's　essay；　because　it　spreads　and　leaves　its　mark　on　all　nature　and　endures　throug