the life and adventures of santa clause-第6章

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ing　old　and　her　teeth　were　beginning　to　fall　out；　while　the　hairs　that　tipped　her　ears　and　tail　had　changed　from　tawny…yellow　to　white。

Claus　found　her　lying　on　his　hearth；　and　he　put　his　arms　around　the　neck　of　the　lioness　and　hugged　her　lovingly。　　The　cat　had　retired　into　a　far　corner。　　She　did　not　care　to　associate　with　Shiegra。

Claus　told　his　old　friend　about　the　cats　he　had　made；　and　how　much　pleasure　they　had　given　Weekum　and　the　sick　girl。　　Shiegra　did　not　know　much　about　children；　indeed；　if　she　met　a　child　she　could　scarcely　be　trusted　not　to　devour　it。　　But　she　was　interested　in　Claus'　new　labors；　and　said：

〃These　images　seem　to　me　very　attractive。　　Yet　I　can　not　see　why　you　should　make　cats；　which　are　very　unimportant　animals。　　Suppose；　now　that　I　am　here；　you　make　the　image　of　a　lioness；　the　Queen　of　all　beasts。　　Then；　indeed；　your　children　will　be　happyand　safe　at　the　same　time！〃

Claus　thought　this　was　a　good　suggestion。　　So　he　got　a　piece　of　wood　and　sharpened　his　knife；　while　Shiegra　crouched　upon　the　hearth　at　his　feet。　　With　much　care　he　carved　the　head　in　the　likeness　of　the　lioness；　even　to　the　two　fierce　teeth　that　curved　over　her　lower　lip　and　the　deep；　frowning　lines　above　her　wide…open　eyes。

When　it　was　finished　he　said：

〃You　have　a　terrible　look；　Shiegra。〃

〃Then　the　image　is　like　me；〃　she　answered；　〃for　I　am　indeed　terrible　to　all　who　are　not　my　friends。〃

Claus　now　carved　out　the　body；　with　Shiegra's　long　tail　trailing　behind　it。　　The　image　of　the　crouching　lioness　was　very　life…like。

〃It　pleases　me；〃　said　Shiegra；　yawning　and　stretching　her　body　gracefully。　　〃Now　I　will　watch　while　you　paint。〃

He　brought　the　paints　the　Ryls　had　given　him　from　the　cupboard　and　colored　the　image　to　resemble　the　real　Shiegra。

The　lioness　placed　her　big；　padded　paws　upon　the　edge　of　the　table　and　raised　herself　while　she　carefully　examined　the　toy　that　was　her　likeness。

〃You　are　indeed　skillful！〃　she　said；　proudly。　　〃The　children　will　like　that　better　than　cats；　I'm　sure。〃

Then　snarling　at　Blinkie；　who　arched　her　back　in　terror　and　whined　fearfully；　she　walked　away　toward　her　forest　home　with　stately　strides。



4。　　How　Little　Mayrie　Became　Frightened


The　winter　was　over　now；　and　all　the　Laughing　Valley　was　filled　with　joyous　excitement。　　The　brook　was　so　happy　at　being　free　once　again　that　it　gurgled　more　boisterously　than　ever　and　dashed　so　recklessly　against　the　rocks　that　it　sent　showers　of　spray　high　in　the　air。　　The　grass　thrust　its　sharp　little　blades　upward　through　the　mat　of　dead　stalks　where　it　had　hidden　from　the　snow；　but　the　flowers　were　yet　too　timid　to　show　themselves；　although　the　Ryls　were　busy　feeding　their　roots。　　The　sun　was　in　remarkably　good　humor；　and　sent　his　rays　dancing　merrily　throughout　the　Valley。

Claus　was　eating　his　dinner　one　day　when　he　heard　a　timid　knock　on　his　door。

〃Come　in！〃　he　called。

No　one　entered；　but　after　a　pause　came　another　rapping。

Claus　jumped　up　and　threw　open　the　door。　　Before　him　stood　a　small　girl　holding　a　smaller　brother　fast　by　the　hand。

〃Is　you　Tlaus？〃　she　asked；　shyly。

〃Indeed　I　am；　my　dear！〃　he　answered；　with　a　laugh；　as　he　caught　both　children　in　his　arms　and　kissed　them。　　〃You　are　very　welcome；　and　you　have　come　just　in　time　to　share　my　dinner。〃

He　took　them　to　the　table　and　fed　them　with　fresh　milk　and　nut…cakes。　When　they　had　eaten　enough　he　asked：

〃Why　have　you　made　this　long　journey　to　see　me？〃

〃I　wants　a　tat！〃　replied　little　Mayrie；　and　her　brother；　who　had　not　yet　learned　to　speak　many　words；　nodded　his　head　and　exclaimed　like　an　echo：　〃Tat！〃

〃Oh；　you　want　my　toy　cats；　do　you？〃　returned　Claus；　greatly　pleased　to　discover　that　his　creations　were　so　popular　with　children。

The　little　visitors　nodded　eagerly。

〃Unfortunately；〃　he　continued；　〃I　have　but　one　cat　now　ready；　for　I　carried　two　to　children　in　the　town　yesterday。　　And　the　one　I　have　shall　be　given　to　your　brother；　Mayrie；　because　he　is　the　smaller；　and　the　next　one　I　make　shall　be　for　you。〃

The　boy's　face　was　bright　with　smiles　as　he　took　the　precious　toy　Claus　held　out　to　him；　but　little　Mayrie　covered　her　face　with　her　arm　and　began　to　sob　grievously。

〃III　wants　a　tttat　now！〃　she　wailed。

Her　disappointment　made　Claus　feel　miserable　for　a　moment。　　Then　he　suddenly　remembered　Shiegra。

〃Don't　cry；　darling！〃　he　said；　soothingly；　〃I　have　a　toy　much　nicer　than　a　cat；　and　you　shall　have　that。〃

He　went　to　the　cupboard　and　drew　out　the　image　of　the　lioness；　which　he　placed　on　the　table　before　Mayrie。

The　girl　raised　her　arm　and　gave　one　glance　at　the　fierce　teeth　and　glaring　eyes　of　the　beast；　and　then；　uttering　a　terrified　scream；　she　rushed　from　the　house。　　The　boy　followed　her；　also　screaming　lustily；　and　even　dropping　his　precious　cat　in　his　fear。

For　a　moment　Claus　stood　motionless；　being　puzzled　and　astonished。　Then　he　threw　Shiegra's　image　into　the　cupboard　and　ran　after　the　children；　calling　to　them　not　to　be　frightened。

Little　Mayrie　stopped　in　her　flight　and　her　brother　clung　to　her　skirt；　but　they　both　cast　fearful　glances　at　the　house　until　Claus　had　assured　them　many　times　that　the　beast　had　been　locked　in　the　cupboard。

〃Yet　why　were　you　frightened　at　seeing　it？〃　he　asked。　　〃It　is　only　a　toy　to　play　with！〃

〃It's　bad！〃　said　Mayrie；　decidedly；　〃an'an'just　horrid；　an'　not　a　bit　nice；　like　tats！〃

〃Perhaps　you　are　right；〃　returned　Claus；　thoughtfully。　　〃But　if　you　will　return　with　me　to　the　house　I　will　soon　make　you　a　pretty　cat。〃

So　they　timidly　entered　the　house　again；　having　faith　in　their　friend's　words；　and　afterward　they　had　the　joy　of　watching　Claus　carve　out　a　cat　from　a　bit　of　wood　and　paint　it　in　natural　colors。　　It　did　not　take　him　long　to　do　this；　for　he　had　become　skillful　with　his　knife　by　this　time；　and　Mayrie　loved　her　toy　the　more　dearly　because　she　had　seen　it　made。

After　his　little　visitors　had　trotted　away　on　their　journey　homeward　Claus　sat　long　in　deep　thought。　　And　he　then　decided　that　such　fierce　creatures　as　his　friend　the　lioness　would　never　do　as　models　from　which　to　fashion　his　toys。

〃There　must　be　nothing　to　frighten　the　dear　babies；〃　he　reflected；　〃and　while　I　know　Shiegra　well；　and　am　not　afraid　of　her；　it　is　but　natural　that　children　should　look　upon　her　image　with　terror。　Hereafter　I　will　choose　such　mild…mannered　animals　as　squirrels　and　rabbits　and　deer　and　lambkins　from　which　to　carve　my　toys；　for　then　the　little　ones　will　love　rather　than　fear　them。〃

He　began　his　work　that　very　day；　and　before　bedtime　had　made　a　wooden　rabbit　and　a　lamb。　　They　were　not　quite　so　lifelike　as　the　cats　had　been；　because　they　were　formed　from　memory；　while　Blinkie　had　sat　very　still　for　Claus　to　look　at　while　he　worked。

But　the　new　toys　pleased　the　children　nevertheless；　and　the　fame　of　Claus'　playthings　quickly　spread　to　every　cottage　on　plain　and　in　village。　　He　always　carried　his　gifts　to　the　sick　or　crippled　children；　but　those　who　were　strong　enough　walked　to　the　house　in　the　Valley　to　ask　for　them；　so　a　little　path　was　soon　worn　from　the　plain　to　the　door　of　the　toy…maker's　cottage。

First　came　the　children　who　had　been　playmates　of　Claus；　before　he　began　to　make　toys。　　These；　you　may　be　sure；　were　well　supplied。　　Then　children　who　lived　farther　away　heard　of　the　wonderful　images　and　made　journeys　to　the　Valley　to　secure　them。　　All　little　ones　were　welcome；　and　never　a　one　went　away　empty…handed。

This　demand　for　his　handiwork　kept　Claus　busily　occupied；　but　he　was　quite　happy　in　knowing　the　pleasure　he　gave　to　so　many　of　the　dear　children。　　His　friends　the　immortals　were　pleased　with　his　success　and　supported　him　bravely。

The　Knooks　selected　for　him　clear　pieces　of　soft　wood；　that　his　knife　might　not　be　blunted　in　cutting　them；　the　Ryls　kept　him　supplied　with　paints　of　all　colors　and　brushes　fashioned　from　the　tips　of　timothy　grasses；　the　Fairies　discovered　that　the　workman　needed　saws　and　chisels　and　hammers　and　nails；　as　well　as　knives；　and　brought　him　a　goodly　array　of　such　tools。

Claus　soon　turned　his　living　room　into　a　most　wonderful　workshop。　　He　built　a　bench　before　the　window；　and　arranged　his　tools　and　paints　so　that　he　could　reach　everything　as　he　sat　on　his　stool。　　And　as　he　finished　toy　after　toy　to　delight　the　hearts　of　little　children　he　found　himself　growing　so　gay　and　happy　that　he　could　not　refrain　from　singing　and　laughing　and　whistling　all　the　day　long。

〃It's　because　I　live　in　the　Laughing　Valley；　where　everything　else　laughs！〃　said　Claus。

But　that　was　not　the　reason。



5。　　How　Bessie　Blithesome　Came　to　the　Laughing　Valley


One　day；　as　Claus　sat　before　his　door　to　enjoy　the　sunshine　while　he　busily　carved　the　head　and　horns　of　a　toy　deer；　he　looked　up　and　discovered　a　glittering　cavalcade　of　horsemen　approaching　through　the　Valley。

When　they　drew　nearer　he　saw　that　the　band　consisted　of　a　score　of　men…at…arms；　clad　in　bright　armor　and　bearing　in　their　hands　spears　and　battle…axes。　　In　front　of　these　rode　little　Bessie　Blithesome；　the　pretty　daughter　of　that　proud　Lord　of　Lerd　who　had　once　driven　Claus　from　his　palace。　　Her　palfrey　was　pure　white；　its　bridle　was　covered　with　glittering　gems；　and　its　saddle　draped　with　cloth　of　gold；　richly　broidered。　　The　soldiers　were　sent　to　protect　her　from　harm　while　she　journeyed。

Claus　was　surprised；　but　he　continued　to　whittle　and　to　sing　until　the　cavalcade　drew　up　before　him。　　Then　the　little　girl　leaned　over　the　neck　of　her　palfrey　and　said：

〃Please；　Mr。　Claus；　I　want　a　toy！〃

Her　voice　was　so　pleading　that　Claus　jumped　up　at　once　and　stood　beside　her。　　But　he　was　puzzled　how　to　answer　her　request。

〃You　are　a　rich　lord's　daughter；〃　said　he；　〃and　have　all　that　you　desire。〃

〃Except　toys；〃　added　Bessie。　　〃There　are　no　toys　in　all　the　world　but　yours。〃

〃And　I　make　them　for　the　poor　children；　who　have　nothing　else　to　amuse　them；〃　continued　Claus。

〃Do　poor　children　love　to　play　with　toys　more　than　rich　ones？〃　asked　Bessie。

〃I　suppose　not；〃　said　Claus；　thoughtfully。

〃Am　I　to　blame　because　my　father　is　a　lord？　　Must　I　be　denied　the　pretty　toys　I　long　for　because　other　children　are　poorer　than　I？〃　she　inquired　earnestly。

〃I'm　afraid　you　must；　dear；〃　he　answered；　〃for　the　poor　have　nothing　else　with　which　to　amuse　themselves。　　You　have　your　pony　to　ride；　your　servants　to　wait　on　you；　and　every　comfort　that　money　can　procure。〃

〃But　I　want　toys！〃　cried　Bessie；　wiping　away　the　tears　that　forced　themselves　into　her　eyes。　　〃If　I　can　not　have　them；　I　shall　be　very　unhappy。〃

Claus　was　troubled；　for　her　grief　recalled　to　him　the　thought　that　his　desire　was　to　make　all　children　happy；　without　regard　to　their　condition　in　life。　　Yet；　while　so　many　poor　children　were　clamoring　for　his　toys　he　could　not　bear　to　give　one　to　them　to　Bessie　Blithesome；　who　had　so　much　already　to　make　her　happy。

〃Listen；　my　child；〃　said　he；　gently；　〃all　the　toys　I　am　now　making　are　promised　to　others。　　But　the　next　shall　be　yours；　since　your　heart　so　longs　for　it。　　Come　to　me　again　in　two　days　and　it　shall　be　ready　for　you。〃

Bessie　gave　a　cry　of　delight；　and　leaning　over　her　pony's　neck　she　kissed　Claus　prettily　upon　his　forehead。　　Then；　calling　to　her　men…at…arms；　she　rode　gaily　awa