the life and adventures of santa clause-第7章

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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　away；　leaving　Claus　to　resume　his　work。

〃If　I　am　to　supply　the　rich　children　as　well　as　the　poor　ones；〃　he　thought；　〃I　shall　not　have　a　spare　moment　in　the　whole　year！　　But　is　it　right　I　should　give　to　the　rich？　　Surely　I　must　go　to　Necile　and　talk　with　her　about　this　matter。〃

So　when　he　had　finished　the　toy　deer；　which　was　very　like　a　deer　he　had　known　in　the　Forest　glades；　he　walked　into　Burzee　and　made　his　way　to　the　bower　of　the　beautiful　Nymph　Necile；　who　had　been　his　foster　mother。

She　greeted　him　tenderly　and　lovingly；　listening　with　interest　to　his　story　of　the　visit　of　Bessie　Blithesome。

〃And　now　tell　me；〃　said　he；　〃shall　I　give　toys　to　rich　children？〃

〃We　of　the　Forest　know　nothing　of　riches；〃　she　replied。　　〃It　seems　to　me　that　one　child　is　like　another　child；　since　they　are　all　made　of　the　same　clay；　and　that　riches　are　like　a　gown；　which　may　be　put　on　or　taken　away；　leaving　the　child　unchanged。　　But　the　Fairies　are　guardians　of　mankind；　and　know　mortal　children　better　than　I。　　Let　us　call　the　Fairy　Queen。〃

This　was　done；　and　the　Queen　of　the　Fairies　sat　beside　them　and　heard　Claus　relate　his　reasons　for　thinking　the　rich　children　could　get　along　without　his　toys；　and　also　what　the　Nymph　had　said。

〃Necile　is　right；〃　declared　the　Queen；　〃for；　whether　it　be　rich　or　poor；　a　child's　longings　for　pretty　playthings　are　but　natural。　　Rich　Bessie's　heart　may　suffer　as　much　grief　as　poor　Mayrie's；　she　can　be　just　as　lonely　and　discontented；　and　just　as　gay　and　happy。　　I　think；　friend　Claus；　it　is　your　duty　to　make　all　little　ones　glad；　whether　they　chance　to　live　in　palaces　or　in　cottages。〃

〃Your　words　are　wise；　fair　Queen；〃　replied　Claus；　〃and　my　heart　tells　me　they　are　as　just　as　they　are　wise。　　Hereafter　all　children　may　claim　my　services。〃

Then　he　bowed　before　the　gracious　Fairy　and；　kissing　Necile's　red　lips；　went　back　into　his　Valley。

At　the　brook　he　stopped　to　drink；　and　afterward　he　sat　on　the　bank　and　took　a　piece　of　moist　clay　in　his　hands　while　he　thought　what　sort　of　toy　he　should　make　for　Bessie　Blithesome。　　He　did　not　notice　that　his　fingers　were　working　the　clay　into　shape　until；　glancing　downward；　he　found　he　had　unconsciously　formed　a　head　that　bore　a　slight　resemblance　to　the　Nymph　Necile！

At　once　he　became　interested。　　Gathering　more　of　the　clay　from　the　bank　he　carried　it　to　his　house。　　Then；　with　the　aid　of　his　knife　and　a　bit　of　wood　he　succeeded　in　working　the　clay　into　the　image　of　a　toy　nymph。　　With　skillful　strokes　he　formed　long；　waving　hair　on　the　head　and　covered　the　body　with　a　gown　of　oakleaves；　while　the　two　feet　sticking　out　at　the　bottom　of　the　gown　were　clad　in　sandals。

But　the　clay　was　soft；　and　Claus　found　he　must　handle　it　gently　to　avoid　ruining　his　pretty　work。

〃Perhaps　the　rays　of　the　sun　will　draw　out　the　moisture　and　cause　the　clay　to　become　hard；〃　he　thought。　　So　he　laid　the　image　on　a　flat　board　and　placed　it　in　the　glare　of　the　sun。

This　done；　he　went　to　his　bench　and　began　painting　the　toy　deer；　and　soon　he　became　so　interested　in　the　work　that　he　forgot　all　about　the　clay　nymph。　　But　next　morning；　happening　to　notice　it　as　it　lay　on　the　board；　he　found　the　sun　had　baked　it　to　the　hardness　of　stone；　and　it　was　strong　enough　to　be　safely　handled。

Claus　now　painted　the　nymph　with　great　care　in　the　likeness　of　Necile；　giving　it　deep…blue　eyes；　white　teeth；　rosy　lips　and　ruddy…brown　hair。　The　gown　he　colored　oak…leaf　green；　and　when　the　paint　was　dry　Claus　himself　was　charmed　with　the　new　toy。　　Of　course　it　was　not　nearly　so　lovely　as　the　real　Necile；　but；　considering　the　material　of　which　it　was　made；　Claus　thought　it　was　very　beautiful。

When　Bessie；　riding　upon　her　white　palfrey；　came　to　his　dwelling　next　day；　Claus　presented　her　with　the　new　toy。　　The　little　girl's　eyes　were　brighter　than　ever　as　she　examined　the　pretty　image；　and　she　loved　it　at　once；　and　held　it　close　to　her　breast；　as　a　mother　does　to　her　child。

〃What　is　it　called；　Claus？〃　she　asked。

Now　Claus　knew　that　Nymphs　do　not　like　to　be　spoken　of　by　mortals；　so　he　could　not　tell　Bessie　it　was　an　image　of　Necile　he　had　given　her。　But　as　it　was　a　new　toy　he　searched　his　mind　for　a　new　name　to　call　it　by；　and　the　first　word　he　thought　of　he　decided　would　do　very　well。

〃It　is　called　a　dolly；　my　dear；〃　he　said　to　Bessie。

〃I　shall　call　the　dolly　my　baby；〃　returned　Bessie；　kissing　it　fondly；　〃and　I　shall　tend　it　and　care　for　it　just　as　Nurse　cares　for　me。　Thank　you　very　much；　Claus；　your　gift　has　made　me　happier　than　I　have　ever　been　before！〃

Then　she　rode　away；　hugging　the　toy　in　her　arms；　and　Claus；　seeing　her　delight；　thought　he　would　make　another　dolly；　better　and　more　natural　than　the　first。

He　brought　more　clay　from　the　brook；　and　remembering　that　Bessie　had　called　the　dolly　her　baby　he　resolved　to　form　this　one　into　a　baby's　image。　　That　was　no　difficult　task　to　the　clever　workman；　and　soon　the　baby　dolly　was　lying　on　the　board　and　placed　in　the　sun　to　dry。　　Then；　with　the　clay　that　was　left；　he　began　to　make　an　image　of　Bessie　Blithesome　herself。

This　was　not　so　easy；　for　he　found　he　could　not　make　the　silken　robe　of　the　lord's　daughter　out　of　the　common　clay。　　So　he　called　the　Fairies　to　his　aid；　and　asked　them　to　bring　him　colored　silks　with　which　to　make　a　real　dress　for　the　clay　image。　　The　Fairies　set　off　at　once　on　their　errand；　and　before　nightfall　they　returned　with　a　generous　supply　of　silks　and　laces　and　golden　threads。

Claus　now　became　impatient　to　complete　his　new　dolly；　and　instead　of　waiting　for　the　next　day's　sun　he　placed　the　clay　image　upon　his　hearth　and　covered　it　over　with　glowing　coals。　　By　morning；　when　he　drew　the　dolly　from　the　ashes；　it　had　baked　as　hard　as　if　it　had　lain　a　full　day　in　the　hot　sun。

Now　our　Claus　became　a　dressmaker　as　well　as　a　toymaker。　　He　cut　the　lavender　silk；　and　nearly　sewed　it　into　a　beautiful　gown　that　just　fitted　the　new　dolly。　　And　he　put　a　lace　collar　around　its　neck　and　pink　silk　shoes　on　its　feet。　　The　natural　color　of　baked　clay　is　a　light　gray；　but　Claus　painted　the　face　to　resemble　the　color　of　flesh；　and　he　gave　the　dolly　Bessie's　brown　eyes　and　golden　hair　and　rosy　cheeks。

It　was　really　a　beautiful　thing　to　look　upon；　and　sure　to　bring　joy　to　some　childish　heart。　　While　Claus　was　admiring　it　he　heard　a　knock　at　his　door；　and　little　Mayrie　entered。　　Her　face　was　sad　and　her　eyes　red　with　continued　weeping。

〃Why；　what　has　grieved　you；　my　dear？〃　asked　Claus；　taking　the　child　in　his　arms。

〃I'veI'vebwoke　my　tat！〃　sobbed　Mayrie。

〃How？〃　he　inquired；　his　eyes　twinkling。

〃II　dwopped　him；　an'　bwoke　off　him's　tail；　an'an'then　I　dwopped　him　an'　bwoke　off　him's　ear！　　An'an'　now　him's　all　spoilt！〃

Claus　laughed。

〃Never　mind；　Mayrie　dear；〃　he　said。　　〃How　would　you　like　this　new　dolly；　instead　of　a　cat？〃

Mayrie　looked　at　the　silk…robed　dolly　and　her　eyes　grew　big　with　astonishment。

〃Oh；　Tlaus！〃　she　cried；　clapping　her　small　hands　together　with　rapture；　〃tan　I　have　'at　boo'ful　lady？〃

〃Do　you　like　it？〃　he　asked。

〃I　love　it！〃　said　she。　　〃It's　better　'an　tats！〃

〃Then　take　it；　dear；　and　be　careful　not　to　break　it。〃

Mayrie　took　the　dolly　with　a　joy　that　was　almost　reverent；　and　her　face　dimpled　with　smiles　as　she　started　along　the　path　toward　home。



6。　　The　Wickedness　of　the　Awgwas


I　must　now　tell　you　something　about　the　Awgwas；　that　terrible　race　of　creatures　which　caused　our　good　Claus　so　much　trouble　and　nearly　succeeded　in　robbing　the　children　of　the　world　of　their　earliest　and　best　friend。

I　do　not　like　to　mention　the　Awgwas；　but　they　are　a　part　of　this　history；　and　can　not　be　ignored。　　They　were　neither　mortals　nor　immortals；　but　stood　midway　between　those　classes　of　beings。　　The　Awgwas　were　invisible　to　ordinary　people；　but　not　to　immortals。　　They　could　pass　swiftly　through　the　air　from　one　part　of　the　world　to　another；　and　had　the　power　of　influencing　the　minds　of　human　beings　to　do　their　wicked　will。

They　were　of　gigantic　stature　and　had　coarse；　scowling　countenances　which　showed　plainly　their　hatred　of　all　mankind。　　They　possessed　no　consciences　whatever　and　delighted　only　in　evil　deeds。

Their　homes　were　in　rocky；　mountainous　places；　from　whence　they　sallied　forth　to　accomplish　their　wicked　purposes。

The　one　of　their　number　that　could　think　of　the　most　horrible　deed　for　them　to　do　was　always　elected　the　King　Awgwa；　and　all　the　race　obeyed　his　orders。　　Sometimes　these　creatures　lived　to　become　a　hundred　years　old；　but　usually　they　fought　so　fiercely　among　themselves　that　many　were　destroyed　in　combat；　and　when　they　died　that　was　the　end　of　them。　　Mortals　were　powerless　to　harm　them　and　the　immortals　shuddered　when　the　Awgwas　were　mentioned；　and　always　avoided　them。　　So　they　flourished　for　many　years　unopposed　and　accomplished　much　evil。

I　am　glad　to　assure　you　that　these　vile　creatures　have　long　since　perished　and　passed　from　earth；　but　in　the　days　when　Claus　was　making　his　first　toys　they　were　a　numerous　and　powerful　tribe。

One　of　the　principal　sports　of　the　Awgwas　was　to　inspire　angry　passions　in　the　hearts　of　little　children；　so　that　they　quarreled　and　fought　with　one　another。　　They　would　tempt　boys　to　eat　of　unripe　fruit；　and　then　delight　in　the　pain　they　suffered；　they　urged　little　girls　to　disobey　their　parents；　and　then　would　laugh　when　the　children　were　punished。　　I　do　not　know　what　causes　a　child　to　be　naughty　in　these　days；　but　when　the　Awgwas　were　on　earth　naughty　children　were　usually　under　their　influence。

Now；　when　Claus　began　to　make　children　happy　he　kept　them　out　of　the　power　of　the　Awgwas；　for　children　possessing　such　lovely　playthings　as　he　gave　them　had　no　wish　to　obey　the　evil　thoughts　the　Awgwas　tried　to　thrust　into　their　minds。

Therefore；　one　year　when　the　wicked　tribe　was　to　elect　a　new　King；　they　chose　an　Awgwa　who　proposed　to　destroy　Claus　and　take　him　away　from　the　children。

〃There　are；　as　you　know；　fewer　naughty　children　in　the　world　since　Claus　came　to　the　Laughing　Valley　and　began　to　make　his　toys；〃　said　the　new　King；　as　he　squatted　upon　a　rock　and　looked　around　at　the　scowling　faces　of　his　people。　　〃Why；　Bessie　Blithesome　has　not　stamped　her　foot　once　this　month；　nor　has　Mayrie's　brother　slapped　his　sister's　face　or　thrown　the　puppy　into　the　rain…barrel。　　Little　Weekum　took　his　bath　last　night　without　screaming　or　struggling；　because　his　mother　had　promised　he　should　take　his　toy　cat　to　bed　with　him！　　Such　a　condition　of　affairs　is　awful　for　any　Awgwa　to　think　of；　and　the　only　way　we　can　direct　the　naughty　actions　of　children　is　to　take　this　person　Claus　away　from　them。〃

〃Good！　good！〃　cried　the　big　Awgwas；　in　a　chorus；　and　they　clapped　their　hands　to　applaud　the　speech　of　the　King。

〃But　what　shall　we　do　with　him？〃　asked　one　of　the　creatures。

〃I　have　a　plan；〃　replied　the　wicked　King；　and　what　his　plan　was　you　will　soon　discover。

That　night　Claus　went　to　bed　feeling　very　happy；　for　he　had　completed　no　less　than　four　pretty　toys　during　the　day；　and　they　were　sure；　he　thought；　to　make　four　little　children　happy。　　But　while　he　slept　the　band　of　inv