the life and adventures of santa clause-第7部分

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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　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