the life and adventures of santa clause-第5节

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It　made　Claus　laugh　to　hear　the　little　things　voice　their　happiness　as　they　nodded　gracefully　on　their　stems。　　But　another　strain　caught　his　ear　as　the　sunbeams　fell　gently　across　his　face　and　whispered：


〃Here　is　gladness；　that　our　rays　　　　Warm　the　valley　through　the　days；　　Here　is　happiness；　to　give　　　　Comfort　unto　all　who　live！〃


〃Yes！〃　cried　Claus　in　answer；　〃there　is　happiness　and　joy　in　all　things　here。　　The　Laughing　Valley　is　a　valley　of　peace　and　good…will。〃

He　passed　the　day　talking　with　the　ants　and　beetles　and　exchanging　jokes　with　the　light…hearted　butterflies。　　And　at　night　he　lay　on　his　bed　of　soft　moss　and　slept　soundly。

Then　came　the　Fairies；　merry　but　noiseless；　bringing　skillets　and　pots　and　dishes　and　pans　and　all　the　tools　necessary　to　prepare　food　and　to　comfort　a　mortal。　　With　these　they　filled　cupboard　and　fireplace；　finally　placing　a　stout　suit　of　wool　clothing　on　the　stool　by　the　bedside。

When　Claus　awoke　he　rubbed　his　eyes　again；　and　laughed；　and　spoke　aloud　his　thanks　to　the　Fairies　and　the　Master　Woodsman　who　had　sent　them。　　With　eager　joy　he　examined　all　his　new　possessions；　wondering　what　some　might　be　used　for。　　But；　in　the　days　when　he　had　clung　to　the　girdle　of　the　great　Ak　and　visited　the　cities　of　men；　his　eyes　had　been　quick　to　note　all　the　manners　and　customs　of　the　race　to　which　he　belonged；　so　he　guessed　from　the　gifts　brought　by　the　Fairies　that　the　Master　expected　him　hereafter　to　live　in　the　fashion　of　his　fellow…creatures。

〃Which　means　that　I　must　plow　the　earth　and　plant　corn；〃　he　reflected；　〃so　that　when　winter　comes　I　shall　have　garnered　food　in　plenty。〃

But；　as　he　stood　in　the　grassy　Valley；　he　saw　that　to　turn　up　the　earth　in　furrows　would　be　to　destroy　hundreds　of　pretty；　helpless　flowers；　as　well　as　thousands　of　the　tender　blades　of　grass。　　And　this　he　could　not　bear　to　do。

Therefore　he　stretched　out　his　arms　and　uttered　a　peculiar　whistle　he　had　learned　in　the　Forest；　afterward　crying：

〃Ryls　of　the　Field　Flowerscome　to　me！〃

Instantly　a　dozen　of　the　queer　little　Ryls　were　squatting　upon　the　ground　before　him；　and　they　nodded　to　him　in　cheerful　greeting。

Claus　gazed　upon　them　earnestly。

〃Your　brothers　of　the　Forest；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　known　and　loved　many　years。　　I　shall　love　you；　also；　when　we　have　become　friends。　　To　me　the　laws　of　the　Ryls；　whether　those　of　the　Forest　or　of　the　field；　are　sacred。　　I　have　never　wilfully　destroyed　one　of　the　flowers　you　tend　so　carefully；　but　I　must　plant　grain　to　use　for　food　during　the　cold　winter；　and　how　am　I　to　do　this　without　killing　the　little　creatures　that　sing　to　me　so　prettily　of　their　fragrant　blossoms？〃

The　Yellow　Ryl；　he　who　tends　the　buttercups；　made　answer：

〃Fret　not；　friend　Claus。　　The　great　Ak　has　spoken　to　us　of　you。　　There　is　better　work　for　you　in　life　than　to　labor　for　food；　and　though；　not　being　of　the　Forest；　Ak　has　no　command　over　us；　nevertheless　are　we　glad　to　favor　one　he　loves。　　Live；　therefore；　to　do　the　good　work　you　are　resolved　to　undertake。　　We；　the　Field　Ryls；　will　attend　to　your　food　supplies。〃

After　this　speech　the　Ryls　were　no　longer　to　be　seen；　and　Claus　drove　from　his　mind　the　thought　of　tilling　the　earth。

When　next　he　wandered　back　to　his　dwelling　a　bowl　of　fresh　milk　stood　upon　the　table；　bread　was　in　the　cupboard　and　sweet　honey　filled　a　dish　beside　it。　　A　pretty　basket　of　rosy　apples　and　new…plucked　grapes　was　also　awaiting　him。　　He　called　out　〃Thanks；　my　friends！〃　to　the　invisible　Ryls；　and　straightway　began　to　eat　of　the　food。

Thereafter；　when　hungry；　he　had　but　to　look　into　the　cupboard　to　find　goodly　supplies　brought　by　the　kindly　Ryls。　　And　the　Knooks　cut　and　stacked　much　wood　for　his　fireplace。　　And　the　Fairies　brought　him　warm　blankets　and　clothing。

So　began　his　life　in　the　Laughing　Valley；　with　the　favor　and　friendship　of　the　immortals　to　minister　to　his　every　want。



2。　　How　Claus　Made　the　First　Toy


Truly　our　Claus　had　wisdom；　for　his　good　fortune　but　strengthened　his　resolve　to　befriend　the　little　ones　of　his　own　race。　　He　knew　his　plan　was　approved　by　the　immortals；　else　they　would　not　have　favored　him　so　greatly。

So　he　began　at　once　to　make　acquaintance　with　mankind。　　He　walked　through　the　Valley　to　the　plain　beyond；　and　crossed　the　plain　in　many　directions　to　reach　the　abodes　of　men。　　These　stood　singly　or　in　groups　of　dwellings　called　villages；　and　in　nearly　all　the　houses；　whether　big　or　little；　Claus　found　children。

The　youngsters　soon　came　to　know　his　merry；　laughing　face　and　the　kind　glance　of　his　bright　eyes；　and　the　parents；　while　they　regarded　the　young　man　with　some　scorn　for　loving　children　more　than　their　elders；　were　content　that　the　girls　and　boys　had　found　a　playfellow　who　seemed　willing　to　amuse　them。

So　the　children　romped　and　played　games　with　Claus；　and　the　boys　rode　upon　his　shoulders；　and　the　girls　nestled　in　his　strong　arms；　and　the　babies　clung　fondly　to　his　knees。　　Wherever　the　young　man　chanced　to　be；　the　sound　of　childish　laughter　followed　him；　and　to　understand　this　better　you　must　know　that　children　were　much　neglected　in　those　days　and　received　little　attention　from　their　parents；　so　that　it　became　to　them　a　marvel　that　so　goodly　a　man　as　Claus　devoted　his　time　to　making　them　happy。　　And　those　who　knew　him　were；　you　may　be　sure；　very　happy　indeed。　　The　sad　faces　of　the　poor　and　abused　grew　bright　for　once；　the　cripple　smiled　despite　his　misfortune；　the　ailing　ones　hushed　their　moans　and　the　grieved　ones　their　cries　when　their　merry　friend　came　nigh　to　comfort　them。

Only　at　the　beautiful　palace　of　the　Lord　of　Lerd　and　at　the　frowning　castle　of　the　Baron　Braun　was　Claus　refused　admittance。　　There　were　children　at　both　places；　but　the　servants　at　the　palace　shut　the　door　in　the　young　stranger's　face；　and　the　fierce　Baron　threatened　to　hang　him　from　an　iron　hook　on　the　castle　walls。　　Whereupon　Claus　sighed　and　went　back　to　the　poorer　dwellings　where　he　was　welcome。

After　a　time　the　winter　drew　near。

The　flowers　lived　out　their　lives　and　faded　and　disappeared；　the　beetles　burrowed　far　into　the　warm　earth；　the　butterflies　deserted　the　meadows；　and　the　voice　of　the　brook　grew　hoarse；　as　if　it　had　taken　cold。

One　day　snowflakes　filled　all　the　air　in　the　Laughing　Valley；　dancing　boisterously　toward　the　earth　and　clothing　in　pure　white　raiment　the　roof　of　Claus's　dwelling。

At　night　Jack　Frost　rapped　at　the　door。

〃Come　in！〃　cried　Claus。

〃Come　out！〃　answered　Jack；　〃for　you　have　a　fire　inside。〃

So　Claus　came　out。　　He　had　known　Jack　Frost　in　the　Forest；　and　liked　the　jolly　rogue；　even　while　he　mistrusted　him。

〃There　will　be　rare　sport　for　me　to…night；　Claus！〃　shouted　the　sprite。　〃Isn't　this　glorious　weather？　　I　shall　nip　scores　of　noses　and　ears　and　toes　before　daybreak。〃

〃If　you　love　me；　Jack；　spare　the　children；〃　begged　Claus。

〃And　why？〃　asked　the　other；　in　surprise。

〃They　are　tender　and　helpless；〃　answered　Claus。

〃But　I　love　to　nip　the　tender　ones！〃　declared　Jack。　　〃The　older　ones　are　tough；　and　tire　my　fingers。〃

〃The　young　ones　are　weak；　and　can　not　fight　you；〃　said　Claus。

〃True；〃　agreed　Jack；　thoughtfully。　　〃Well；　I　will　not　pinch　a　child　this　nightif　I　can　resist　the　temptation；〃　he　promised。　　〃Good　night；　Claus！〃

〃Good　night。〃

The　young　man　went　in　and　closed　the　door；　and　Jack　Frost　ran　on　to　the　nearest　village。

Claus　threw　a　log　on　the　fire；　which　burned　up　brightly。　　Beside　the　hearth　sat　Blinkie；　a　big　cat　give　him　by　Peter　the　Knook。　　Her　fur　was　soft　and　glossy；　and　she　purred　never…ending　songs　of　contentment。

〃I　shall　not　see　the　children　again　soon；〃　said　Claus　to　the　cat；　who　kindly　paused　in　her　song　to　listen。　　〃The　winter　is　upon　us；　the　snow　will　be　deep　for　many　days；　and　I　shall　be　unable　to　play　with　my　little　friends。〃

The　cat　raised　a　paw　and　stroked　her　nose　thoughtfully；　but　made　no　reply。　　So　long　as　the　fire　burned　and　Claus　sat　in　his　easy　chair　by　the　hearth　she　did　not　mind　the　weather。

So　passed　many　days　and　many　long　evenings。　　The　cupboard　was　always　full；　but　Claus　became　weary　with　having　nothing　to　do　more　than　to　feed　the　fire　from　the　big　wood…pile　the　Knooks　had　brought　him。

One　evening　he　picked　up　a　stick　of　wood　and　began　to　cut　it　with　his　sharp　knife。　　He　had　no　thought；　at　first；　except　to　occupy　his　time；　and　he　whistled　and　sang　to　the　cat　as　he　carved　away　portions　of　the　stick。　　Puss　sat　up　on　her　haunches　and　watched　him；　listening　at　the　same　time　to　her　master's　merry　whistle；　which　she　loved　to　hear　even　more　than　her　own　purring　songs。

Claus　glanced　at　puss　and　then　at　the　stick　he　was　whittling；　until　presently　the　wood　began　to　have　a　shape；　and　the　shape　was　like　the　head　of　a　cat；　with　two　ears　sticking　upward。

Claus　stopped　whistling　to　laugh；　and　then　both　he　and　the　cat　looked　at　the　wooden　image　in　some　surprise。　　Then　he　carved　out　the　eyes　and　the　nose；　and　rounded　the　lower　part　of　the　head　so　that　it　rested　upon　a　neck。

Puss　hardly　knew　what　to　make　of　it　now；　and　sat　up　stiffly；　as　if　watching　with　some　suspicion　what　would　come　next。

Claus　knew。　　The　head　gave　him　an　idea。　　He　plied　his　knife　carefully　and　with　skill；　forming　slowly　the　body　of　the　cat；　which　he