the life and adventures of santa clause-第6节

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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　made　to　sit　upon　its　haunches　as　the　real　cat　did；　with　her　tail　wound　around　her　two　front　legs。

The　work　cost　him　much　time；　but　the　evening　was　long　and　he　had　nothing　better　to　do。　　Finally　he　gave　a　loud　and　delighted　laugh　at　the　result　of　his　labors　and　placed　the　wooden　cat；　now　completed；　upon　the　hearth　opposite　the　real　one。

Puss　thereupon　glared　at　her　image；　raised　her　hair　in　anger；　and　uttered　a　defiant　mew。　　The　wooden　cat　paid　no　attention；　and　Claus；　much　amused；　laughed　again。

Then　Blinkie　advanced　toward　the　wooden　image　to　eye　it　closely　and　smell　of　it　intelligently：　　Eyes　and　nose　told　her　the　creature　was　wood；　in　spite　of　its　natural　appearance；　so　puss　resumed　her　seat　and　her　purring；　but　as　she　neatly　washed　her　face　with　her　padded　paw　she　cast　more　than　one　admiring　glance　at　her　clever　master。　　Perhaps　she　felt　the　same　satisfaction　we　feel　when　we　look　upon　good　photographs　of　ourselves。

The　cat's　master　was　himself　pleased　with　his　handiwork；　without　knowing　exactly　why。　　Indeed；　he　had　great　cause　to　congratulate　himself　that　night；　and　all　the　children　throughout　the　world　should　have　joined　him　rejoicing。　　For　Claus　had　made　his　first　toy。



3。　　How　the　Ryls　Colored　the　Toys


A　hush　lay　on　the　Laughing　Valley　now。　　Snow　covered　it　like　a　white　spread　and　pillows　of　downy　flakes　drifted　before　the　dwelling　where　Claus　sat　feeding　the　blaze　of　the　fire。　　The　brook　gurgled　on　beneath　a　heavy　sheet　of　ice　and　all　living　plants　and　insects　nestled　close　to　Mother　Earth　to　keep　warm。　　The　face　of　the　moon　was　hid　by　dark　clouds；　and　the　wind；　delighting　in　the　wintry　sport；　pushed　and　whirled　the　snowflakes　in　so　many　directions　that　they　could　get　no　chance　to　fall　to　the　ground。

Claus　heard　the　wind　whistling　and　shrieking　in　its　play　and　thanked　the　good　Knooks　again　for　his　comfortable　shelter。　　Blinkie　washed　her　face　lazily　and　stared　at　the　coals　with　a　look　of　perfect　content。　The　toy　cat　sat　opposite　the　real　one　and　gazed　straight　ahead；　as　toy　cats　should。

Suddenly　Claus　heard　a　noise　that　sounded　different　from　the　voice　of　the　wind。　　It　was　more　like　a　wail　of　suffering　and　despair。

He　stood　up　and　listened；　but　the　wind；　growing　boisterous；　shook　the　door　and　rattled　the　windows　to　distract　his　attention。　　He　waited　until　the　wind　was　tired　and　then；　still　listening；　he　heard　once　more　the　shrill　cry　of　distress。

Quickly　he　drew　on　his　coat；　pulled　his　cap　over　his　eyes　and　opened　the　door。　　The　wind　dashed　in　and　scattered　the　embers　over　the　hearth；　at　the　same　time　blowing　Blinkie's　fur　so　furiously　that　she　crept　under　the　table　to　escape。　　Then　the　door　was　closed　and　Claus　was　outside；　peering　anxiously　into　the　darkness。

The　wind　laughed　and　scolded　and　tried　to　push　him　over；　but　he　stood　firm。　　The　helpless　flakes　stumbled　against　his　eyes　and　dimmed　his　sight；　but　he　rubbed　them　away　and　looked　again。　　Snow　was　everywhere；　white　and　glittering。　　It　covered　the　earth　and　filled　the　air。

The　cry　was　not　repeated。

Claus　turned　to　go　back　into　the　house；　but　the　wind　caught　him　unawares　and　he　stumbled　and　fell　across　a　snowdrift。　　His　hand　plunged　into　the　drift　and　touched　something　that　was　not　snow。　This　he　seized　and；　pulling　it　gently　toward　him；　found　it　to　be　a　child。　The　next　moment　he　had　lifted　it　in　his　arms　and　carried　it　into　the　house。

The　wind　followed　him　through　the　door；　but　Claus　shut　it　out　quickly。　He　laid　the　rescued　child　on　the　hearth；　and　brushing　away　the　snow　he　discovered　it　to　be　Weekum；　a　little　boy　who　lived　in　a　house　beyond　the　Valley。

Claus　wrapped　a　warm　blanket　around　the　little　one　and　rubbed　the　frost　from　its　limbs。　　Before　long　the　child　opened　his　eyes　and；　seeing　where　he　was；　smiled　happily。　　Then　Claus　warmed　milk　and　fed　it　to　the　boy　slowly；　while　the　cat　looked　on　with　sober　curiosity。　Finally　the　little　one　curled　up　in　his　friend's　arms　and　sighed　and　fell　asleep；　and　Claus；　filled　with　gladness　that　he　had　found　the　wanderer；　held　him　closely　while　he　slumbered。

The　wind；　finding　no　more　mischief　to　do；　climbed　the　hill　and　swept　on　toward　the　north。　　This　gave　the　weary　snowflakes　time　to　settle　down　to　earth；　and　the　Valley　became　still　again。

The　boy；　having　slept　well　in　the　arms　of　his　friend；　opened　his　eyes　and　sat　up。　　Then；　as　a　child　will；　he　looked　around　the　room　and　saw　all　that　it　contained。

〃Your　cat　is　a　nice　cat；　Claus；〃　he　said；　at　last。　　〃Let　me　hold　it。〃

But　puss　objected　and　ran　away。

〃The　other　cat　won't　run；　Claus；〃　continued　the　boy。　　〃Let　me　hold　that　one。〃　　Claus　placed　the　toy　in　his　arms；　and　the　boy　held　it　lovingly　and　kissed　the　tip　of　its　wooden　ear。

〃How　did　you　get　lost　in　the　storm；　Weekum？〃　asked　Claus。

〃I　started　to　walk　to　my　auntie's　house　and　lost　my　way；〃　answered　Weekum。

〃Were　you　frightened？〃

〃It　was　cold；〃　said　Weekum；　〃and　the　snow　got　in　my　eyes；　so　I　could　not　see。　　Then　I　kept　on　till　I　fell　in　the　snow；　without　knowing　where　I　was；　and　the　wind　blew　the　flakes　over　me　and　covered　me　up。〃

Claus　gently　stroked　his　head；　and　the　boy　looked　up　at　him　and　smiled。

〃I'm　all　right　now；〃　said　Weekum。

〃Yes；〃　replied　Claus；　happily。　　〃Now　I　will　put　you　in　my　warm　bed；　and　you　must　sleep　until　morning；　when　I　will　carry　you　back　to　your　mother。〃

〃May　the　cat　sleep　with　me？〃　asked　the　boy。

〃Yes；　if　you　wish　it　to；〃　answered　Claus。

〃It's　a　nice　cat！〃　Weekum　said；　smiling；　as　Claus　tucked　the　blankets　around　him；　and　presently　the　little　one　fell　asleep　with　the　wooden　toy　in　his　arms。

When　morning　came　the　sun　claimed　the　Laughing　Valley　and　flooded　it　with　his　rays；　so　Claus　prepared　to　take　the　lost　child　back　to　its　mother。

〃May　I　keep　the　cat；　Claus？〃　asked　Weekum。　　〃It's　nicer　than　real　cats。　　It　doesn't　run　away；　or　scratch　or　bite。　　May　I　keep　it？〃

〃Yes；　indeed；〃　answered　Claus；　pleased　that　the　toy　he　had　made　could　give　pleasure　to　the　child。　　So　he　wrapped　the　boy　and　the　wooden　cat　in　a　warm　cloak；　perching　the　bundle　upon　his　own　broad　shoulders；　and　then　he　tramped　through　the　snow　and　the　drifts　of　the　Valley　and　across　the　plain　beyond　to　the　poor　cottage　where　Weekum's　mother　lived。

〃See；　mama！〃　cried　the　boy；　as　soon　as　they　entered；　〃I've　got　a　cat！〃

The　good　woman　wept　tears　of　joy　over　the　rescue　of　her　darling　and　thanked　Claus　many　times　for　his　kind　act。　　So　he　carried　a　warm　and　happy　heart　back　to　his　home　in　the　Valley。

That　night　he　said　to　puss：　〃I　believe　the　children　will　love　the　wooden　cats　almost　as　well　as　the　real　ones；　and　they　can't　hurt　them　by　pulling　their　tails　and　ears。　　I'll　make　another。〃

So　this　was　the　beginning　of　his　great　work。

The　next　cat　was　better　made　than　the　first。　　While　Claus　sat　whittling　it　out　the　Yellow　Ryl　came　in　to　make　him　a　visit；　and　so　pleased　was　he　with　the　man's　skill　that　he　ran　away　and　brought　several　of　his　fellows。

There　sat　the　Red　Ryl；　the　Black　Ryl；　the　Green　Ryl；　the　Blue　Ryl　and　the　Yellow　Ryl　in　a　circle　on　the　floor；　while　Claus　whittled　and　whistled　and　the　wooden　cat　grew　into　shape。

〃If　it　could　be　made　the　same　color　as　the　real　cat；　no　one　would　know　the　difference；〃　said　the　Yellow　Ryl；　thoughtfully。

〃The　little　ones；　maybe；　would　not　know　the　difference；〃　replied　Claus；　pleased　with　the　idea。

〃I　will　bring　you　some　of　the　red　that　I　color　my　roses　and　tulips　with；〃　cried　the　Red　Ryl；　〃and　then　you　can　make　the　cat's　lips　and　tongue　red。〃

〃I　will　bring　some　of　the　green　that　I　color　my　grasses　and　leaves　with；〃　said　the　Green　Ryl；　〃and　then　you　can　color　the　cat's　eyes　green。〃

〃They　will　need　a　bit　of　yellow；　also；〃　remarked　the　Yellow　Ryl；　〃I　must　fetch　some　of　the　yellow　that　I　use　to　color　my　buttercups　and　goldenrods　with。〃

〃The　real　cat　is　black；〃　said　the　Black　Ryl；　〃I　will　bring　some　of　the　black　that　I　use　to　color　the　eyes　of　my　pansies　with；　and　then　you　can　paint　your　wooden　cat　black。〃

〃I　see　you　have　a　blue　ribbon　around　Blinkie's　neck；〃　added　the　Blue　Ryl。　　〃I　will　get　some　of　the　color　that　I　use　to　paint　the　bluebells　and　forget…me…nots　with；　and　then　you　can　carve　a　wooden　ribbon　on　the　toy　cat's　neck　and　paint　it　blue。〃

So　the　Ryls　disappeared；　and　by　the　time　Claus　had　finished　carving　out　the　form　of　the　cat　they　were　all　back　with　the　paints　and　brushes。

They　made　Blinkie　sit　upon　the　table；　that　Claus　might　paint　the　toy　cat　just　the　right　color；　and　when　the　work　was　done　the　Ryls　declared　it　was　exactly　as　good　as　a　live　cat。

〃That　is；　to　all　appearances；〃　added　the　Red　Ryl。

Blinkie　seemed　a　little　offended　by　the　attention　bestowed　upon　the　toy；　and　that　she　might　not　seem　to　approve　the　imitation　cat　she　walked　to　the　corner　of　the　hearth　and　sat　down　with　a　dignified　air。

But　Claus　was　delighted；　and　as　soon　as　morning　came　he　started　out　and　tramped　through　the　snow；　across　the　Valley　and　the　plain；　until　he　came　to　a　village。　　There；　in　a　poor　hut　near　the　walls　of　the　beautiful　palace　of　the　Lord　of　Lerd；　a　little　girl　lay　upon　a　wretched　cot；　moaning　with　pain。

Claus　approached　the　child　and　kissed