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THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF
SANTA CLAUS
THE NEW-BORN SANTA CLAUS, CHUBBY AND PIWK, PAGE II.
THE BOWEN-MERRILL COMPANY
PUBLISHERS, INDIANAPOLIS
»^w-— •c^i *s*j£^'7*i
COPYRIGHT IQ02, THE HOWES-MERRILL COMPANY.
MANHOOD
The Laughing Valley 43
How Claus Made the First Toy 54
How the Ryls Colored the Toys 62
How Little Mayrie Became Frightened 75
How Bessie Blithesome Came to the
Laughing Valley 83
The Wickedness of the Awgwas 95
The Great Battle Between Good and Evil 108
The First Journey with the Reindeer 120
"Santa Claus! " 136
Christmas Eve 139
How the First Stockings were Hung
by the Chimneys 153
The First Christmas Tree 165
OLD AGE
The Mantle of Immortality 175
When the World Grew Old 190
The Deputies of Santa Claus 196
THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF
SANTA CLAUS
B B
CHAPTER FIRST
AVE you heard of the great Forest oi
Burzee ? Nurse used to sing of it whei
I was a child. She sang of the big tree^
trunks, standing close together, with their roots
intertwining below the earth and their branches
intertwining above it; of their rough coating of
bark and queer, gnarled limbs ; of the bushy
foliage that roofed the entire forest, save where
the sunbeams found a path through which to
touch the ground in little spots and to cast
C^e MU aitD aDbcuturcg of ^attta Claug
weird and curious shadows over the mosses, the
lichens and the drifts of dried leaves.
The Forest of Burzee is mighty and grand
and awesome to those who steal beneath its
shade. Coming from the sunlit meadows into
its mazes it seems at first gloomy, then pleasant,
and afterward filled with never-ending delights.
For hundreds of years it has flourished in all
its magnificence, the silence of its inclosure un-
broken save by the chirp of busy chipmunks,
the growl of wild beasts and the songs of birds.
Yet Burzee has its inhabitants — for all this.
Nature peopled it in the beginning with Fairies,
Knooks, Ryls and Nymphs. As long as the
Forest stands it will be a home, a refuge and a
playground to these sweet immortals, who revel
undisturbed in its depths.
Civilization has never yet reached Burzee.
Will it ever, I wonder ?
CHAPTER SECOND
€t)e Cljtlo of tyc tfomt
NCE, so long ago our great-grandfathers
could scarcely have heard it mentioned,
there lived within the great Forest of
Burzee a wood-nymph named Necile. She was
closely related to the mighty Queen Zurline,
and her home was beneath the shade of a wide-
spreading oak. Once every year, on Budding
Day, when the trees put forth their new buds,
Necile held the Golden Chalice of Ak to the
lips of the Queen, who drank therefrom to the
prosperity of the Forest. So you see she was a
nymph of some importance, and, moreover, it is
said she was highly regarded because of her
beauty and grace.
■C^e life atto atfoeuturc?; of ^anta Clang
When she was created she could not have
told; Queen Zurline could not have told; the
great Ak himself could not have told. It was
long ago when the world was new and nymphs
were needed to guard the forests and to min-
ister to the wants of the young trees. Then, on
some day not remembered, Necile sprang into
being; radiant, lovely, straight and slim as the
sapling she was created to guard.
Her hair was the color that lines a chestnut-
bur; her eyes were blue in the sunlight and
purple in the shade; her cheeks bloomed with
the faint pink that edges the clouds at sunset;
her lips were full red, pouting and sweet. For
costume she adopted oak-leaf green; all the
wood-nymphs dress in that color and know no
other so desirable. Her dainty feet were sandal-
clad, while her head remained bare of covering
other than her silken tresses.
Necile's duties were few and simple. She kept
hurtful weeds from growing beneath her trees
€^e Life ano aobentureg of ^>attta Claujs
and sapping the earth -food required by her
charges. She frightened away the Gadgols, who
took evil delight in flying against the tree-trunks
and wounding them so that they drooped and
died from the poisonous contact. In dry seasons
she carried water from the brooks and pools and
moistened the roots of her thirsty dependents.
That was in the beginning. The weeds had
now learned to avoid the forests where wood-
nymphs dwelt; the loathsome Gadgols no longer
dared come nigh; the trees had become old
and sturdy and could bear the drought better
than when fresh-sprouted. So Necile's duties
were lessened, and time grew laggard, while suc-
ceeding years became more tiresome and un-
eventful than the nymph's joyous spirit loved.
Truly the forest-dwellers did not lack amuse-
ment. Each full moon they danced in the Royal
Circle of the Queen. There were also the Feast
of Nuts, the Jubilee of Autumn Tintings, the
solemn ceremony of Leaf Shedding and the
5
C^e life and atfoentureg of £>auta Claujs
revelry of Budding Day. But these periods of
enjoyment were far apart, and left many weary
hours between.
That a wood-nymph should grow discontented
was not thought of by Necile's sisters. It came
upon her only after many years of brooding.
But when once she had settled in her mind
that life was irksome she had no patience with
her condition, and longed to do something of
real interest and to pass her days in ways hitherto
undreamed of by forest nymphs. The Law of
the Forest alone restrained her from going forth
in search of adventure.
While this mood lay heavy upon pretty Necile
it chanced that the great Ak visited the Forest
of Burzee and allowed the wood-nymphs — as
was their wont — to lie at his feet and listen to
the words of wisdom that fell from his lips. Ak
is the Master Woodsman of the world; he sees
everything, and knows more than the sons of
men.
%ty Hit ana atfoetttuteg of ^>anta Clauss
That night he held the Queen's hand, for he
loved the nymphs as a father loves his children ;
and Necile lay at his feet with many of her sis-
ters and earnestly harkened as he spoke.
"We live so happily, my fair ones, in our for-
est glades," said Ak, stroking his grizzled beard
thoughtfully, " that we know nothing of the sor-
row and misery that fall to the lot of those poor
mortals who inhabit the open spaces of the earth.
They are not of our race, it is true, yet com-
passion well befits beings so fairly favored as our-
selves. Often as I pass by the dwelling of some
suffering mortal I am tempted to stop and banish
the poor thing's misery. Yet suffering, in mod-
eration, is the natural lot of mortals, and it is not
our place to interfere with the laws of Nature."
"Nevertheless," said the fair Queen, nodding
her golden head at the Master Woodsman, "it
would not be a vain guess that Ak has often
assisted these hapless mortals."
Ak smiled.
C^e life ano atfoentuteg of ^>anta Clauss
" Sometimes," he replied, " when they are
very young — < children,' the mortals call them
— I have stopped to rescue them from misery.
The men and women I dare not interfere with;
they must bear the burdens Nature has imposed
upon them. But the helpless infants, the inno-
cent children of men, have a right to be happy
until they become full-grown and able to bear
the trials of humanity. So I feel I am justified
in assisting them. Not long ago — a year, may-
be— I found four poor children huddled in a
wooden hut, slowly freezing to death. Their
parents had gone to a neighboring village for
food, and had left a fire to warm their little
ones while they were absent. But a storm arose
and drifted the snow in their path, so they were
long on the road. Meantime the fire went out
and the frost crept into the bones of the waiting
children."
" Poor things ! " murmured the Queen softly.
" What did you do ? "
8
%X)t JLffc anD atfoenturcjs of ^attta Clang
" I called Nelko, bidding him fetch wood from
my forests and breathe upon it until the fire
blazed again and warmed the little room where
the children lay. Then they ceased shivering
and fell asleep until their parents came."
" I am glad you did thus," said the good
Queen, beaming upon the Master; and Necile,
who had eagerly listened to every word, echoed
in a whisper : " I, too, am glad ! "
"And this very night," continued Ak, " as I
came to the edge of Burzee I heard a feeble
cry, which I judged came from a human infant.
I looked about me and found, close to the forest,
a helpless babe, lying quite naked upon the
grasses and wailing piteously. Not far away,
screened by the forest, crouched Shiegra, the
lioness, intent upon devouring the infant for her
evening meal."
"And what did you do, Ak ? " asked the
Queen, breathlessly.
" Not much, being in a hurry to greet my
9
C^e life anD atfoentureg of ^>anta Clang
nymphs. But I commanded Shiegra to lie close
to the babe, and to give it her milk to quiet its
hunger. And I told her to send word through-
out the forest, to all beasts and reptiles, that the
child should not be harmed."
" I am glad you did thus," said the good
Queen again, in a tone of relief; but this time
Necile did not echo her words, for the nymph,
filled with a strange resolve, had suddenly stolen
away from the group.
Swiftly her lithe form darted through the for-
est paths until she reached the edge of mighty
Burzee, when she paused to gaze curiously
about her. Never until now had she ventured
so far, for the Law of the Forest had placed the
nymphs in its inmost depths.
Necile knew she was breaking the Law, but
the thought did not give pause to her dainty
feet. She had decided to see with her own eyes
this infant Ak had told of, for she had never yet
beheld a child of man. All the immortals are
10
€^e Life ano atfoentuteg of ^>anta Claug
full-grown; there are no children among them.
Peering through the trees Necile saw the
child lying on the grass. But now it was sweetly
sleeping, having been comforted by the milk
drawn from Shiegra. It was not old enough to
know what peril means; if it did not feel hunger
it was content.
Softly the nymph stole to the side of the babe
and knelt upon the sward, her long robe of rose
leaf color spreading about her like a gossamer
cloud. Her lovely countenance expressed curi-
osity and surprise, but, most of all, a tender,
womanly pity. The babe was new-born, chubby
and pink. It was entirely helpless. While the
nymph gazed the infant opened its eyes, smiled
upon her, and stretched out two dimpled arms.
In another instant Necile had caught it to her
breast and was hurrying with it through the
forest paths.
I~"^HE Master Woodsman suddenly rose,
with knitted brows. " There is a strange
presence in the Forest," he declared.
Then the Queen and her nymphs turned and
saw standing before them Necile, with the sleep-
ing infant clasped tightly in her arms and a de-
fiant look in her deep blue eyes.
And thus for a moment they remained, the
nymphs filled with surprise and consternation,
but the brow of the Master Woodsman gradu-
ally clearing as he gazed intently upon the beau-
tiful immortal who had wilfully broken the
Law. Then the great Ak, to the wonder of all,
laid his hand softly on Necile's flowing locks
and kissed her on her fair forehead.
Ci)c life atiD atfoctttureg of ^>anta ClaujS
" For the first time within my knowledge,"
said he, gently, "a nymph has defied me and my
laws; yet in my heart can I find no word of
chiding. What is your desire, Necile ? "
" Let me keep the child ! " she answered, be-
ginning to tremble and falling on her knees in
supplication.
" Here, in the Forest of Burzee, where the ( J~e
human race has never yet penetrated ? " ques-
tioned Ak.
" Here, in the Forest of Burzee," replied the
nymph, boldly. " It is my home, and I am
weary for lack of occupation. Let me care for
the babe ! See how weak and helpless it is.
Surely it can not harm Burzee nor the Master
Woodsman of the World ! "
" But the Law, child, the Law ! " cried Ak,
sternly.
" The Law is made by the Master Woods-
man," returned Necile ; " if he bids me care for
the babe he himself has saved from death, who
13
C^e life and atfocnturcg of ^>anta Claujs
in all the world dare oppose me ? " Queen
Zurline, who had listened intently to this con-
versation, clapped her pretty hands gleefully at
the nymph's answer.
"You are fairly trapped, O Ak ! " she ex-
claimed, laughing. " Now, I pray you, give
heed to Necile's petition."
The Woodsman, as was his habit when in
thought, stroked his grizzled beard slowly. Then
he said :
" She shall keep the babe, and I will give it
my protection. But I warn you all that as this
is the first time I have relaxed the Law, so shall
it be the last time. Never more, to the end of
the World, shall a mortal be adopted by an im-
mortal. Otherwise would we abandon our happy
existence for one of trouble and anxiety. Good
night, my nymphs ! "
Then Ak was gone from their midst, and
Necile hurried away to her bower to rejoice
over her new-found treasure.
CHAPTER FOURTH
Claug
"ANOTHER day found Necile's bower the
I % most popular place in the Forest. The
nymphs clustered around her and the
child that lay asleep in her lap, with expres-
sions of curiosity and delight. Nor were they
wanting in praises for the great Ak's kindness
in allowing Necile to keep the babe and to care
for it. Even the Queen came to peer into the
innocent childish face and to hold a helpless,
chubby fist in her own fair hand.
"What shall we call him, Necile?" she/
asked, smiling. " He must have a name, you/
know."
"Let him be called Claus," answered Necile,
<l for that means 'a little one.' "
Clje JLtfe and aofcenturcs of ^attta Claug
" Rather let him be called Neclaus," * re-
turned the Queen, "for that will mean 'Necile's
little one.'"
The nymphs clapped their hands in delight,
and Neclaus became the infant's name, although
Necile loved best to call him Claus, and in after-
days many of her sisters followed her example.
Necile gathered the softest moss in all the
forest for Claus to lie upon, and she made his
bed in her own bower. Of food the infant had
no lack. The nymphs searched the forest for
bell-udders, which grow upon the goa-tree and
when opened are found to be filled with sweet
milk. And the soft-eyed does willingly gave a
share of their milk to support the little stranger,
while Shiegra, the lioness, often crept stealthily
* Some people have spelled this name Nicklaus, and others
Nicolas, which is the reason that Santa Claus is still known in
some lands as St. Nicolas. But, of course, Neclaus is his right
name, and Claus the nickname given him by his adopted mother,
the fair nymph Necile.
16
C^e Life and $Dtocntureg of |a>attta Claug
into Necile's bower and purred softly as she lay
beside the babe and fed it.
So the little one flourished and grew big and
sturdy day by day, while Necile taught him to
speak and to walk and to play.
His thoughts and words were sweet and gen-
tle, for the nymphs knew no evil and their
hearts were pure and loving. He became the
pet of the forest, for Ak's decree had forbidden
beast or reptile to molest him, and he walked
fearlessly wherever his will guided him.
Presently the news reached the other immor-
tals that the nymphs of Burzee had adopted a
human infant, and that the act had been sanc-
tioned by the great Ak. Therefore many of
them came to visit the little stranger, looking
upon him with much interest. First the Ryls,
who are first cousins to the wood-nymphs,
although so difFerently formed. For the Ryls
are required to watch over the flowers and
plants, as the nymphs watch over the forest
Ctye life and atfoenturcg of ^>anta Claug
trees. They search the wide world for the food
required by the roots of the flowering plants,
while the brilliant colors possessed by the full-
blown flowers are due to the dyes placed in the
soil by the Ryls, which are drawn through
the little veins in the roots and the body of
the plants, as they reach maturity. The Ryls
are a busy people, for their flowers bloom and
fade continually, but they are merry and light-
hearted and are very popular with the other
immortals.
Next came the Knooks, whose duty it is to
watch over the beasts of the world, both gentle
and wild. The Knooks have a hard time of it,
since many of the beasts are ungovernable and
rebel against restraint. But they know how
to manage them, after all, and you will find
that certain laws of the Knooks are obeyed by
even the most ferocious animals. Their anxie-
ties make the Knooks look old and worn and
crooked, and their natures are a bit rough from
18
Wqz life attD aobetttuteg of £>anta Claujs
associating with wild creatures continually; yet
they are most useful to humanity and to the
world in general, as their laws are the only laws
the forest beasts recognize except those of the
Master Woodsman.
Then there were the Fairies, the guardians
of mankind, who were much interested in
the adoption of Claus because their own laws
forbade them to become familiar with their
human charges. There are instances on record
where the Fairies have shown themselves to
human beings, and have even conversed with
them ; but they are supposed to guard the lives
of mankind unseen and unknown, and if they
favor some people more than others it is because
these have won such distinction fairly, as the
Fairies are very just and impartial. But the idea
of adopting a child of men had never occurred
to them because it was in every way opposed to
their laws; so their curiosity was intense to be-
19
C^e Life anD atfocnttttcg of ^>anta Claug
hold the little stranger adopted by Necile and
her sister nymphs.
Claus looked upon the immortals who
thronged around him with fearless eyes and
smiling lips. He rode laughingly upon the
shoulders of the merry Ryls; he mischievously
pulled the gray beards of the low-browed
Knooks; he rested his curly head confidently
upon the dainty bosom of the Fairy Queen
herself. And the Ryls loved the sound of his
laughter; the Knooks loved his courage; the
Fairies loved his innocence.
The boy made friends of them all, and
learned to know their laws intimately. No for-
est flower was trampled beneath his feet, lest
the friendly Ryls should be grieved. He never
interfered with the beasts of the forest, lest his
friends the Knooks should become angry. The
Fairies he loved dearly, but, knowing nothing
of mankind, he could not understand that he
C^e Life ano atfocnturcs of ^attta Clang
was the only one of his race admitted to friendly
intercourse with them.
Indeed, Claus came to consider that he alone,
of all the forest people, had no like nor fellow.
To him the forest was the world. He had no
idea that millions of toiling, striving human
creatures existed.
And he was happy and content.
YEARS pass swiftly in Burzee, for the
nymphs have no need to regard time in
'any way. Even centuries make no
change in the dainty creatures; ever and ever
they remain the same, immortal and unchanging.
Claus, however, being mortal, grew to man-
hood day by day. Necile was disturbed, pres-
ently, to find him too big to lie in her lap, and
he had a desire for other food than milk. His
stout legs carried him far into Burzee's heart,
where he gathered supplies of nuts and berries,
as well as several sweet and wholesome roots,
which suited his stomach better than the bell-
udders. He sought Necile's bower less fre-
C^e life ano atfocnturcg of ^>attta Clang
quently, till finally it became his custom to
return thither only to sleep.
The nymph, who had come to love him
dearly, was puzzled to comprehend the changed
nature of her charge, and unconsciously altered
her own mode of life to conform to his whims.
She followed him readily through the forest
paths, as did many of her sister nymphs, ex-
plaining as they walked all the mysteries of the J^§
gigantic wood and the habits and nature of the
living things which dwelt beneath its shade.
The language of the beasts became clear to
little Claus; but he never could understand
their sulky and morose tempers. Only the
squirrels, the mice and the rabbits seemed to
possess cheerful and merry natures; yet would
the boy laugh when the panther growled, and
stroke the bear's glossy coat while the creature
snarled and bared its teeth menacingly. The
growls and snarls were not for Claus, he well
knew, so what did they matter?
23
%\>t Hit ana ^tfocntureg of ^anta Claujs
He could sing the songs of the bees, recite
the poetry of the wood-flowers and relate the
history of every blinking owl in Burzee. He
helped the Ryls to feed their plants and the
Knooks to keep order among the animals. The
little immortals regarded him as a privileged
person, being especially protected by Queen
Zurline and her nymphs and favored by the
great Ak himself.
One day the Master Woodsman came back to
the forest of Burzee. He had visited, in turn,
all his forests throughout the world, and they
were many and broad.
Not until he entered the glade where the
Queen and her nymphs were assembled to greet
him did Ak remember the child he had per-
mitted Necile to adopt. Then he found, sitting
familiarly in the circle of lovely immortals, a
broad-shouldered, stalwart youth, who, when
erect, stood fully as high as the shoulder of the
Master himself.
24
Ctyc itfc attD aofomtureg of ^>anta Claus
Ak paused, silent and frowning, to bend his
piercing gaze upon Claus. The clear eyes met
his own steadfastly, and the Woodsman gave a
sigh of relief as he marked their placid depths
and read the youth's brave and innocent heart.
Nevertheless, as Ak sat beside the fair Queen,
and the golden chalice, filled with rare nectar,
passed from lip to lip, the Master Woodsman
was strangely silent and reserved, and stroked
his beard many times with a thoughtful motion.
With morning he called Claus aside, in kindly
fashion, saying :
" Bid good by, for a time, to Necile and her
sisters; for you shall accompany me on my
journey through the world."
The venture pleased Claus, who knew well
the honor of being companion of the Master
Woodsman of the world. But Necile wept
for the first time in her life, and clung to the
boy's neck as if she could not bear to let him
go. The nymph who had mothered this sturdy
25
C^^^j/t
Cl)e Life and atfomturcg of ^anta Cianjs
youth was still as dainty, as charming and beau-
tiful as when she had dared to face Ak with the
babe clasped to her breast; nor was her love
less great. Ak beheld the two clinging together,
seemingly as brother and sister to one another,
and again he wore his thoughtful look.
26
Clang ^tecofcerg ^umanftt
PH H^AKING Claus to a small clearing in the
I J forest, the Master said : " Place your
hand upon my girdle and hold fast
while we journey through the air; for now shall
we encircle the world and look upon many of
the haunts of those men from whom you are
descended."
These words caused Claus to marvel, for until
now he had thought himself the only one of his
kind upon the earth; yet in silence he grasped
firmly the girdle of the great Ak, his astonish-
ment forbidding speech.
Then the vast forest of Burzee seemed to fall
away from their feet, and the youth found him-
27
m$z Life attD attoeittm-eg of ^attta Clang
self passing swiftly through the air at a great
height.
Ere long there were spires beneath them,
while buildings of many shapes and colors met
their downward view. It was a city of men, and
Ak, pausing to descend, led Claus to its inclo-
sure. Said the Master:
" So long as you hold fast to my girdle you
will remain unseen by all mankind, though see-
ing clearly yourself. To release your grasp will
be to separate yourself forever from me and
your home in Burzee."
One of the first laws of the Forest is obedi-
ence, and Claus had no thought of disobeying
the Master's wish. He clung fast to the girdle
and remained invisible.
Thereafter with each moment passed in the
city the youth's wonder grew. He, who had
supposed himself created differently from all
others, now found the earth swarming with
creatures of his own kind.
28
C^e JLtfe ano aofocnturcg of ^>anta Claus
"Indeed," said Ak, "the immortals are few;
but the mortals are many."
Claus looked earnestly upon his fellows.
There were sad faces, gay and reckless faces,
pleasant faces, anxious faces and kindly faces,
all mingled in puzzling disorder. Some worked
at tedious tasks ; some strutted in impudent
conceit; some were thoughtful and grave while
others seemed happy and content. Men of
many natures were there, as everywhere, and
Claus found much to please him and much to
make him sad.
But especially he noted the children — first
curiously, then eagerly, then lovingly. Ragged
little ones rolled in the dust of the streets, play-
ing with scraps and pebbles. Other children,
gaily dressed, were propped upon cushions and
fed with sugar-plums. Yet the children of the
rich were not happier than those playing with
the dust and pebbles, it seemed to Claus.
" Childhood is the time of man's greatest
o
29
Ctjc life ants airtjcntitrtjs of ^anta Claire
content," said Ak, following the youth's
thoughts. "'Tis during these years of innocent
pleasure that the little ones are most free from
care."
" Tell me," said Claus, <<why do not all these
babies fare alike?"
" Because they are born in both cottage and
palace," returned the Master. " The difference
in the wealth of the parents determines the lot
of the child. Some are carefully tended and
clothed in silks and dainty linen ; others are
neglected and covered with rags."
" Yet all seem equally fair and sweet," said
Claus, thoughtfully.
"While they are babes — yes;" agreed Ak.
" Their joy is in being alive, and they do not
stop to think. In after years the doom of man-
kind overtakes them, and they find they must
struggle and worry, work and fret, to gain the
wealth that is so dear to the hearts of men.
Such things are unknown in the Forest where
3°
Clje life and ^Dftcitturcg of |a>attta Clangs
you were reared." Claus was silent a moment.
Then he asked:
" Why was I reared in the forest, among
those who are not of my race ? "
Then Ak, in gentle voice, told him the story
of his babyhood : how he had been abandoned
at the forest's edge and left a prey to wild
beasts, and how the loving nymph Necile had
rescued him and brought him to manhood
under the protection of the immortals.
" Yet I am not of them," said Claus, mus-
ingly.
"You are not of them," returned the Woods-
man. " The nymph who cared for you as a
mother seems now like a sister to you; by and
by, when you grow old and gray, she will seem
like a daughter. Yet another brief span and you
will be but a memory, while she remains Necile."
" Then why, if man must perish, is he born ? "
demanded the boy.
" Everything perishes except the world itself
31
€^e life attti ^LDtientxtrejs of |a>anta Clang
and its keepers," answered Ak. " But while life
lasts everything on earth has its use. The wise
seek ways to be helpful to the world, for the
helpful ones are sure to live again."
Much of this Claus failed to understand fully,
but a longing seized him to become helpful to
his fellows, and he remained grave and thought-
ful while they resumed their journey.
They visited many dwellings of men in many
parts of the world, watching farmers toil in the
fields, warriors dash into cruel fray, and mer-
chants exchange their goods for bits of white^
and yellow metal. And everywhere the eyes of
Claus sought out the children in love and pity,
for the thought of his own helpless babyhood
was strong within him and he yearned to give
help to the innocent little ones of his race even
as he had been succored by the kindly nymph.
Day by day the Master Woodsman and his
pupil traversed the earth, Ak speaking but sel-
dom to the youth who clung steadfastly to his
32
C^e life ant) atfocnturcg of ^attta Clang
girdle, but guiding him into all places where he
might become familiar with the lives of human
beings.
And at last they returned to the grand old
Forest of Burzee, where the Master set Claus
down within the circle of nymphs, among whom
the pretty Necile anxiously awaited him.
The brow of the great Ak was now calm and
peaceful ; but the brow of Claus had become
lined with deep thought. Necile sighed at the
change in her foster-son, who until now had
been ever joyous and smiling, and the thought
came to her that never again would the life of
the boy be the same as before this eventful
journey with the Master.
33
*^sm
CHAPTER SEVENTH
Clawg JLcafccg tlje forest
WHEN good Queen Zurline had touched
the golden chalice with her fair lips
and it had passed around the circle in
honor of the travelers' return, the Master
Woodsman of the World, who had not yet
spoken, turned his gaze frankly upon Claus
jjfojjLand said:
Q« "Well?"
|f|il§ The boy understood, and rose slowly to his
feet beside Necile. Once only his eyes passed
around the familiar circle of nymphs, every one
of whom he remembered as a loving comrade ;
but tears came unbidden to dim his sight, so
he gazed thereafter steadfastly at the Master.
" I have been ignorant," said he, simply,
34 ,
8%|// (, /
€fyc JLifc ana &tfotntom$ of ^>anta Claujs
" until the great Ak in his kindness taught me
who and what I am. You, who live so sweetly
in your forest bowers, ever fair and youthful
and innocent, are no fit comrades for a son of
humanity. For I have looked upon man, find-
ing him doomed to live for a brief space upon
earth, to toil for the things he needs, to fade
into old age, and then to pass away as the
leaves in autumn. Yet every man has his mis-
sion, which is to leave the world better, in
some way, than he found it. I am of the race
of men, and man's lot is my lot. For your ten-
der care of the poor, forsaken babe you adopted,
as well as for your loving comradeship during
my boyhood, my heart will ever overflow with
gratitude. My foster-mother," here he stooped
and kissed Necile's white forehead, " I shall love
and cherish while life lasts. But I must leave
you, to take my part in the endless struggle to
which humanity is doomed, and to live my life
in my own way."
35
€l?e Life auu at&cittiircg of ^attta Ctaug
"What will you do?" asked the Queen,
gravely.
" I must devote myself to the care of the
children of mankind, and try to make them
happy," he answered. " Since your own tender
care of a babe brought to me happiness and
strength, it is just and right that I devote my
life to the pleasure of other babes. Thus will
the memory of the loving nymph Necile be
planted within the hearts of thousands of my
race for many years to come, and her kindly
act be recounted in song and in story while the
world shall last. Have I spoken well, O Master? "
"You have spoken well," returned Ak, and
rising to his feet he continued: "Yet one
thing must not be forgotten. Having been
adopted as the child of the Forest, and the
playfellow of the nymphs, you have gained a
distinction which forever separates you from
your kind. Therefore, when you go forth into
the world of men you shall retain the protection
36
Cljc Life and atfocnturcg of ^>anta Claug
of the Forest, and the powers you now enjoy
will remain with you to assist you in your la-
bors. In any need you may call upon the
Nymphs, the Ryls, the Knooks and the Fairies,
and they will serve you gladly. I, the Master
Woodsman of the World, have said it, and my
Word is the Law ! "
Claus looked upon Ak with grateful eyes.
" This will make me mighty among men,"
he replied. " Protected by these kind friends I
may be able to make thousands of little chil-
dren happy. I will try very hard to do my
duty, and I know the Forest people will give
me their sympathy and help. "
" We will ! " said the Fairy Queen, earnestly.
" We will ! " cried the merry Ryls, laughing.
" We will !" shouted the crooked Knooks,
scowling.
"We will!" exclaimed the sweet nymphs,
proudly. But Necile said nothing. She only folded
Claus in her arms and kissed him tenderly.
37
C^e JLtfc auti ^Dticntxircjs of ^anta Claujs
" The world is big," continued the boy, turn-
ing again to his loyal friends, " but men are
everywhere. I shall begin my work near my
friends, so that if I meet with misfortune I can
come to the Forest for counsel or help."
With that he gave them all a loving look
and turned away. There was no need to say
good by, but for him the sweet, wild life of the
Forest was over. He went forth bravely to meet
his doom — the doom of the race of man — the
necessity to worry and work.
But Ak, who knew the boy's heart, was mer-
ciful and guided his steps.
# * # # #
Coming through Burzee to its eastern edge
Claus reached the Laughing Valley of Hohaho.
On each side were rolling green hills, and a
brook wandered midway between them to wind
afar off beyond the valley. At his back was the
grim Forest; at the far end of the valley a broad
38
Clje life and 9LDticnturejs of f^attta Clau$
plain. The eyes of the young man, which had
until now reflected his grave thoughts, became
brighter as he stood silent, looking out upon
the Laughing Valley. Then on a sudden his
eyes twinkled, as stars do on a still night, and
grew merry and wide.
For at his feet the cowslips and daisies smiled
on him in friendly regard; the breeze whistled
gaily as it passed by and fluttered the locks on
his forehead; the brook laughed joyously as it
leaped over the pebbles and swept around the
green curves of its banks ; the bees sang sweet
songs as they flew from dandelion to daffodil ;
the beetles chirruped happily in the long grass,
and the sunbeams glinted pleasantly over all
the scene.
" Here," cried Claus, stretching out his arms
as if to embrace the Valley, "will I make my
home!"
That was many, many years ago. It has been
his home ever since. It is his home now.
\ „
/ \
CHAPTER FIRST
/ \
€ljc Laughing Pallet
HEN Claus came the Valley was empty
save for the grass, the brook, the wild-
flowers, the bees and the butterflies.
If he would make his home here and live after
the fashion of men he must have a house. This
puzzled him at first, but while he stood smil-
ing in the sunshine he suddenly found beside
him old Nelko, the servant of the Master
Woodsman. Nelko bore an ax, strong and
broad, with blade that gleamed like burnished
silver. This he placed in the young man's hand,
then disappeared without a word.
Claus understood, and turning to the Forest's
edge he selected a number of fallen tree-trunks,
43
o Cl)c life anD ^ofocitturcg of ^attta Claujs
p? which he began to clear of their dead branches.
(j He would not cut into a living tree. His life
among the nymphs who guarded the Forest had
U taught him that a live tree is sacred, being a
created thing endowed with feeling. But with
the dead and fallen trees it was different. They
had fulfilled their destiny, as active members of
the Forest community, and now it was fitting
that their remains should minister to the needs
of man.
The ax bit deep into the logs at every stroke.
It seemed to have a force of its own, and Claus
had but to swing and guide it.
When shadows began creeping over the green
hills to lie in the Valley overnight, the young
man had chopped many logs into equal lengths
and proper shapes for building a house such as
he had seen the poorer classes of men inhabit.
Then, resolving to await another day before he
tried to fit the logs together, Claus ate some of
the sweet roots he well knew how to find, drank
44
Cl)e Lffe anD atfocnturcg of ^anta Clangs
deeply from the laughing brook, and lay down
to sleep on the grass, first seeking a spot where
no flowers grew, lest the weight of his body
should crush them.
And while he slumbered and breathed in the
perfume of the wondrous Valley the Spirit of
Happiness crept into his heart and drove out
all terror and care and misgivings. Never more
would the face of Claus be clouded with anxie-
ties; never more would the trials of life weigh
him down as with a burden. The Laughing
Valley had claimed him for its own.
Would that we all might live in that delight-
ful place! — but then, maybe, it would become
overcrowded. For ages it had awaited a tenant.
Was it chance that led young Claus to make
his home in this happy vale ? Or may we guess
that his thoughtful friends, the immortals, had
directed his steps when he wandered away from
Burzee to seek a home in the great world ?
Certain it is that while the moon peered
45
C^e Ltfe and aDtjenturejs of ^anta Claws
over the hilltop and flooded with its soft beams
the body of the sleeping stranger, the Laughing
Valley was filled with the queer, crooked shapes
of the friendly Knooks. These people spoke no
words, but worked with skill and swiftness. The
logs Claus had trimmed with his bright ax
were carried to a spot beside the brook and
fitted one upon another, and during the night
a strong and roomy dwelling was built.
The birds came sweeping into the Valley at
daybreak, and their songs, so seldom heard in
the deep wood, aroused the stranger. He rubbed
the web of sleep from his eyelids and looked
around. The house met his gaze.
" I must thank the Knooks for this," said he,
gratefully. Then he walked to his dwelling and
entered at the doorway. A large room faced
him, having a fireplace at the end and a table
and bench in the middle. Beside the fireplace
was a cupboard. Another doorway was beyond.
Claus entered here, also, and saw a smaller
46
C^e life ana atfocnttro of ^attta Clang
room with a bed against the wall and a stool
set near a small stand. On the bed were many
layers of dried moss brought from the Forest.
" Indeed, it is a palace ! " exclaimed the smil-
ing Claus. " I must thank the good Knooks
again, for their knowledge of man's needs as
well as for their labors in my behalf."
He left his new home with a glad feeling
that he was not quite alone in the world, al-
though he had chosen to abandon his Forest life.
Friendships are not easily broken, and the im-
mortals are everywhere.
Upon reaching the brook he drank of the
pure water, and then sat down on the bank
to laugh at the mischievous gambols of the rip-
ples as they pushed one another against rocks
or crowded desperately to see which should first
reach the turn beyond. And as they raced away
he listened to the song they sang:
C^e Life anti 3tftenture0 of ^auta Claug
" Rushing, pushing, on we go !
Not a wave may gently flow —
All are too excited.
Ev'ry drop, delighted,
Turns to spray in merry play
As we tumble on our
way
Next Claus searched for roots to eat, while
the daffodils turned their little eyes up to him
laughingly and lisped their dainty song:
" Blooming fairly, growing rarely,
Never flowerets were so gay !
Perfume breathing, joy bequeathing,
As our colors we display."
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 :
48
fltyz life ano atfocnturcg of ^anta Claug
" 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 hap-
piness 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 bed-
side.
When Claus awoke he rubbed his eyes again,
and laughed, and spoke aloud his thanks to the
49
Clje life and aDbetttureg of ^>anta Claujs
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 ut-
5°
%tyt Life anD aDfoenttireg of ^anta Claugs
tered a peculiar whistle he had learned in the
Forest, afterward crying:
" Ryls of the Field Flowers — come 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 blos-
soms ? "
The Yellow Ryl, he who tends the butter-
cups, made answer :
" Fret not, friend Claus. The great Ak has
5i
C^e Life ano atfocnturcg of ^>anta Clang
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 await-
ing 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
52
C^e Life and atfoenturcg of ^anta Clang
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.
S3
T
.CHAPTER SECOND
^otD Clawjs jttaDc tl)e tftrgt Coy
r""l ~~^RULY our Claus had wisdom, for his
good fortune but strengthened his re-
solve 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
54
%ty Itfe ano aDbeittutejs of ^anta Claus
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 chil-
dren were much neglected in those days and re-
ceived 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
*•••«
C^e Life ana aafoentureg of ^anta Claujs
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 stran-
ger'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.
S6
€l)e Life ana aMjcntureg of ^anta Claus
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 ! " de-
clared Jack. " The older ones are tough, and
tire my fingers."
" The young ones are weak, and can not fight
you," said Claus.
57
Ci)e life anD awjentiiress of ^>anta Clause
"True," agreed Jack, thoughtfully. "Well, I
will not pinch a child this night — if I can re-
sist the temptation," he promised. " Good night,
Glaus ! "
" 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 given 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.
58
C^e Life ano atfoeutureg of ^>anta Claug
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 be-
gan 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
59
Ctje JLtfe ana atfoctttureg of ^>attta Claujs
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 sus-
picion 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 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 even-
ing 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
60
Ctye Lffc anD aofocuturcg of ^>anta Clatijs
image to eye it closely and smell of it intel-
ligently. 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 J£y
photographs of ourselves. '^pl
The cat's master was himself pleased with his
handiwork, without knowing exactly why. In-
deed, he had great cause to congratulate himself
that night, and all the children throughout the
world should have joined him in rejoicing. For
Claus had made his first toy.
6t
CHAPTER THIRD
f oto tl)c 3W ColotcD tyz €o?$
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 in-
sects 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
Ctye Life and aotoetttut^ of ^attta Clang
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
63
C^e Life and atfoentureg of ^>anta Claus
push him over, but he stood firm. The help-
less flakes stumbled against his eyes and dimmed
his sight, but he rubbed them away and looked
again. Snow was everywhere, white and glitter-
ing. 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 res-
cued 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 his limbs.
64
%\\t Hit ano atfoenturcss of ^anta Claus
Before long the child opened his eyes and, see-
ing 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
65
Ctyc life and atfocuturcg of ^anta Clang
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, Week-
um ? " 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.
66
C^e Life ano atfoentureg of ^>attta Ciaujs
" 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 Week-
um. " 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 ! "
67
C^e Life ano atfoctrtmreg of ^anta Clang
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,
C^e Lift ano &mntmc$ of £>anta CIau£
" 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," re-
marked 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 Blink-
ie's neck," added the Blue Ryl. "I will get
some of the color that I use to paint the blue-
69
Cljc Life and atfoctrtiircg of ^attta Claim
bells 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 atten-
tion 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 morn-
ing came he started out and tramped through
the snow, across the Valley and the plain, until
70
C^e Life attD atfomtutrejs of ^anta Claug
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 her
and comforted her, and then he drew the toy
cat from beneath his coat, where he had hidden
it, and placed it in her arms.
Ah, how well he felt himself repaid for his
labor and his long walk when he saw the little
one's eyes grow bright with pleasure! She hugged
the kitty tight to her breast, as if it had been
a precious gem, and would not let it go for a
single moment. The fever was quieted, the pain
grew less, and she fell into a sweet and refresh-
ing sleep.
Claus laughed and whistled and sang all the
way home. Never had he been so happy as on
that day.
When he entered his house he found Shiegra,
the lioness, awaiting him. Since his babyhood
71
C^e Life attD atfocntureg of ^>attta Claug
Shiegra had loved Claus, and while he dwelt
in the Forest she had often come to visit him
at Necile's bower. After Claus had gone to
live in the Laughing Valley Shiegra became
lonely and ill at ease, and now she had braved
the snow-drifts, which all lions abhor, to see him
once more. Shiegra was getting 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
72
C^e Life attti aofocntiro of ^anta Claujg
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 happy — and 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."
73
€^e life and aofocntuteg of ^>attta Claug
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 like-
ness.
" You are indeed skilful! " 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.
CHAPTER FOURTH
^oto tittle jHa?rie 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 bois-
terously 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.
75
€^e Life ano atfoentutcjs of ^>anta Claujs
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 an-
other 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
76
C^e Life ana atfocnturcg of ^anta Clang
many words, nodded his head and exclaimed
like an echo : " Tat ! "
" Oh, you want my toy cats, do you ? " re-
turned 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.
"I — I — I wants a t — t — tat now!" she
wailed.
Her disappointment made Claus feel miser-
able for a moment. Then he suddenly remem-
bered Shiegra.
77
€;^e life anD atfoenturcg of ^>anta Claujs
" 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 pre-
cious cat in his fear.
For a moment Claus stood motionless, being
puzzled and astonished. Then he threw Shieg-
ra'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 as-
sured them many times that the beast had been
locked in the cupboard.
78
C^e Life anti atfoetttuteis of ^>attta Claug
" 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, hav-
ing 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 skilful 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
79
C^e Iffe ana atfoettttros of ^aitta Claug
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-man-
nered 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 never-
theless, 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.
80
C^c Life ano aobcnturcg of ^>attta Claus
First came the children who had been play-
mates 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
C^e life ano atfoctttureg of ^attta Clauss
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 whist-
ling 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.
82
i^oto I3e$i3fe I3ltt^e0ome Came to t^e lauding ballet
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
83
C^e iLtfc anD aDfeentweg of ^>anta Claujs
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," con-
tinued 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?
C^e Life ant) aDbetttureg of ^>anta Claug
Must I be denied the pretty toys I long for be-
cause 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 un-
happy."
Claus was troubled, for her grief recalled to
him the thought that his desire was to make all
children happy, without regard to their condi-
tion in life. Yet, while so many poor children
were clamoring for his toys he could not bear
to give one of 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.
C^c life ana aDtoetttirceg of ^anta Clang
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, listen-
ing with interest to his story of the visit of Bes-
sie Blithesome.
86
C^e Life ana atfoentutess of ^anta Claug
" 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 guard-
ians 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 rea-
sons 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 May-
rie's; she can be just as lonely and discon-
tented, and just as gay and happy. I think,
87
€^e Life and atfoenturcg of ^anta Claug
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 after-
ward 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 Blithe-
some. 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
C^e JUtfe anD aobcntureg of ^>anta Claug
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 skilful
strokes he formed long, waving hair on the head
and covered the body with a gown of oak-
leaves, 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:
C^e life ano atfoentureg of ^>anta Claus
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 him-
self 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 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
90
C^e life ana adfcentuteg of ^>anta Claug
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 be-
fore ! "
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
91
C^e titt atto atfocuturcg of ^anta Claus
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 daugh-
ter 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 re-
turned 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
neatly sewed it into a beautiful gown that just
92
C^c Life aitD atfocntiircg of ^>anta Claus
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've — I've — bwoke my tat!" sobbed Mayrie.
"How?" he inquired, his eyes twinkling.
"I — I 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
93
C^e life and aDfoentureg of ^>anta Claug
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 I "
" 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.
94
CHAPTER SIXTH
€^e WitUlmt$$ of t^e atngtoag
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 immor-
tals, 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
95
C^c Lffc and atfocututeg of ^>anta Clang
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 ac-
complish 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 crea-
tures lived to become a hundred years old, but
usually they fought so fiercely among them-
selves that many were destroyed in combat, and
when they died that was the end of them. Mor-
tals were powerless to harm them and the im-
mortals shuddered when the Awgwas were
mentioned, and always avoided them. So they
96
C^e Life anD aofoentuteg of ^>anta Claus*
flourished for many years unopposed and ac-
complished much evil.
I am glad to assure you that these vile crea-
tures have long since perished and passed from
earth ; but in the days when Claus was making
his first toys they were a numerous and power-
ful 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 chil-
dren 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 play-
97
C^e Life ano atfoetttuteg of £>attta Claug
things 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
€^e Life and atfoentureg of ^anta Claug
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 invisible Awgwas
surrounded his bed, bound him with stout cords,
and then flew away with him to the middle of
a dark forest in far off Ethop, where they laid
him down and left him.
When morning came Claus found himself
thousands of miles from any human being, a
prisoner in the wild jungle of an unknown land.
99
€i)c Life ano atfocnturcs of ^>anta Claug
From the limb of a tree above his head swayed
a huge python, one of those reptiles that are able
to crush a man's bones in their coils. A few yards
away crouched a savage panther, its glaring red
eyes fixed full on the helpless Glaus. One of those
monstrous spotted spiders whose sting is death
crept stealthily toward him over the matted
leaves, which shriveled and turned black at its
very touch.
But Claus had been reared in Burzee, and
was not afraid.
"Come to me, ye Knooks of the Forest!"
he cried, and gave the low, peculiar whistle that
the Knooks know.
The panther, which was about to spring upon
its victim, turned and slunk away. The python
swung itself into the tree and disappeared among
the leaves. The spider stopped short in its ad-
vance and hid beneath a rotting log.
Claus had no time to notice them, for he was
surrounded by a band of harsh-featured Knooks,
C^e Life attD aobcntureg of ^anta Claus
more crooked and deformed in appearance than
any he had ever seen.
" Who are you that call on us ? " demanded
one, in a gruff voice.
"The friend of your brothers in Burzee,"
answered Claus. " I have been brought here by
my enemies, the Awgwas, and left to perish
miserably. Yet now I implore your help to re-
lease me and to send me home again."
" Have you the sign ? " asked another.
"Yes," said Claus.
They cut his bonds, and with his free arms
he made the secret sign of the Knooks.
Instantly they assisted him to stand upon his
feet, and they brought him food and drink to
strengthen him.
" Our brothers of Burzee make queer friends,"
grumbled an ancient Knook whose flowing
beard was pure white. " But he who knows our
secret sign and signal is entitled to our help,
whoever he may be. Close your eyes, stranger,
€t)e JLife anD atfowtureg of ^attta Claujs
and we will conduct you to your home. Where
shall we seek it ? "
"'Tis in the Laughing Valley," answered
Claus, shutting his eyes.
" There is but one Laughing Valley in the
known world, so we can not go astray," re-
marked the Knook.
As he spoke the sound of his voice seemed to
die away, so Claus opened his eyes to see what
caused the change. To his astonishment he
found himself seated on the bench by his own
door, with the Laughing Valley spread out be-
fore him. That day he visited the Wood-
Nymphs and related his adventure to Queen
Zurline and Necile.
" The Awgwas have become your enemies,"
said the lovely Queen, thoughtfully ; " so we
must do all we can to protect you from their
power."
" It was cowardly to bind him while he slept,"
remarked Necile, with indignation.
€^e Life and aobentuteg of ^>anta Claug
" The evil ones are ever cowardly," answered
Zurline, " but our friend's slumber shall not be
disturbed again."
The Queen herself came to the dwelling of
Claus that evening and placed her Seal on every
door and window, to keep out the Awgwas.
And under the Seal of Queen Zurline was placed
the Seal of the Fairies and the Seal of the Ryls
and the Seal of the Knooks, that the charm
might become more powerful.
And Claus carried his toys to the children
again, and made many more of the little ones
happy.
You may guess how angry the King Awgwa
and his fierce band were when it was known
to them that Claus had escaped from the Forest
of Ethop.
They raged madly for a whole week, and then
held another meeting among the rocks.
" It is useless to carry him where the Knooks
reign," said the King, " for he has their protec-
103
Ctye life and atiticnturcjs of ^>anta Clang
tion. So let us cast him into a cave of our own
mountains, where he will surely perish."
This was promptly agreed to, and the wicked
band set out that night to seize Claus. But they
found his dwelling guarded by the Seals of the
Immortals and were obliged to go away baffled
and disappointed.
"Never mind," said the King; "he does not
sleep always ! "
Next day, as Claus traveled to the village
across the plain, where he intended to present
a toy squirrel to a lame boy, he was suddenly
set upon by the Awgwas, who seized him and
carried him away to the mountains.
There they thrust him within a deep cavern
and rolled many huge rocks against the entrance
to prevent his escape.
Deprived thus of light and food, and with
little air to breathe, our Claus was, indeed, in
a pitiful plight. But he spoke the mystic words
of the Fairies, which always command their
104
W$t Life and atfomtutcg of ^anta Claug
friendly aid, and they came to his rescue and
transported him to the Laughing Valley in the
twinkling of an eye.
Thus the Awgwas discovered they might
not destroy one who had earned the friendship
of the immortals; so the evil band sought
other means of keeping Claus from bringing
happiness to children and so making them
obedient.
Whenever Claus set out to carry his toys to
the little ones an Awgwa, who had been set
to watch his movements, sprang upon him and
snatched the toys from his grasp. And the chil-
dren were no more disappointed than was Claus
when he was obliged to return home disconso-
late. Still he persevered, and made many toys
for his little friends and started with them for
the villages. And always the Awgwas robbed
him as soon as he had left the Valley.
They threw the stolen playthings into one of
their lonely caverns, and quite a heap of toys
105
€Ije Hit ana QDUntuw of ^>attta Claug
accumulated before Claus became discouraged
and gave up all attempts to leave the Valley.
Then children began coming to him, since they
found he did not go to them ; but the wicked
Awgwas flew around them and caused their steps
to stray and the paths to become crooked, so
never a little one could find a way into the
Laughing Valley.
Lonely days now fell upon Claus, for he was
denied the pleasure of bringing happiness to the
children whom he had learned to love. Yet he
bore up bravely, for he thought surely the time
would come when the Awgwas would abandon
their evil designs to injure him.
He devoted all his hours to toy-making, and
when one plaything had been completed he
stood it on a shelf he had built for that pur-
pose. When the shelf became filled with rows
of toys he made another one, and filled that
also. So that in time he had many shelves filled
with gay and beautiful toys representing horses,
1 06
Ctye JLtfe ano atfoentirceg of ^>anta Claug
dogs, cats, elephants, lambs, rabbits and deer, as
well as pretty dolls of all sizes and balls and
marbles of baked clay painted in gay colors.
Often, as he glanced at this array of childish
treasures, the heart of good old Claus became
sad, so greatly did he long to carry the toys to
his children. And at last, because he could bear
it no longer, he ventured to go to the great Ak,
to whom he told the story of his persecution by
the Awgwas, and begged the Master Woodsman
to assist him.
107
C^e d&reat OBattle OBettoeen (Koon ana €Ul
AK LISTENED gravely to the recital of
/ ^ Claus, stroking his beard the while
with the slow, graceful motion that be-
tokened deep thought. He nodded approvingly
when Claus told how the Knooks and Fairies
had saved him from death, and frowned when
he heard how the Awgwas had stolen the chil-
dren's toys. At last he said :
" From the beginning I have approved the
work you are doing among the children of men,
and it annoys me that your good deeds should
be thwarted by the Awgwas. We immortals
have no connection whatever with the evil crea-
tures who have attacked you. Always have we
1 08
€i)e Life and atfocntureg of ^>anta Claujs M
avoided them, and they, in turn, have hitherto
taken care not to cross our pathway. But in
this matter I find they have interfered with one
of our friends, and I will ask them to abandon
their persecutions, as you are under our pro-
tection."
Claus thanked the Master Woodsman most
gratefully and returned to his Valley, while Ak,
who never delayed carrying out his promises, at
once traveled to the mountains of the Awgwas.
There, standing on the bare rocks, he called
on the King and his people to appear.
Instantly the place was filled with throngs of
the scowling Awgwas, and their King, perching
himself on a point of rock, demanded fiercely:
"Who dares call on us?"
" It is I, the Master Woodsman of the World,"
responded Ak.
" Here are no forests for you to claim," cried
the King, angrily. "We owe no allegiance to
you, nor to any immortal ! "
109
C^e life aito aobetttirces of ^>anta Clausi
" That is true," replied Ak, calmly. "Yet you
have ventured to interfere with the actions of
Claus, who dwells in the Laughing Valley, and
is under our protection."
Many of the Awgwas began muttering at this
speech, and their King turned threateningly on
the Master Woodsman.
"You are set to rule the forests, but the plains
and the valleys are ours ! " he shouted. " Keep
to your own dark woods ! We will do as we
please with Claus."
"You shall not harm our friend in any way! "
replied Ak.
" Shall we not ? " asked the King, impudently.
" You will see ! Our powers are vastly superior
to those of mortals, and fully as great as those
of immortals."
" It is your conceit that misleads you ! " said
Ak, sternly. " You are a transient race, passing
from life into nothingness. We, who live for-
ever, pity but despise you. On earth you are
€^e Life ana aDbentureg of ^>attta Claug
scorned by all, and in Heaven you have no
place ! Even the mortals, after their earth life,
enter another existence for all time, and so are
your superiors. How then dare you, who are
neither mortal nor immortal, refuse to obey my
wish ? "
The Awgwas sprang to their feet with men-
acing gestures, but their King motioned them
back.
" Never before," he cried to Ak, while his
voice trembled with rage, " has an immortal de-
clared himself the master of the Awgwas ! Never
shall an immortal venture to interfere with our
actions again ! For we will avenge your scorn-
ful words by killing your friend Claus within
three days. Nor you, nor all the immortals can
save him from our wrath. We defy your pow-
ers ! Begone, Master Woodsman of the World !
In the country of the Awgwas you have no
place."
" It is war! " declared Ak, with flashing eyes.
€^e Life anD aofcenturcg of ^anta Claujs
"It is war!" returned the King, savagely.
" In three days your friend will be dead."
The Master turned away and came to his
Forest of Burzee, where he called a meeting of
the immortals and told them of the defiance of
the Awgwas and their purpose to kill Claus
within three days.
The little folk listened to him quietly.
" What shall we do ? " asked Ak.
" These creatures are of no benefit to the
world," said the Prince of the Knooks ; " we
must destroy them."
" Their lives are devoted only to evil deeds,"
said the Prince of the Ryls. " We must destroy
them."
" They have no conscience, and endeavor to
make all mortals as bad as themselves," said the
Queen of the Fairies. "We must destroy them."
" They have defied the great Ak, and threaten
the life of our adopted son," said beautiful
Queen Zurline. " We must destroy them."
CIjc life ano atfoentureg of ^>anta Claujs
The Master Woodsman smiled.
" You speak well," said he. " These Awgwas
we know to be a powerful race, and they will
fight desperately; yet the outcome is certain.
For we who live can never die, even though
conquered by our enemies, while every Awgwa
who is struck down is one foe the less to op-
pose us. Prepare, then, for battle, and let us
resolve to show no mercy to the wicked ! "
Thus arose that terrible war between the im-
mortals and the spirits of evil which is sung of
in Fairyland to this very day.
The King Awgwa and his band determined
to carry out the threat to destroy Claus. They
now hated him for two reasons : he made chil-
dren happy and was a friend of the Master
Woodsman. But since Ak's visit they had rea-
son to fear the opposition of the immortals, and
they dreaded defeat. So the King sent swift
messengers to all parts of the world to summon
every evil creature to his aid.
"3
€t)e life ana atfoentutcg of ^>attta Claug
And on the third day after the declaration of
war a mighty army was at the command of the
King Awgwa. There were three hundred Asiatic
Dragons, breathing fire that consumed every-
thing it touched. These hated mankind and all
good spirits. And there were the three -eyed
Giants of Tatary, a host in themselves, who liked
nothing better than to fight. And next came
the Black Demons from Patalonia, with great
spreading wings like those of a bat, which swept
terror and misery through the world as they
beat upon the air. And joined to these were
the Goozzle-Goblins, with long talons as sharp
as swords, with which they clawed the flesh from
their foes. Finally, every mountain Awgwa in
the world had come to participate in the great
battle with the immortals.
The King Awgwa looked around upon this
vast army and his heart beat high with wicked
pride, for he believed he would surely triumph
over his gentle enemies, who had never before
114
Clje life anD aotoentwcg of ^>attta Claug
been known to fight. But the Master Woods-
man had not been idle. None of his people was
used to warfare, yet now that they were called
upon to face the hosts of evil they willingly
prepared for the fray.
Ak had commanded them to assemble in the
Laughing Valley, where Claus, ignorant of the
terrible battle that was to be waged on his ac-
count, was quietly making his toys.
Soon the entire Valley, from hill to hill, was
filled with the little immortals. The Master
Woodsman stood first, bearing a gleaming ax
that shone like burnished silver. Next came
the Ryls, armed with sharp thorns from bramble-
bushes. Then the Knooks, bearing the spears
they used when they were forced to prod their
savage beasts into submission. The Fairies,
dressed in white gauze with rainbow-hued
wings, bore golden wands, and the Wood-
nymphs, in their uniforms of oak-leaf green,
carried switches from ash trees as weapons.
IJ5
C^e Life atiD £Dfcenture0 of ^>anta Clau#
Loud laughed the Awgwa King when he be-
held the size and the arms of his foes. To be
sure the mighty ax of the Woodsman was to be
dreaded, but the sweet-faced Nymphs and pretty
Fairies, the gentle Ryls and crooked Knooks
were such harmless folk that he almost felt
shame at having called such a terrible host to
oppose them.
" Since these fools dare fight," he said to the
leader of the Tatary Giants, " I will overwhelm
them with our evil powers ! "
To begin the battle he poised a great stone
in his left hand and cast it full against the sturdy
form of the Master Woodsman, who turned it
aside with his ax. Then rushed the three-eyed
Giants of Tatary upon the Knooks, and the
Goozzle-Goblins upon the Ryls, and the fire-
breathing Dragons upon the sweet Fairies. Be-
cause the Nymphs were Ak's own people the
band of Awgwas sought them out, thinking to
overcome them with ease.
116
Clje Life ana aobentureg of ^anta Claug
But it is the Law that while Evil, unopposed,
may accomplish terrible deeds, the powers of
Good can never be overthrown when opposed
to Evil. Well had it been for the King Awgwa
had he known the Law !
His ignorance cost him his existence, for one
flash of the ax borne by the Master Woods-
man of the World cleft the wicked King in
twain and rid the earth of the vilest creature it
contained.
Greatly marveled the Tatary Giants when
the spears of the little Knooks pierced their
thick walls of flesh and sent them reeling to
the ground with howls of agony.
Woe came upon the sharp-taloned Goblins
when the thorns of the Ryls reached their sav-
age hearts and let their life-blood sprinkle all
the plain. And afterward from every drop a
thistle grew.
The Dragons paused astonished before the
Fairy wands, from whence rushed a power that
117
C^c Life anD atfocutiircg of ^>anta Clans
caused their fiery breaths to flow back on them-
selves so that they shriveled away and died.
As for the Awgwas, they had scant time to
realize how they were destroyed, for the ash
switches of the Nymphs bore a charm unknown
to any Awgwa, and turned their foes into clods
of earth at the slightest touch !
When Ak leaned upon his gleaming ax and
turned to look over the field of battle he saw
the few Giants who were able to run disappearing
over the distant hills on their return to Tatary.
The Goblins had perished every one, as had the
terrible Dragons, while all that remained of the
wicked Awgwas was a great number of earthen
hillocks dotting the plain.
And now the immortals melted from the
Valley like dew at sunrise, to resume their du-
ties in the Forest, while Ak walked slowly and
thoughtfully to the house of Claus and entered.
" You have many toys ready for the children,"
said the Woodsman, " and now you may carry
118
C^e life ano atfoentwcjs of ^>anta Claug
them across the plain to the dwellings and the
villages without fear."
" Will not the Awgwas harm me ? " asked
Claus, eagerly.
" The Awgwas," said Ak, " have perished ! "
* -3f * * #
Now I will gladly have done with wicked
spirits and with fighting and bloodshed. It was
not from choice that I told of the Awgwas and
their allies, and of their great battle with the
immortals. They were part of this history, and
could not be avoided.
119
CHAPTER EIGHTH
C^e first gjouroei? toity t^e KefnDee*
THOSE were happy days for Claus when
he carried his accumulation of toys to
the children who had awaited them so
long. During his imprisonment in the Valley
he had been so industrious that all his shelves
were filled with playthings, and after quickly
supplying the little ones living near by he saw
he must now extend his travels to wider fields.
Remembering the time when he had jour-
neyed with Ak through all the world, he knew
children were everywhere, and he longed to
make as many as possible happy with his gifts.
So he loaded a great sack with all kinds of
toys, slung it upon his back that he might carry
C^e Life ano aabcntutes of ^attta Claug
it more easily, and started off on a longer trip
than he had yet undertaken.
Wherever he showed his merry face, in hamlet
or in farmhouse, he received a cordial welcome,
for his fame had spread into far lands. At each
village the children swarmed about him, follow-
ing his footsteps wherever he went; and the
women thanked him gratefully for the joy he
brought their little ones; and the men looked
upon him curiously that he should devote his
time to such a queer occupation as toy-making.
But every one smiled on him and gave him
kindly words, and Claus felt amply repaid for
his long journey.
When the sack was empty he went back again
to the Laughing Valley and once more filled it
to the brim. This time he followed another
road, into a different part of the country, and
carried happiness to many children who never
before had owned a toy or guessed that such a
delightful plaything existed.
€I)e life and aofoettatteg of ^anta Ciaug
After a third journey, so far away that Claus
was many days walking the distance, the store
of toys became exhausted and without delay he
set about making a fresh supply.
From seeing so many children and studying
their tastes he had acquired several new ideas
about toys.
The dollies were, he had found, the most
delightful of all playthings for babies and
little girls, and often those who could not
say "dolly" would call for a "doll" in
their sweet baby talk. So Claus resolved to
make many dolls, of all sizes, and to dress
them in bright- colored clothing. The older
boys — and even some of the girls — loved the
images of animals, so he still made cats and
elephants and horses. And many of the little
fellows had musical natures, and longed for
drums and cymbals and whistles and horns. So
he made a number of toy drums, with tiny sticks
to beat them with ; and he made whistles from
C^e JLtfe atto aDtoenturcg of ^>attta Claus
the willow trees, and horns from the bog-reeds,
and cymbals from bits of beaten metal.
All this kept him busily at work, and before
he realized it the winter season came, with deeper
snows than usual, and he knew he could not
leave the Valley with his heavy pack. More-
over, the next trip would take him farther from
home than ever before, and Jack Frost was mis-
chievous enough to nip his nose and ears if he
undertook the long journey while the Frost
King reigned. The Frost King was Jack's father
and never reproved him for his pranks.
So Claus remained at his work-bench; but
he whistled and sang as merrily as ever, for he
would allow no disappointment to sour his tem-
per or make him unhappy.
One bright morning he looked from his win-
dow and saw two of the deer he had known in
the Forest walking toward his house.
Claus was surprised; not that the friendly
deer should visit him, but that they walked on
123
C^e Life ana adventures of ^>anta Clans?
the surface of the snow as easily as if it were
solid ground, notwithstanding the fact that
throughout the Valley the snow lay many feet
deep. He had walked out of his house a day or
two before and had sunk to his arm- pits in
a drift.
So when the deer came near he opened the
door and called to them :
" Good morning, Flossie ! Tell me how you
are able to walk on the snow so easily."
" It is frozen hard," answered Flossie.
" The Frost King has breathed on it," said
Glossie, coming up, " and the surface is now
as solid as ice."
" Perhaps," remarked Claus, thoughtfully, " I
might now carry my pack of toys to the chil-
dren."
"Is it a long journey? " asked Flossie.
"Yes; it will take me many days, for the
pack is heavy," answered Claus.
" Then the snow would melt before you
124
C^c JLtfe ana atfocntuteg of |a>anta Claus
could get back," said the deer. "You must
wait until spring, Claus."
Claus sighed. " Had I your fleet feet," said
he, "I could make the journey in a day."
" But you have not," returned Glossie, look-
ing at his own slender legs with pride.
"Perhaps I could ride upon your back,"
Claus ventured to remark, after a pause.
" Oh, no ; our backs are not strong enough
to bear your weight," said Flossie, decidedly.
" But if you had a sledge, and could harness us
to it, we might draw you easily, and your pack
as well."
" I'll make a sledge ! " exclaimed Claus. "Will
you agree to draw me if I do ? "
"Well," replied Flossie, "we must first go
and ask the Knooks, who are our guardians, for
permission; but if they consent, and you can
make a sledge and harness, we will gladly assist
you."
" Then go at once ! " cried Claus, eagerly.
125
Cije Life ana aabenturess of ^>anta Claws
" I am sure the friendly Knooks will give their
consent, and by the time you are back I shall
be ready to harness you to my sledge."
Flossie and Glossie, being deer of much in-
telligence, had long wished to see the great
world, so they gladly ran over the frozen snow
to ask the Knooks if they might carry Claus on
his journey.
Meantime the toy-maker hurriedly began the
construction of a sledge, using material from his
wood-pile. He made two long runners that
turned upward at the front ends, and across
these nailed short boards, to make a platform.
It was soon completed, but was as rude in ap-
pearance as it is possible for a sledge to be.
The harness was more difficult to prepare,
but Claus twisted strong cords together and
knotted them so they would fit around the
necks of the deer, in the shape of a collar.
From these ran other cords to fasten the deer
to the front of the sledge.
126
C^e Hffe and a&bcntureg of ^anta Claug
Before the work was completed Glossie and
Flossie were back from the Forest, having been
granted permission by Will Knook to make the
journey with Claus provided they would return
to Burzee by daybreak the next morning.
"That is not a very long time," said Flossie;
" but we are swift and strong, and if we get
started by this evening we can travel many miles
during the night."
Claus decided to make the attempt, so he
hurried on his preparations as fast as possible.
After a time he fastened the collars around the
necks of his steeds and harnessed them to his
rude sledge. Then he placed a stool on the
little platform, to serve as a seat, and filled a
sack with his prettiest toys.
" How do you intend to guide us ? " asked
Glossie. " We have never been out of the Forest
before, except to visit your house, so we shall
not know the way."
Claus thought about that for a moment.
127
C^e Utt ano aDbetttureg of ^>attta Clang
Then he brought more cords and fastened two
of them to the spreading antlers of each deer,
one on the right and the other on the left.
" Those will be my reins," said Claus, " and
when I pull them to the right or to the left you
must go in that direction. If I do not pull the
reins at all you may go straight ahead."
" Very well," answered Glossie and Flossie ;
and then they asked : " Are you ready ? "
Claus seated himself upon the stool, placed
the sack of toys at his feet, and then gathered
up the reins.
"All ready!" he shouted; "away we go!"
The deer leaned forward, lifted their slender
limbs, and the next moment away flew the sledge
over the frozen snow. The swiftness of the mo-
tion surprised Claus, for in a few strides they
were across the Valley and gliding over the
broad plain beyond.
The day had melted into evening by the time
they started ; for, swiftly as Claus had worked,
C^e tift ana aabenturcg of ^>attta ClaujS
many hours had been consumed in making his
preparations. But the moon shone brightly to
light their way, and Claus soon decided it was
just as pleasant to travel by night as by day.
The deer liked it better; for, although they
wished to see something of the world, they were
timid about meeting men, and now all the
dwellers in the towns and farmhouses were
sound asleep and could not see them.
Away and away they sped, on and on over
the hills and through the valleys and across the
plains until they reached a village where Claus
had never been before.
Here he called on them to stop, and they im-
mediately obeyed. But a new difficulty now
presented itself, for the people had locked their
doors when they went to bed, and Claus found
he could not enter the houses to leave his toys.
" I am afraid, my friends, we have made our
journey for nothing," said he, "for I shall be
obliged to carry my playthings back home again
129
C^c life aito aafcetttureg of ^>attta Claug
without giving them to the children of this
village."
"What's the matter?" asked Flossie.
" The doors are locked," answered Claus,
" and I can not get in."
Glossie looked around at the houses. The
snow was quite deep in that village, and just
before them was a roof only a few feet above
the sledge. A broad chimney, which seemed to
Glossie big enough to admit Claus, was at the
peak of the roof.
"Why don't you climb down that chimney?"
asked Glossie.
Claus looked at it.
" That would be easy enough if I were on
top of the roof," he answered.
" Then hold fast and we will take you there,"
said the deer, and they gave one bound to the
| roof and landed beside the big chimney.
" Good ! " cried Claus, well pleased, and he
130
Ctje Life and aDtocntuteg of ^>anta Claug
slung the pack of toys over his shoulder and got
into the chimney.
There was plenty of soot on the bricks, but
he did not mind that, and by placing his hands
and knees against the sides he crept downward
until he had reached the fireplace. Leaping
lightly over the smoldering coals he found him-
self in a large sitting-room, where a dim light
was burning.
From this room two doorways led into smaller
chambers. In one a woman lay asleep, with a
baby beside her in a crib.
Claus laughed, but he did not laugh aloud
for fear of waking the baby. Then he slipped a
big doll from his pack and laid it in the crib.
The little one smiled, as if it dreamed of the
pretty plaything it was to find on the morrow,
and Claus crept softly from the room and en-
tered at the other doorway.
Here were two boys, fast asleep with their
arms around each other's neck. Claus gazed at
131
C^e Hit ana atfoentureg of ^>attta Claug
them lovingly a moment and then placed upon
the bed a drum, two horns and a wooden ele-
phant.
He did not linger, now that his work in this
house was done, but climbed the chimney again
and seated himself on his sledge.
"Can you find another chimney?" he asked
the reindeer.
" Easily enough," replied Glossie and Flossie.
Down to the edge of the roof they raced,
and then, without pausing, leaped through the
air to the top of the next building, where a
huge, old-fashioned chimney stood.
" Don't be so long, this time," called Flossie,
" or we shall never get back to the Forest by
daybreak."
Claus made a trip down this chimney also
and found five children sleeping in the house,
all of whom were quickly supplied with toys.
When he returned the deer sprang to the
next roof, but on descending the chimney Claus
132
W$z Life auo aobentureg of ^anta Claug
found no children there at all. That was not
often the case in this village, however, so he lost
less time than you might suppose in visiting the
dreary homes where there were no little ones.
When he had climbed down the chimneys of
all the houses in that village, and had left a toy
for every sleeping child, Claus found that his
great sack was not yet half emptied.
"Onward, friends!" he called to the deer;
"we must seek another village."
So away they dashed, although it was long
past midnight, and in a surprisingly short time
they came to a large city, the largest Claus had
ever visited since he began to make toys. But,
nothing daunted by the throng of houses, he
set to work at once and his beautiful steeds car-
ried him rapidly from one roof to another, only
the highest being beyond the leaps of the agile
deer.
At last the supply of toys was exhausted and
Claus seated himself in the sledge, with the
*33
C^e life anD 3Ltit»cnturcjS of ^>anta Claug
empty sack at his feet, and turned the heads of
Glossie and Flossie toward home.
Presently Flossie asked:
" What is that gray streak in the sky ? "
" It is the coming dawn of day," answered
Claus, surprised to find that it was so late.
" Good gracious ! " exclaimed Glossie ; " then
we shall not be home by daybreak, and the
Knooks will punish us and never let us come
again."
" We must race for the Laughing Valley and
make our best speed," returned Flossie; "so
hold fast, friend Claus ! "
Claus held fast and the next moment was
flying so swiftly over the snow that he could
not see the trees as they whirled past. Up hill
and down dale, swift as an arrow shot from
a bow they dashed, and Claus shut his eyes to
keep the wind out of them and left the deer to
find their own way.
It seemed to him they were plunging through
*34
C^e JLifc ano aofcentutxg of ^>anta Claujs
space, but he was not at all afraid. The Knooks
were severe masters, and must be obeyed at all
hazards, and the gray streak in the sky was
growing brighter every moment.
Finally the sledge came to a sudden stop and
Claus, who was taken unawares, tumbled from
his seat into a snowdrift. As he picked himself
up he heard the deer crying:
"Quick, friend, quick! Cut away our har-
ness ! "
He drew his knife and rapidly severed the
cords, and then he wiped the moisture from his
eyes and looked around him.
The sledge had come to a stop in the Laugh-
ing Valley, only a few feet, he found, from his
own doorD In the East the day was breaking,
and turning to the edge of Burzee he saw Glos-
sie and Flossie just disappearing in the Forest.
£s>anta Clang ! "
CLAUS thought that none of the children
would ever know where the toys came
from which they found by their bedsides
when they wakened the following morning. But
kindly deeds are sure to bring fame, and fame
has many wings to carry its tidings into far lands ;
so for miles and miles in every direction people
were talking of Claus and his wonderful gifts to
children. The sweet generousness of his work
caused a few selfish folk to sneer, but even these
were forced to admit their respect for a man so
gentle-natured that he loved to devote his life
to pleasing the helpless little ones of his race.
Therefore the inhabitants of every city and
village had been eagerly watching the coming of
136
€Ije life ana atfoetttureg of ^anta Claug
Claus, and remarkable stones of his beautiful
playthings were told the children to keep them
patient and contented.
When, on the morning following the first trip
of Claus with his deer, the little ones came run-
ning to their parents with the pretty toys they
had found, and asked from whence they came,
there was but one reply to the question.
" The good Claus must have been here, my
darlings; for his are the only toys in all the
world ! "
"But how did he get in?" asked the children.
At this the fathers shook their heads, being
themselves unable to understand how Claus had
gained admittance to their homes; but the
mothers, watching the glad faces of their dear
ones, whispered that the good Claus was no
mortal man but assuredly a Saint, and they
piously blessed his name for the happiness he
had bestowed upon their children.
" A Saint," said one, with bowed head, " has
J37
C^e life and aotocntutcg of ^>attta Claujs
no need to unlock doors if it pleases him to
enter our homes."
And, afterward, when a child was naughty or
disobedient, its mother would say:
" You must pray to the good Santa Claus for
forgiveness. He does not like naughty children,
and, unless you repent, he will bring you no
more pretty toys."
But Santa Claus himself would not have ap-
proved this speech. He brought toys to the
children because they were little and helpless,
and because he loved them. He knew that the
best of children were sometimes naughty, and
that the naughty ones were often good. It is
the way with children, the world over, and he
would not have changed their natures had he
possessed the power to do so.
And that is how our Claus became Santa
Claus. It is possible for any man, by good
deeds, to enshrine himself as a Saint in the
hearts of the people.
T
~^HE day that broke as Glaus returned
from his night ride with Glossie and
Flossie brought to him a new trouble.
Will Knook, the chief guardian of the deer,
came to him, surly and ill-tempered, to com-
plain that he had kept Glossie and Flossie be-
yond daybreak, in opposition to his orders»
"Yet it could not have been very long after
daybreak," said Claus.
" It was one minute after," answered Will
Knook, " and that is as bad as one hour. I shall
set the stinging gnats on Glossie and Flossie,
and they will thus suffer terribly for their dis-
obedience."
*39
Clje JLtfe and atfoentirceg of ^>anta eiaug
"Don't do that!" begged Claus. "It was
my fault."
But Will Knook would listen to no excuses,
and went away grumbling and growling in his
ill-natured way.
For this reason Claus entered the Forest to
consult Necile about rescuing the good deer
from punishment. To his delight he found his
old friend, the Master Woodsman, seated in the
circle of Nymphs.
Ak listened to the story of the night journey
to the children and of the great assistance the
deer had been to Claus by drawing his sledge
over the frozen snow.
" I do not wish my friends to be punished if
I can save them," said the toy-maker, when he
had finished the relation. " They were only one
minute late, and they ran swifter than a bird
flies to get home before daybreak."
Ak stroked his beard thoughtfully a moment,
and then sent for the Prince of the Knooks,
140
C^e Life attD aDtocututeg of ^attta Claug
who rules all his people in Burzee, and also for
the Queen of the Fairies and the Prince of
the Ryls.
When all had assembled Claus told his story
again, at Ak's command, and then the Master
addressed the Prince of the Knooks, saying :
" The good work that Claus is doing among
mankind deserves the support of every honest
immortal. Already he is called a Saint in some
of the towns, and before long the name of Santa
Claus will be lovingly known in every home
that is blessed with children. Moreover, he is a
son of our Forest, so we owe him our encour-
agement. You, Ruler of the Knooks, have
known him these many years ; am I not right
in saying he deserves our friendship ? "
The Prince, crooked and sour of visage as all
Knooks are, looked only upon the dead leaves
at his feet and muttered : " You are the Master
Woodsman of the World ! "
Ak smiled, but continued, in soft tones: "It
141
Cl)e Life ant) atfocnturcg of ^>anta Claus
seems that the deer which are guarded by your
people can be of great assistance to Claus, and
as they seem willing to draw his sledge I beg
that you will permit him to use their services
whenever he pleases."
The Prince did not reply, but tapped the
curled point of his sandal with the tip of his
spear, as if in thought.
Then the Fairy Queen spoke to him in this
way: "If you consent to Ak's request I will
see that no harm comes to your deer while they
are away from the Forest."
And the Prince of the Ryls added: "For my
part I will allow to every deer that assists Claus
the privilege of eating my casa plants, which
give strength, and my grawle plants, which give
fleetness of foot, and my marbon plants, which
give long life."
And the Queen of the Nymphs said : " The
deer which draw the sledge of Claus will be
permitted to bathe in the Forest pool of Nares,
142
C^e life and atfoentirceg of ^>attta Claug
which will give them sleek coats and wonderful
beauty."
The Prince of the Knooks, hearing these
promises, shifted uneasily on his seat, for in his
heart he hated to refuse a request of his fellow
immortals, although they were asking an unusual
favor at his hands, and the Knooks are unaccus-
tomed to granting favors of any kind. Finally
he turned to his servants and said:
« Call Will Knook."
When surly Will came and heard the demands
of the immortals he protested loudly against
granting them.
" Deer are deer," said he, " and nothing but
deer. Were they horses it would be right to
harness them like horses. But no one harnesses
deer because they are free, wild creatures, owing
no service of any sort to mankind. It would
degrade my deer to labor for Claus, who is only
a man in spite of the friendship lavished on
him by the immortals."
i43
C^e life and aDfoetttureg of ^>attta Clauds
" You have heard," said the Prince to Ak.
" There is truth in what Will says."
"Call Glossie and Flossie," returned the
Master.
The deer were brought to the conference and
Ak asked them if they objected to drawing the
sledge for Claus.
"No, indeed! " replied Glossie; "we enjoyed
the trip very much."
"And we tried hard to get home by day-
break," added Flossie, " but were unfortunately
a minute too late."
"A minute lost at daybreak doesn't matter,"
said Ak. " You are forgiven for that delay."
" Provided it does not happen again," said
the Prince of the Knooks, sternly.
" And will you permit them to make another
journey with me ? " asked Claus, eagerly.
The Prince reflected while he gazed at Will,
who was scowling, and at the Master Woods-
man, who was smiling.
144
C^e Life ana aobentttteg of ^anta Claujs
Then he stood up and addressed the com-
pany as follows :
" Since you all urge me to grant the favor I
will permit the deer to go with Claus once every
year, on Christmas Eve, provided they always
return to the Forest by daybreak. He may select
any number he pleases, up to ten, to draw his
sledge, and those shall be known among us as
Reindeer, to distinguish them from the others.
And they shall bathe in the Pool of Nares, and
eat the casa and grawle and marbon plants and
shall be under the especial protection of the
Fairy Queen. And now cease scowling, Will
Knook, for my words shall be obeyed ! "
He hobbled quickly away through the trees, *tf'
to avoid the thanks of Claus and the approval
of the other immortals, and Will, looking as
cross as ever, followed him.
But Ak was satisfied, knowing that he could
rely on the promise of the Prince, however
grudgingly given ; and Glossie and Flossie ran
H5
Ci)c Life ana SHfocntureg of ^>auta Clang
home, kicking up their heels delightedly at every
step.
" When is Christmas Eve ? " Claus asked the
Master.
" In about ten days," he replied.
" Then I can not use the deer this year," said
Claus, thoughtfully, " for I shall not have time
enough to make my sackful of toys."
" The shrewd Prince foresaw that," responded
Ak, " and therefore named Christmas Eve as
the day you might use the deer, knowing it
would cause you to lose an entire year."
" If I only had the toys the Awgwas stole
from me," said Claus, sadly, " I could easily fill
my sack for the children."
" Where are they ? " asked the Master.
" I do not know," replied Claus, " but the
wicked Awgwas probably hid them in the
mountains."
Ak turned to the Fairy Queen.
" Can you find them ? " he asked.
146
C^e life anD atfoentmress of ^attta Clauss
" I will try," she replied, brightly.
Then Glaus went back to the Laughing Val-
ley, to work as hard as he could, and a band of
Fairies immediately flew to the mountain that
had been haunted by the Awgwas and began a
search for the stolen toys.
The Fairies, as we well know, possess won-
derful powers; but the cunning Awgwas had
hidden the toys in a deep cave and covered the
opening with rocks, so no one could look in.
Therefore all search for the missing playthings
proved in vain for several days, and Claus, who
sat at home waiting for news from the Fairies,
almost despaired of getting the toys before
Christmas Eve.
He worked hard every moment, but it took
considerable time to carve out and to shape
each toy and to paint it properly, so that on
the morning before Christmas Eve only half of
one small shelf above the window was filled
with playthings ready for the children.
H7
C^c Life ano atfoentureg of ^>anta Claug
But on this morning the Fairies who were
searching in the mountains had a new thought.
They joined hands and moved in a straight line
through the rocks that formed the mountain,
beginning at the topmost peak and working
downward, so that no spot could be missed by
their bright eyes. And at last they discovered
the cave where the toys had been heaped up by
the wicked Awgwas.
It did not take them long to burst open the
mouth of the cave, and then each one seized as
many toys as he could carry and they all flew
to Claus and laid the treasure before him.
The good man was rejoiced to receive, just
in the nick of time, such a store of playthings
with which to load his sledge, and he sent
word to Glossie and Flossie to be ready for the
journey at nightfall.
With all his other labors he had managed to
find time, since the last trip, to repair the har-
ness and to strengthen his sledge, so that when
C^e Life auo atfoentutcg of ^>attta Claug
the deer came to him at twilight he had no diffi-
culty in harnessing them.
" We must go in another direction to-night,"
he told them, "where we shall find children I
have never yet visited. And we must travel fast
and work quickly, for my sack is full of toys
and running over the brim ! "
So, just as the moon arose, they dashed out
of the Laughing Valley and across the plain and
over the hills to the south. The air was sharp
and frosty and the starlight touched the snow-
flakes and made them glitter like countless
diamonds. The reindeer leaped onward with
strong, steady bounds, and Claus' heart was so
light and merry that he laughed and sang while
the wind whistled past his ears :
"With a ho, ho, ho!
And a ha, ha, ha !
And a ho, ho ! ha, ha, hee !
149
C^e Life and attoentureg of ^>attta Claug
Now away we go
O'er the frozen snow,
As merry as we can be ! "
Jack Frost heard him and came racing up
with his nippers, but when he saw it was Claus
he laughed and turned away again.
The mother owls heard him as he passed near
a wood and stuck their heads out of the hollow
places in the tree-trunks; but when they saw
who it was they whispered to the owlets nestling
near them that it was only Santa Claus carrying
toys to the children. It is strange how much
those mother owls know.
Claus stopped at some of the scattered farm-
houses and climbed down the chimneys to leave
presents for the babies. Soon after he reached
a village and worked merrily for an hour distrib-
uting playthings among the sleeping little ones.
Then away again he went, singing his joyous
? carol :
*5°
Clje Life anti atfoentureg of ^anta Claug
" Now away we go
O'er the gleaming snow,
While the deer run swift and free !
For to girls and boys
We carry the toys
That will fill their hearts with glee ! "
The deer liked the sound of his deep bass
voice and kept time to the song with their hoof-
beats on the hard snow; but soon they stopped
at another chimney and Santa Claus, with spark-
ling eyes and face brushed red by the wind,
climbed down its smoky sides and left a present
for every child the house contained.
It was a merry, happy night. Swiftly the deer
ran, and busily their driver worked to scatter his
gifts among the sleeping children.
But the sack was empty at last, and the sledge
headed homeward ; and now again the race with
daybreak began. Glossie and Flossie had no
mind to be rebuked a second time for tardiness,
I5I
Clje Life ana attoentureg of ^>auta Claujs
so they fled with a swiftness that enabled them
to pass the gale on which the Frost King rode,
and soon brought them to the Laughing Valley.
It is true that when Claus released his steeds
from their harness the eastern sky was streaked
with gray, but Glossie and Flossie were deep in
the Forest before day fairly broke.
Claus was so wearied with his night's work
that he threw himself upon his bed and fell into
a deep slumber, and while he slept the Christ-
mas sun appeared in the sky and shone upon
hundreds of happy homes where the sound of
childish laughter proclaimed that Santa Claus
had made them a visit.
God bless him ! It was his first Christmas
Eve, and for hundreds of years since then he
has nobly fulfilled his mission to bring happi-
ness to the hearts of little children.
CHAPTER ELEVENTH
t^otu ti)t fftgt ^tocfctngg mere ^img by t^e Canute?
WHEN you remember that no child, un-
til Santa Claus began his travels, had
ever known the pleasure of possessing
a toy, you will understand how joy crept into
the homes of those who had been favored with
a visit from the good man, and how they talked
of him day by day in loving tones and were
honestly grateful for his kindly deeds. It is true
that great warriors and mighty kings and clever
scholars of that day were often spoken of by
the people ; but no one of them was so greatly
beloved as Santa Claus, because none other was
so unselfish as to devote himself to making
others happy. For a generous deed lives longer
*53
Clje Life anD atfoentuteg of ^>anta Clans
than a great battle or a king's decree or a
scholar's essay, because it spreads and leaves its
mark on all nature and endures through many
generations.
The bargain made with the Knook Prince
changed the plans of Claus for all future time ;
for, being able to use the reindeer on but one
night of each year, he decided to devote all the
other days to the manufacture of playthings,
and on Christmas Eve to carry them to the
children of the world.
But a year's work would, he knew, result in
a vast accumulation of toys, so he resolved to
build a new sledge that would be larger and
stronger and better-fitted for swift travel than
the old and clumsy one.
His first act was to visit the Gnome King,
with whom he made a bargain to exchange
three drums, a trumpet and two dolls for a pair
of fine steel runners, curled beautifully at the
ends. For the Gnome King had children of his
*54
€^e Life attD atfoentureg of ^>anta Claug
own, who, living in the hollows under the earth,
in mines and caverns, needed something to
amuse them.
In three days the steel runners were ready,
and when Claus brought the playthings to the
Gnome King, his Majesty was so greatly pleased
with them that he presented Claus with a string
of sweet-toned sleigh-bells, in addition to the
runners.
" These will please Glossie and Flossie," said
Claus, as he jingled the bells and listened to
their merry sound. " But I should have two
strings of bells, one for each deer."
" Bring me another trumpet and a toy cat,"
replied the King, " and you shall have a second
string of bells like the first."
" It is a bargain ! " cried Claus, and he went
home again for the toys.
The new sledge was carefully built, the
Knooks bringing plenty of strong but thin
boards to use in its construction. Claus made
i55
Cl)c life anD atfocntureg of ^anta Clang
a high, rounding dash-board to keep off the
snow cast behind by the fleet hoofs of the deer;
and he made high sides to the platform so that
many toys could be carried, and finally he
mounted the sledge upon the slender steel run-
ners made by the Gnome King.
It was certainly a handsome sledge, and big
and roomy. Claus painted it in bright colors,
although no one was likely to see it during his
midnight journeys, and when all was finished he
sent for Glossie and Flossie to come and look
at it.
The deer admired the sledge, but gravely de-
clared it was too big and heavy for them to
draw.
"We might pull it over the snow, to be sure,"
said Glossie ; " but we could not pull it fast
enough to enable us to visit the far-away cities
and villages and return to the Forest by day-
break."
" Then I must add two more deer to my
156
C^e JLffe and aDfoentutejs of ^anta Claus
team," declared Claus, after a moment's
thought.
" The Knook Prince allowed you as many as
ten. Why not use them all?" asked Flossie.
" Then we could speed like the lightning and
leap to the highest roofs with ease."
"A team of ten reindeer!" cried Claus, de-
lightedly. " That will be splendid. Please return
to the Forest at once and select eight other deer
as like yourselves as possible. And you must all
eat of the casa plant, to become strong, and of
the grawle plant, to become fleet of foot, and of
the marbon plant, that you may live long to ac-
company me on my journeys. Likewise it will
be well for you to bathe in the Pool of Nares,
which the lovely Queen Zurline declares will
render you rarely beautiful. Should you per-
form these duties faithfully there is no doubt
that on next Christmas Eve my ten reindeer
will be the most powerful and beautiful steeds
the world has ever seen ! "
i57
€i)e Life and ^Dtocnturcg of ^auta Claug
So Glossie and Flossie went to the Forest to
choose their mates, and Claus began to consider
the question of a harness for them all.
In the end he called upon Peter Knook for
assistance, for Peter's heart is as kind as his body
is crooked, and he is remarkably shrewd, as well.
And Peter agreed to furnish strips of tough
leather for the harness.
This leather was cut from the skins of lions
that had reached such an advanced age that they
died naturally, and on one side was tawny hair
while the other side was cured to the softness of
velvet by the deft Knooks. When Claus received
these strips of leather he sewed them neatly into
a harness for the ten reindeer, and it proved
strong and serviceable and lasted him for many
years.
The harness and sledge were prepared at odd
times, for Claus devoted most of his days to the
making of toys. These were now much better
than his first ones had been, for the immortals
158
Ctye Life ano aatientirceg of ^>anta Claug
often came to his house to watch him work and
to offer suggestions. It was Necile's idea to
make some of the dolls say "papa" and "mama."
It was a thought of the Knooks to put a squeak
inside the lambs, so that when a child squeezed
them they would say " baa-a-a-a ! " And the
Fairy Queen advised Claus to put whistles in
the birds, so they could be made to sing, and
wheels on the horses, so children could draw
them around. Many animals perished in the
Forest, from one cause or another, and their fur
was brought to Claus that he might cover with
it the small images of beasts he made for play-
things. A merry Ryl suggested that Claus make
a donkey with a nodding head, which he did,
and afterward found that it amused the little
ones immensely. And so the toys grew in
beauty and attractiveness every day, until they
were the wonder of even the immortals.
When another Christmas Eve drew near there
was a monster load of beautiful gifts for the
*S9
C^e life ant) atfoetttureg of ^attta Claug
children ready to be loaded upon the big sledge.
Claus filled three sacks to the brim, and tucked
every corner of the sledge-box full of toys be-
sides.
Then, at twilight, the ten reindeer appeared
and Flossie introduced them all to Claus. They
were Racer and Pacer, Reckless and Speckless,
Fearless and Peerless, and Ready and Steady,
who, with Glossie and Flossie, made up the ten
who have traversed the world these hundreds of
years with their generous master. They were all
exceedingly beautiful, with slender limbs, spread-
ing antlers, velvety dark eyes and smooth coats
of fawn color spotted with white.
Claus loved them at once, and has loved them
ever since, for they are loyal friends and have
rendered him priceless service.
The new harness fitted them nicely and soon
they were all fastened to the sledge by twos,
with Glossie and Flossie in the lead. These
wore the strings of sleigh-bells, and were so de-
160
C^e life anD atfoentuteg of ^anta Claitf
lighted with the music they made that they kept
prancing up and down to make the bells ring.
Claus now seated himself in the sledge, drew
a warm robe over his knees and his fur cap over
his ears, and cracked his long whip as a signal
to start.
Instantly the ten leaped forward and were
away like the wind, while jolly Claus laughed
gleefully to see them run and shouted a song in
his big, hearty voice :
"With a ho, ho, ho!
And a ha, ha, ha !
And a ho, ho, ha, ha, hee !
Now away we go
O'er the frozen snow,
As merry as we can be !
There are many joys
In our load of toys,
As many a child will know;
161
€^e JLife ana atfoentutreg of ^>attta Claug
We'll scatter them wide
On our wild night ride
O'er the crisp and sparkling snow ! "
Now it was on this same Christmas Eve that
little Margot and her brother Dick and her
cousins Ned and Sara, who were visiting at
Margot's house, came in from making a snow
man, with their clothes damp, their mittens drip-
ping and their shoes and stockings wet through
and through. They were not scolded, for Mar-
got's mother knew the snow was melting, but
they were sent early to bed that their clothes
might be hung over chairs to dry. The shoes
were placed on the red tiles of the hearth,
where the heat from the hot embers would
strike them, and the stockings were carefully
hung in a row by the chimney, directly over the
fireplace.
That was the reason Santa Claus noticed
them when he came down the chimney that
162
C^e Htfe an& aDfoentureg of ^anta Claug
night and all the household were fast asleep.
He was in a tremendous hurry, and seeing the
stockings all belonged to children he quickly
stuffed his toys into them and dashed up the
chimney again, appearing on the roof so sud-
denly that the reindeer were astonished at his
agility.
" I wish they would all hang up their stock-
ings," he thought, as he drove to the next
chimney. " It would save me a lot of time and
I could then visit more children before day-
break."
When Margot and Dick and Ned and Sara
jumped out of bed next morning and ran down-
stairs to get their stockings from the fireplace
they were filled with delight to find the toys
from Santa Claus inside them. In fact, I think
they found more presents in their stockings than
any other children of that city had received,
for Santa Claus was in a hurry and did not
PTftstop to count the toys.
Clje life and atfoentureg of ^>anta Claug
Of course they told all their little friends
about it, and of course every one of them de-
cided to hang his own stockings by the fire-
place the next Christmas Eve. Even Bessie
Blithesome, who made a visit to that city with
her father, the great Lord of Lerd, heard the
story from the children and hung her own pretty
stockings by the chimney when she returned
home at Christmas time.
On his next trip Santa Claus found so many
stockings hung up in anticipation of his visit
that he could fill them in a jiffy and be away
again in half the time required to hunt the
children up and place the toys by their bed-
sides.
The custom grew year after year, and has
always been a great help to Santa Claus. And,
with so many children to visit, he surely needs
all the help we are able to give him.
C^e tfitsst C&rtetmag %m
CLAUS has always kept his promise to the
Knooks by returning to the Laughing
Valley by daybreak, but only the swift-
ness of his reindeer has enabled him to do this,
for he travels over all the world.
He loved his work and he loved the brisk
night ride on his sledge and the gay tinkle of
the sleigh-bells. On that first trip with the ten
reindeer only Glossie and Flossie wore bells ;
but each year thereafter for eight years Claus
carried presents to the children of the Gnome
King, and that good-natured monarch gave him
in return a string of bells at each visit, so that
finally every one of the ten deer was supplied,
165
C^e life anD SUfocnturcg of fbanta Clatig
and you may imagine what a merry tune the
bells played as the sledge sped over the snow.
The children's stockings were so long that it
required a great many toys to fill them, and
soon Claus found there were other things be-
sides toys that children love. So he sent some
of the Fairies, who were always his good friends,
into the Tropics, from whence they returned with
great bags full of oranges and bananas which
they had plucked from the trees. And other
Fairies flew to the wonderful Valley of Phunny-
land, where delicious candies and bonbons grow
thickly on the bushes, and returned laden with
many boxes of sweetmeats for the little ones.
These things Santa Claus, on each Christmas
Eve, placed in the long stockings, together with
his toys, and the children were glad to get them,
you may be sure.
There are also warm countries where there
is no snow in winter, but Claus and his reindeer
visited them as well as the colder climes, for
166
C^e life anD aDbcntutxg of ^anta Claug
there were little wheels inside the runners of his
sledge which permitted it to run as smoothly
over bare ground as on the snow. And the chil-
dren who lived in the warm countries learned
to know the name of Santa Claus as well as
those who lived nearer to the Laughing Valley.
Once, just as the reindeer were ready to start
on their yearly trip, a Fairy came to Claus and
told him of three little children who lived be-
neath a rude tent of skins on a broad plain
where there were no trees whatever. These poor
babies were miserable and unhappy, for their
parents were ignorant people who neglected
them sadly. Claus resolved to visit these children
before he returned home, and during his ride he
picked up the bushy top of a pine tree which
the wind had broken off and placed it in his
sledge.
It was nearly morning when the deer stopped
before the lonely tent of skins where the poor
children lay asleep. Claus at once planted the
167
C^e Life and atibentutcg of ^aitta Claug
bit of pine tree in the sand and stuck many
candles on the branches. Then he hung some
of his prettiest toys on the tree, as well as sev-
eral bags of candies. It did not take long to do
all this, for Santa Claus works quickly, and when
all was ready he lighted the candles and, thrust-
ing his head in at the opening of the tent, he
shouted :
"Merry Christmas, little ones!"
With that he leaped into his sledge and was
out of sight before the children, rubbing the
sleep from their eyes, could come out to see
who had called them.
You can imagine the wonder and joy of those
little ones, who had never in their lives known
a real pleasure before, when they saw the tree,
sparkling with lights that shone brilliant in the
gray dawn and hung with toys enough to make
them happy for years to come! They joined
hands and danced around the tree, shouting and
laughing, until they were obliged to pause for
1 68
C^e life ana atfoetttirceg of ^>anta €lam
breath. And their parents, also, came out to
look and wonder, and thereafter had more re-
spect and consideration for their children, since
Santa Claus had honored them with such beau-
tiful gifts.
The idea of the Christmas tree pleased Claus,
and so the following year he carried many of
them in his sledge and set them up in the homes
of poor people who seldom saw trees, and placed
candles and toys on the branches. Of course he
could not carry enough trees in one load for all
who wanted them, but in some homes the fathers
were able to get trees and have them all ready
for Santa Claus when he arrived; and these the
good Claus always decorated as prettily as pos-
sible and hung with toys enough for all the
children who came to see the tree lighted.
These novel ideas and the generous manner
in which they were carried out made the chil-
dren long for that one night in the year when
their friend Santa Claus should visit them, and
169
C^e Life ana atfoentureg of ^>anta Claug
as such anticipation is very pleasant and com-
forting the little ones gleaned much happiness
by wondering what would happen when Santa
Claus next arrived.
Perhaps you remember that stern Baron
Braun who once drove Claus from his castle and
forbade him to visit his children ? Well, many
years afterward, when the old Baron was dead
and his son ruled in his place, the new Baron
Braun came to the house of Claus with his train
of knights and pages and henchmen and, dis-
mounting from his charger, bared his head
humbly before the friend of children.
" My father did not know your goodness and
worth," he said, " and therefore threatened to
hang you from the castle walls. But I have
children of my own, who long for a visit from
Santa Claus, and I have come to beg that you
will favor them hereafter as you do other
children."
Claus was pleased with this speech, for Castle
170
C^e JLtfe ana atfocntutxg of ^>anta Claujs
Braun was the only place he had never visited,
and he gladly promised to bring presents to the
Baron's children the next Christmas Eve.
The Baron went away contented, and Claus
kept his promise faithfully.
Thus did this man, through very goodness,
conquer the hearts of all ; and it is no wonder
he was ever merry and gay, for there was no
home in the wide world where he was not wel-
comed more royally than any king.
171
C^e jftatttle of gjmmottaliti?
AND now we come to a turning-point in
the career of Santa Claus, and it is my
duty to relate the most remarkable cir-
cumstance that has happened since the world
began or mankind was created.
We have followed the life of Claus from the
time he was found a helpless infant by the
Wood-Nymph Necile and reared to manhood
in the great Forest of Burzee. And we know
how he began to make toys for children and
how, with the assistance and good-will of the
immortals, he was able to distribute them to the
little ones throughout the world.
For many years he carried on this noble
i75
Clje Life anti atfoeuturcg of ^attta Clang
work; for the simple, hard-working life he led
gave him perfect health and strength. And
doubtless a man can live longer in the beautiful
Laughing Valley, where there are no cares and
everything is peaceful and merry, than in any
other part of the world.
But when many years had rolled away Santa
Claus grew old. The long beard of golden
brown that once covered his cheeks and chin
gradually became gray, and finally turned to
pure white. His hair was white, too, and there
were wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, which
showed plainly when he laughed. He had never
been a very tall man, and now he became fat,
and waddled very much like a duck when he
walked. But in spite of these things he re-
mained as lively as ever, and was just as jolly
and gay, and his kind eyes sparkled as brightly
as they did that first day when he came to the
Laughing Valley.
Yet a time is sure to come when every mortal
176
€^e life and atfoetttureg of ^>anta Claug
who has grown old and lived his life is required
to leave this world for another; so it is no
wonder that, after Santa Claus had driven his
reindeer on many and many a Christmas Eve,
those stanch friends finally whispered among
themselves that they had probably drawn his
sledge for the last time.
Then all the Forest of Burzee became sad
and all the Laughing Valley was hushed; for
every living thing that had known Claus had
used to love him and to brighten at the sound
of his footsteps or the notes of his merry whistle.
No doubt the old man's strength was at last
exhausted, for he made no more toys, but lay
on his bed as in a dream.
The Nymph Necile, she who had reared him
and been his foster-mother, was still youthful
and strong and beautiful, and it seemed to her
but a short time since this aged, gray-bearded
man had lain in her arms and smiled on her
with his innocent, baby lips.
177
C^e Life ana £Dfoetttute0 of ^auta Claxijs
In this is shown the difference between mor-
tals and immortals.
It was fortunate that the great Ak came to
the Forest at that time. Necile sought him with
troubled eyes and told him of the fate that
threatened their friend Claus.
At once the Master became grave, and he
leaned upon his ax and stroked his grizzled
beard thoughtfully for many minutes. Then
suddenly he stood up straight, and poised his
powerful head with firm resolve, and stretched
out his great right arm as if determined on
doing some mighty deed. For a thought had
come to him so grand in its conception that all
the world might well bow before the Master
Woodsman and honor his name forever !
It is well known that when the great Ak once
undertakes to do a thing he never hesitates an
instant. Now he summoned his fleetest mes-
sengers, and sent them in a flash to many parts
of the earth. And when they were gone he
178
Stye Life attD atfoetttirceg of ffeattta Claug
turned to the anxious Necile and comforted
her, saying:
"Be of good heart, my child; our friend still
lives. And now run to your Queen and tell
her that I have summoned a council of all the
immortals of the world to meet with me here in
Burzee this night. If they obey, and harken
unto my words, Claus will drive his reindeer
for countless ages yet to come."
At midnight there was a wondrous scene in
the ancient Forest of Burzee, where for the first
time in many centuries the rulers of the im-
mortals who inhabit the earth were gathered
together.
There was the Queen of the Water Sprites,
whose beautiful form was as clear as crystal but
continually dripped water on the bank of moss
where she sat. And beside her was the King of
the Sleep Fays, who carried a wand from the
end of which a fine dust fell all around, so that
no mortal could keep awake long enough to
179
C^e life and &Dfccuture0 of ^attta Claujs
see him, as mortal eyes were sure to close in
sleep as soon as the dust filled them. And next
to him sat the Gnome King, whose people in-
habit all that region under the earth's surface,
where they guard the precious metals and the
jewel stones that lie buried in rock and ore.
At his right hand stood the King of the Sound
Imps, who had wings on his feet, for his people
are swift to carry all sounds that are made.
When they are busy they carry the sounds but
short distances, for there are many of them; but
sometimes they speed with the sounds to places
miles and miles away from where they are made.
The King of the Sound Imps had an anxious
and careworn face, for most people have no
consideration for his Imps and, especially the
boys and girls, make a great many unnecessary
sounds which the Imps are obliged to carry
when they might be better employed.
The next in the circle of immortals was the
King of the Wind Demons, slender of frame,
C^e Life and aDfoentiireg of ^>anta Clang
restless and uneasy at being confined to one
place for even an hour. Once in a while he
would leave his place and circle around the
glade, and each time he did this the Fairy
Queen was obliged to untangle the flowing
locks of her golden hair and tuck them back of
her pink ears. But she did not complain, for it
was not often that the King of the Wind Demons
came into the heart of the Forest. After the
Fairy Queen, whose home you know was in old
Burzee, came the King of the Light Elves, with
his two Princes, Flash and Twilight, at his back.
He never went anywhere without his Princes,
for they were so mischievous that he dared not
let them wander alone.
Prince Flash bore a lightning-bolt in his right
hand and a horn of gunpowder in his left, and
his bright eyes roved constantly around, as if he
longed to use his blinding flashes. Prince Twi-
light held a great snuffer in one hand and a big
black cloak in the other, and it is well known
Clje life and aafccnturcg of ^anta Clang
that unless Twilight is carefully watched the
snuffers or the cloak will throw everything into
darkness, and Darkness is the greatest enemy
the King of the Light Elves has.
In addition to the immortals I have named
were the King of the Knooks, who had come
from his home in the jungles of India; and the
King of the Ryls, who lived among the gay
flowers and luscious fruits of Valencia. Sweet
Queen Zurline of the Wood-Nymphs completed
the circle of immortals.
But in the center of the circle sat three others
who possessed powers so great that all the Kings
and Queens showed them reverence.
These were Ak, the Master Woodsman of the
World, who rules the forests and the orchards
and the groves ; and Kern, the Master Hus-
bandman of the World, who rules the grain
fields and the meadows and the gardens ; and
Bo, the Master Mariner of the World, who
rules the seas and all the craft that float thereon.
C^e Life ana atfocnturcg of ^>anta Clang
And all other immortals are more or less subject
to these three.
When all had assembled the Master Woods-
man of the World stood up to address them,
since he himself had summoned them to the
council.
Very clearly he told them the story of Claus,
beginning at the time when as a babe he had
been adopted a child of the Forest, and telling
of his noble and generous nature and his life-
long labors to make children happy.
"And now," said Ak, "when he has won the
love of all the world, the Spirit of Death is hov-
ering over him. Of all men who have inhabited
the earth none other so well deserves immor-
tality, for such a life can not be spared so long
as there are children of mankind to miss him
and to grieve over his loss. We immortals are
the servants of the world, and to serve the world
we were permitted in the Beginning to exist.
But what one of us is more worthy of immor-
183
C^e Mft ana atfonttuteg of ^>anta Claus
tality than this man Claus, who so sweetly min-
isters to the little children ? "
He paused and glanced around the circle, to
find every immortal listening to him eagerly and
nodding approval. Finally the King of the Wind
Demons, who had been whistling softly to him-
self, cried out :
" What is your desire, O Ak ? "
" To bestow upon Claus the Mantle of Im-
mortality ! " said Ak, boldly.
That this demand was wholly unexpected was
proved by the immortals springing to their feet
and looking into each other's face with dismay
and then upon Ak with wonder. For it was a
grave matter, this parting with the Mantle of
Immortality.
The Queen of the Water Sprites spoke in
her low, clear voice, and the words sounded like
raindrops splashing upon a window-pane.
" In all the world there is but one Mantle of
Immortality," she said.
184
C^e life anD atfoentureg of ^>anta Claujs
The King of the Sound Fays added:
" It has existed since the Beginning, and no
mortal has ever dared to claim it."
And the Master Mariner of the World arose
and stretched his limbs, saying:
" Only by the vote of every immortal can it
be bestowed upon a mortal."
"I know all this," answered Ak, quietly.
" But the Mantle exists, and if it was created,
as you say, in the Beginning, it was because the
Supreme Master knew that some day it would
be required. Until now no mortal has deserved
it, but who among you dares deny that the good
Claus deserves it ? Will you not all vote to be-
stow it upon him ? "
They were silent, still looking upon one an-
other questioningly.
" Of what use is the Mantle of Immortality
unless it is worn?" demanded Ak. "What will
it profit any one of us to allow it to remain in
its lonely shrine for all time to come ? "
,85
C^c Life anD &tifomtun$ of Ibanta Clang
" Enough ! " cried the Gnome King, abruptly.
"We will vote on the matter, yes or no. For
my part, I say yes ! "
"And I!" said the Fairy Queen, promptly,
and Ak rewarded her with a smile.
" My people in Burzee tell me they have
learned to love him ; therefore I vote to give
Claus the Mantle," said the King of the Ryls.
" He is already a comrade of the Knooks,"
announced the ancient King of that band. "Let
him have immortality! "
"Let him have it — let him have it! " sighed
the King of the Wind Demons.
"Why not?" asked the King of the Sleep
Fays. "He never disturbs the slumbers my
people allow humanity. Let the good Claus be
immortal ! "
"I do not object," said the King of the
Sound Imps.
"Nor I," murmured the Queen of the Water
Sprites.
186
C^c Life ant) #ot)cnture0 of ^>attta Claug
" If Claus does not receive the Mantle it is
clear none other can ever claim it," remarked
the King of the Light Elves, " so let us have
done with the thing for all time."
"The Wood-Nymphs were first to adopt
him," said Queen Zurline. " Of course I shall
vote to make him immortal."
Ak now turned to the Master Husbandman
of the World, who held up his right arm and
said " Yes ! "
And the Master Mariner of the World did
likewise, after which Ak, with sparkling eyes
and smiling face, cried out :
"I thank you, fellow immortals! For all
have voted < yes,' and so to our dear Claus shall
fall the one Mantle of Immortality that it is in
our power to bestow ! "
" Let us fetch it at once," said the Fay King;
" I'm in a hurry."
They bowed assent, and instantly the Forest
glade was deserted. But in a place midway be-
187
C^c life and atfocnturcg of ^anta Claug
tween the earth and the sky was suspended a
gleaming crypt of gold and platinum, aglow
with soft lights shed from the facets of countless
gems. Within a high dome hung the precious
Mantle of Immortality, and each immortal
placed a hand on the hem of the splendid Robe
and said, as with one voice :
" We bestow this Mantle upon Claus, who is
called the Patron Saint of Children ! "
At this the Mantle came away from its lofty
crypt, and they carried it to the house in the
Laughing Valley.
The Spirit of Death was crouching very near
to the bedside of Claus, and as the immortals
approached she sprang up and motioned them
back with an angry gesture. But when her eyes
fell upon the Mantle they bore she shrank away
with a low moan of disappointment and quitted
that house forever.
Softly and silently the immortal Band dropped
upon Claus the precious Mantle, and it closed
C^e itfe and a&betttirceis of ^anta Claug
about him and sank into the outlines of his
body and disappeared from view. It became a
part of his being, and neither mortal nor im-
mortal might ever take it from him.
Then the Kings and Queens who had wrought
this great deed dispersed to their various homes,
and all were well contented that they had added
another immortal to their Band.
And Claus slept on, the red blood of ever-
lasting life coursing swiftly through his veins;
and on his brow was a tiny drop of water that
had fallen from the ever-melting gown of the
Queen of the Water Sprites, and over his lips
hovered a tender kiss that had been left by the
sweet Nymph Necile. For she had stolen in
when the others were gone to gaze with rapture
upon the immortal form of her foster son.
CHAPTER SECOND
Wtym t^e ^orltJ $rctu 3DID
T~ ~"^HE next morning, when Santa Claus
opened his eyes and gazed around the
familiar room, which he had feared he
might never see again, he was astonished to find
his old strength renewed and to feel the red
blood of perfect health coursing through his
veins. He sprang from his bed and stood where
the bright sunshine came in through his window
and flooded him with its merry, dancing rays.
He did not then understand what had hap-
pened to restore to him the vigor of youth, but
in spite of the fact that his beard remained the
color of snow and that wrinkles still lingered in
the corners of his bright eyes, old Santa Claus
IQO
C^e life ant) aMjenturcjs of ^anta Claug
felt as brisk and merry as a boy of sixteen, and
was soon whistling contentedly as he busied him-
self fashioning new toys. J,
Then Ak came to him and told of the Man- W
tie of Immortality and how Claus had won it
through his love for little children.
It made old Santa look grave for a mo-
ment to think he had been so favored; but it
also made him glad to realize that now he need
never fear being parted from his dear ones. At
once he began preparations for making a re-
markable assortment of pretty and amusing play-
things, and in larger quantities than ever before;
for now that he might always devote himself to
this work he decided that no child in the world,
poor or rich, should hereafter go without a
Christmas gift if he could manage to supply it.
The world was new in the days when dear
old Santa Claus first began toy-making and
won, by his loving deeds, the Mantle of Im-
mortality. And the task of supplying cheering
i9i
C^e Life atto atfocnturos of ^>anta Claujs
words, sympathy and pretty playthings to all the
young of his race did not seem a difficult un-
dertaking at all. But every year more and more
children were born into the world, and these,
when they grew up, began spreading slowly over
all the face of the earth, seeking new homes ; so
that Santa Claus found each year that his jour-
neys must extend farther and farther from the
Laughing Valley, and that the packs of toys
must be made larger and ever larger.
So at length he took counsel with his fellow
immortals how his work might keep pace with
the increasing number of children that none
might be neglected. And the immortals were
so greatly interested in his labors that they gladly
rendered him their assistance. Ak gave him his
man Kilter, "the silent and swift." And the
Knook Prince gave him Peter, who was more
crooked and less surly than any of his brothers.
And the Ryl Prince gave him Nuter, the sweet-
est tempered Ryl ever known. And the Fairy
192
Ctye Life and £Dbcntureg of £a>attta Claug
Queen gave him Wisk, that tiny, mischievous
but lovable Fairy who knows to-day almost as
many children as does Santa Claus himself.
With these people to help make the toys and
to keep his house in order and to look after the
sledge and the harness, Santa Claus found it
much easier to prepare his yearly load of gifts,
and his days began to follow one another
smoothly and pleasantly.
Yet after a few generations his worries were
renewed, for it was remarkable how the num-
ber of people continued to grow, and how
many more children there were every year to
be served. When the people filled all the cities
and lands of one country they wandered into
another part of the world; and the men cut
down the trees in many of the great forests that
had been ruled by Ak, and with the wood they
built new cities, and where the forests had
been were fields of grain and herds of browsing
cattle.
193
C^e Life anfc atsbenturcg of fbanta Clans
t
You might think the Master Woodsman would
rebel at the loss of his forests; but not so. The
wisdom of Ak was mighty and far-seeing.
" The world was made for men," said he to
Santa Claus, "and I have but guarded the forests
until men needed them for their use. I am glad
my strong trees can furnish shelter for men's
weak bodies, and warm them through the cold
winters. But I hope they will not cut down all
the trees, for mankind needs the shelter of the
woods in summer as much as the warmth of
blazing logs in winter. And, however crowded
the world may grow, I do not think men will
ever come to Burzee, nor to the Great Black
Forest, nor to the wooded wilderness of Braz ;
unless they seek their shades for pleasure and
not to destroy their giant trees*"
By and by people made ships from the tree-
trunks and crossed over oceans and built cities
y£^»in far lands; but the oceans made little differ-
ence to the journeys of Santa Claus. His rein-
A »' J
§~Hr*
C^e Life and aobcnturcg of ^>anta Clauss
deer sped over the waters as swiftly as over land,
and his sledge headed from east to west and
followed in the wake of the sun. So that as the
earth rolled slowly over Santa Claus had all of
twenty-four hours to encircle it each Christmas
Eve, and the speedy reindeer enjoyed these won-
derful journeys more and more.
So year after year, and generation after gen-
eration, and century after century, the world
grew older and the people became more nu-
merous and the labors of Santa Claus steadily
increased. The fame of his good deeds spread
to every household where children dwelt. And
all the little ones loved him dearly; and the
fathers and mothers honored him for the happi-
ness he had given them when they too were
young; and the aged grandsires and grand-
dames remembered him with tender gratitude
and blessed his name.
Cl)e ^cputicss of ^anta Claug
ITOWEVER, there was one evil following
I in the path of civilization that caused
Santa Claus a vast amount of trouble
before he discovered a way to overcome it. But,
fortunately, it was the last trial he was forced to
undergo.
One Christmas Eve, when his reindeer had
leaped to the top of a new building, Santa Claus
was surprised to find that the chimney had been
built much smaller than usual. But he had no
time to think about it just then, so he drew in
his breath and made himself as small as possible
and slid down the chimney.
" I ought to be at the bottom by this time,"
196
C^e life and attoetttutrcg of ^>anta Claujs
he thought, as he continued to slip downward ;
but no fireplace of any sort met his view, and
by and by he reached the very end of the chim-
ney, which was in the cellar.
"This is odd!" he reflected, much puzzled
by this experience. " If there is no fireplace,
what on earth is the chimney good for ? "
Then he began to climb out again, and found
it hard work — the space being so small. And
on his way up he noticed a thin, round pipe
sticking through the side of the chimney, but
could not guess what it was for.
Finally he reached the roof and said to the
reindeer :
" There was no need of my going down that
chimney, for I could find no fireplace through
which to enter the house. I fear the children
who live there must go without playthings this"
Christmas."
Then he drove on, but soon came to another
new house with a small chimney. This caused
197
%ty Life ana atfoenturcg of ^anta Claug
Santa Claus to shake his head doubtfully, but
he tried the chimney, nevertheless, and found it
exactly like the other. Moreover, he nearly
stuck fast in the narrow flue and tore his jacket
trying to get out again ; so, although he came
to several such chimneys that night, he did not
venture to descend any more of them.
" What in the world are people thinking of,
to build such useless chimneys ? " he exclaimed.
" In all the years I have traveled with my rein-
deer I have never seen the like before."
True enough; but Santa Claus had not then
discovered that stoves had been invented and
were fast coming into use. When he did find it
out he wondered how the builders of those
houses could have so little consideration for
him, when they knew very well it was his cus-
tom to climb down chimneys and enter houses
by way of the fireplaces. Perhaps the men who
built those houses had outgrown their own love
for toys, and were indifferent whether Santa
%\)t life attD %Xfomtum$ of ^>anta Clang
Claus called on their children or not. What-
ever the explanation might be, the poor children
were forced to bear the burden of grief and dis-
appointment.
The following year Santa Claus found more
and more of the new-fashioned chimneys that
had no fireplaces, and the next year still more.
The third year, so numerous had the narrow
chimneys become, he even had a few toys left
in his sledge that he was unable to give away,
because he could not get to the children.
The matter had now become so serious that
it worried the good man greatly, and he decided
to talk it over with Kilter and Peter and Nuter
and Wisk.
Kilter already knew something about it, for
it had been his duty to run around to all the
houses, just before Christmas, and gather up
the notes and letters to Santa Claus that the
children had written, telling what they wished
put in their stockings or hung on their Christ-
199
€^c life ano atfoenturcg of ^>anta Claxtjs
mas trees. But Kilter was a silent fellow, and
seldom spoke of what he saw in the cities and
villages. The others were very indignant.
" Those people act as if they do not wish
their children to be made happy! " said sensible
Peter, in a vexed tone. " The idea of shutting
out such a generous friend to their little ones!"
" But it is my intention to make children
happy whether their parents wish it or not," re-
turned Santa Claus. " Years ago, when I first
began making toys, children were even more
neglected by their parents than they are now;
so I have learned to pay no attention to thought-
less or selfish parents, but to consider only the
longings of childhood."
" You are right, my master," said Nuter, the
Ryl ; " many children would lack a friend if
you did not consider them, and try to make
them happy."
"Then," declared the laughing Wisk, "we
must abandon any thought of using these new-
C^e Life attD atfoentureg of ^>anta Claug
fashioned chimneys, but become burglars, and
break into the houses some other way."
" What way ? " asked Santa Claus.
" Why, walls of brick and wood and plaster
are nothing to Fairies. I can easily pass through
them whenever I wish, and so can Peter and
Nuter and Kilter. Is it not so, comrades ? "
" I often pass through the walls when I gather
up the letters," said Kilter, and that was a long
speech for him, and so surprised Peter and Nuter
that their big round eyes nearly popped out of
their heads.
" Therefore," continued the Fairy, " you may
as well take us with you on your next journey,
and when we c^me to one of those houses with
stoves instead of fireplaces we will distribute the
toys to the children without the need of using
a chimney."
" That seems to me a good plan," replied
Santa Claus, well pleased at having solved the
problem. "We will try it next year."
€^e Life aitti asjticutitrc^ of ^attta Claug
That was how the Fairy, the Pixie, the
Knook and the Ryl all rode in the sledge with
their master the following Christmas Eve ; and
they had no trouble at all in entering the new-
fashioned houses and leaving toys for the chil-
dren that lived in them.
And their deft services not only relieved Santa
Claus of much labor, but enabled him to com-
plete his own work more quickly than usual, so
that the merry party found themselves at home
with an empty sledge a full hour before daybreak.
The only drawback to the journey was that
the mischievous Wisk persisted in tickling the
reindeer with a long feather, to see them
jump; and Santa Claus found it necessary to
watch him every minute and to tweak his long
ears once or twice to make him behave himself.
But, taken all together, the trip was a great
success, and to this day the four little folk al-
ways accompany Santa Claus on his yearly ride
and help him in the distribution of his gifts.
C^e Life and aotocnttircg of ^>anta Claujs
But the indifference of parents, which had so
annoyed the good Saint, did not continue very
long, and Santa Claus soon found they were
really anxious he should visit their homes on
Christmas Eve and leave presents for their
children.
So, to lighten his task, which was fast be-
coming very difficult indeed, old Santa decided
to ask the parents to assist him.
" Get your Christmas trees all ready for my
coming," he said to them; "and then I shall
be able to leave the presents without loss of
time, and you can put them on the trees when
I am gone."
And to others he said : " See that the chil-
dren's stockings are hung up in readiness for
my coming, and then I can fill them as quick
as wink."
And often, when parents were kind and good-
natured, Santa Claus would simply fling down
his package of gifts and leave the fathers and
C^e Life and 3tftenture0 of ^anta Claug
mothers to fill the stockings after he had darted
away in his sledge.
"I will make all loving parents my deputies! "
cried the jolly old fellow, "and they shall help
me do my work. For in this way I shall save
many precious minutes and few children need
be neglected for lack of time to visit them."
il *^> Besides carrying around the big packs in his
swift-flying sledge old Santa began to send great
heaps of toys to the toy-shops, so that if parents
wanted larger supplies for their children they
could easily get them; and if any children were,
by chance, missed by Santa Claus on his yearly
rounds, they could go to the toy-shops and get
enough to make them happy and contented.
For the loving friend of the little ones decided
that no child, if he could help it, should long
for toys in vain. And the toy-shops also proved
convenient whenever a child fell ill, and needed
a new toy to amuse it; and sometimes, on birth-
days, the fathers and mothers go to the toy-shops
204
Ctyc life ana atfoetttutcss of ^anta €lam
and get pretty gifts for their children in honor
of the happy event.
Perhaps you will now understand how, in
spite of the bigness of the world, Santa Claus is
able to supply all the children with beautiful
gifts. To be sure, the old gentleman is rarely
seen in these days; but it is not because he tries
to keep out of sight, I assure you. Santa Claus
is the same loving friend of children that in
the old days used to play and romp with them
by the hour; and I know he would love to do
the same now, if he had the time. But, you
see, he is so busy all the year making toys, and
so hurried on that one night when he visits our
homes with his packs, that he comes and goes
among us like a flash ; and it is almost impos-
sible to catch a glimpse of him.
And, although there are millions and millions
more of children in the world than there used
to be, Santa Claus has never been known to
complain of their increasing numbers.
205
C^e Life and atrtjenturejs of ^anta Claujs
"The more the merrier!" he cries, with his
jolly laugh; and the only difference to him is
the fact that his little workmen have to make
their busy fingers fly faster every year to satisfy
the demands of so many little ones.
" In all this world there is nothing so beauti-
ful as a happy child," says good old Santa Claus;
and if he had his way the children would all be
beautiful, for all would be happy.
200
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