the life and adventures of santa clause-第14部分

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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。



12。　　The　First　Christmas　Tree


Claus　had　always　kept　his　promise　to　the　Knooks　by　returning　to　the　Laughing　Valley　by　daybreak；　but　only　the　swiftness　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；　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　besides　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　Phunnyland；　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　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　children　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　beneath　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　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　several　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；　thrusting　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　breath。　　And　their　parents；　also；　came　out　to　look　and　wonder；　and　thereafter　had　more　respect　and　consideration　for　their　children；　since　Santa　Claus　had　honored　them　with　such　beautiful　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　of　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　possible　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　children　long　for　that　one　night　in　the　year　when　their　friend　Santa　Claus　should　visit　them；　and　as　such　anticipation　is　very　pleasant　and　comforting　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；　dismounting　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　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　welcomed　more　royally　than　any　king。




OLD　AGE



1。　　The　Mantle　of　Immortality


And　now　we　come　to　a　turning…point　in　the　career　of　Santa　Claus；　and　it　is　my　duty　to　relate　the　most　remarkable　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　goodwill　of　the　immortals；　he　was　able　to　distribute　them　to　the　little　ones　throughout　the　world。

For　many　years　he　carried　on　this　noble　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　remained　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　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。

In　this　is　shown　the　difference　between　mortals　and　immortals。

It　was　fortunate　that　the　great　Ak　came　to　the　Forest　at　this　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　messengers；　and　sent　them　in　a　flash　to　many　parts　of　the　earth。　And　when　they　were　gone　he　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　immortals　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　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　inhabit　all　that　region　under　the　earth's　surface；　where　they　guard　the　precious　metals　and　the　jewel　stones