the life and adventures of santa clause-第15部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


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；　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　Twilight　held　a　great　snuffer　in　one　hand　and　a　big　black　cloak　in　the　other；　and　it　is　well　known　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　Husbandman　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。　　And　all　other　immortals　are　more　or　less　subject　to　these　three。

When　all　had　assembled　the　Master　Woodsman　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　had　won　the　love　of　all　the　world；　the　Spirit　of　Death　is　hovering　over　him。　　Of　all　men　who　have　inhabited　the　earth　none　other　so　well　deserves　immortality；　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　immortality　than　this　man　Claus；　who　so　sweetly　ministers　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　himself；　cried　out：

〃What　is　your　desire；　O　Ak？〃

〃To　bestow　upon　Claus　the　Mantle　of　Immortality！〃　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。

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　bestow　it　upon　him？〃

They　were　silent；　still　looking　upon　one　another　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？〃

〃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　itlet　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。

〃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　between　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　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　immortal　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　everlasting　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。



2。　　When　the　World　Grew　Old


The　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　happened　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　felt　as　brisk　and　merry　as　a　boy　of　sixteen；　and　was　soon　whistling　contentedly　as　he　busied　himself　fashioning　new　toys。

Then　Ak　came　to　him　and　told　of　the　Mantle　of　Immortality　and　how　Claus　had　won　it　through　his　love　for　little　children。

It　made　old　Santa　look　grave　for　a　moment　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　remarkable　assortment　of　pretty　and　amusing　playthings；　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　Immortality。　And　the　task　of　supplying　cheering　words；　sympathy　and　pretty　playthings　to　all　the　young　of　his　race　did　not　seem　a　difficult　undertaking　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　fo