the life and adventures of santa clause-第3部分

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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　youth　was　still　as　dainty；　as　charming　and　beautiful　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。



6。　　Claus　Discovers　Humanity


Taking　Claus　to　a　small　clearing　in　the　forest；　the　Master　said：　〃Place　your　hand　upon　my　girdle　and　hold　fast　while　we　journey　through　the　air；　for　now　shall　we　encirle　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　astonishment　forbidding　speech。

Then　the　vast　forest　of　Burzee　seemed　to　fall　away　from　their　feet；　and　the　youth　found　himself　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　inclosure。　　Said　the　Master：

〃So　long　as　you　hold　fast　to　my　girdle　you　will　remain　unseen　by　all　mankind；　though　seeing　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　obedience；　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。

〃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　childrenfirst　curiously；　then　eagerly；　then　lovingly。　　Ragged　little　ones　rolled　in　the　dust　of　the　streets；　playing　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　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　babesyes；〃　agreed　Ak。　　〃Their　joy　is　in　being　alive；　and　they　do　not　stop　to　think。　　In　after　years　the　doom　of　mankind　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　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；　musingly。

〃You　are　not　of　them；〃　returned　the　Woodsman。　　〃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　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　thoughtful　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　merchants　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　seldom　to　the　youth　who　clung　steadfastly　to　his　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。



7。　　Claus　Leaves　the　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　and　said：

〃Well？〃

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；　〃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；　finding　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　mission；　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　tender　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　stopped　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。〃

〃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　of　the　Forest；　and　the　powers　you　now　enjoy　will　remain　with　you　to　assist　you　in　your　labors。　　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　children　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。

〃The　world　is　big；〃　continued　the　boy；　turning　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；　by　for　him　the　sweet；　wild　life　of　the　Forest　was　over。　　He　went　forth　bravely　to　meet　his　doomthe　doom　of　the　race　of　manthe　necessity　to　worry　and