the life and adventures of santa clause-第6部分

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g　where　I　was；　and　the　wind　blew　the　flakes　over　me　and　covered　me　up。〃

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

〃I'm　all　right　now；〃　said　Weekum。

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So　this　was　the　beginning　of　his　great　work。

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Claus　approached　the　child　and　kissed　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　refreshing　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　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　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　happyand　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。〃

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　likeness。

〃You　are　indeed　skillful！〃　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。



4。　　How　Little　Mayrie　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　boisterously　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。

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　another　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　many　words；　nodded　his　head　and　exclaimed　like　an　echo：　〃Tat！〃

〃Oh；　you　want　my　toy　cats；　do　you？〃　returned　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。

〃III　wants　a　tttat　now！〃　she　wailed。

Her　disappointment　made　Claus　feel　miserable　for　a　moment。　　Then　he　suddenly　remembered　Shiegra。

〃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　precious　cat　in　his　fear。

For　a　moment　Claus　stood　motionless；　being　puzzled　and　astonished。　Then　he　threw　Shiegra'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　assured　them　many　times　that　the　beast