the life and adventures of santa clause-第8部分

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〃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　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　before！〃

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　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　daughter　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　returned　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　nearly　sewed　it　into　a　beautiful　gown　that　just　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'veI'vebwoke　my　tat！〃　sobbed　Mayrie。

〃How？〃　he　inquired；　his　eyes　twinkling。

〃II　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　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！〃

〃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。



6。　　The　Wickedness　of　the　Awgwas


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　immortals；　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　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　accomplish　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　creatures　lived　to　become　a　hundred　years　old；　but　usually　they　fought　so　fiercely　among　themselves　that　many　were　destroyed　in　combat；　and　when　they　died　that　was　the　end　of　them。　　Mortals　were　powerless　to　harm　them　and　the　immortals　shuddered　when　the　Awgwas　were　mentioned；　and　always　avoided　them。　　So　they　flourished　for　many　years　unopposed　and　accomplished　much　evil。

I　am　glad　to　assure　you　that　these　vile　creatures　have　long　since　perished　and　passed　from　earth；　but　in　the　days　when　Claus　was　making　his　first　toys　they　were　a　numerous　and　powerful　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　children　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　playthings　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　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。

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　Claus。　　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　advance　and　hid　beneath　a　rotting　log。

Claus　had　no　time　to　notice　them；　for　he　was　surrounded　by　a　band　of　harsh…featured　Knooks；　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　release　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；　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；〃　remarked　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　before　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。

〃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　t