the life and adventures of santa clause-第2章

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〃Not　much；　being　in　a　hurry　to　greet　my　nymphs。　　But　I　commanded　Shiegra　to　lie　close　to　the　babe；　and　to　give　it　her　milk　to　quiet　its　hunger。　　And　I　told　her　to　send　word　throughout　the　forest；　to　all　beasts　and　reptiles；　that　the　child　should　not　be　harmed。〃

〃I　am　glad　you　did　thus；〃　said　the　good　Queen　again；　in　a　tone　of　relief；　but　this　time　Necile　did　not　echo　her　words；　for　the　nymph；　filled　with　a　strange　resolve；　had　suddenly　stolen　away　from　the　group。

Swiftly　her　lithe　form　darted　through　the　forest　paths　until　she　reached　the　edge　of　mighty　Burzee；　when　she　paused　to　gaze　curiously　about　her。　　Never　until　now　had　she　ventured　so　far；　for　the　Law　of　the　Forest　had　placed　the　nymphs　in　its　inmost　depths。

Necile　knew　she　was　breaking　the　Law；　but　the　thought　did　not　give　pause　to　her　dainty　feet。　　She　had　decided　to　see　with　her　own　eyes　this　infant　Ak　had　told　of；　for　she　had　never　yet　beheld　a　child　of　man。　　All　the　immortals　are　full…grown；　there　are　no　children　among　them。　　Peering　through　the　trees　Necile　saw　the　child　lying　on　the　grass。　　But　now　it　was　sweetly　sleeping；　having　been　comforted　by　the　milk　drawn　from　Shiegra。　　It　was　not　old　enough　to　know　what　peril　means；　if　it　did　not　feel　hunger　it　was　content。

Softly　the　nymph　stole　to　the　side　of　the　babe　and　knelt　upon　the　sward；　her　long　robe　of　rose　leaf　color　spreading　about　her　like　a　gossamer　cloud。　　Her　lovely　countenance　expressed　curiosity　and　surprise；　but；　most　of　all；　a　tender；　womanly　pity。　　The　babe　was　newborn；　chubby　and　pink。　　It　was　entirely　helpless。　　While　the　nymph　gazed　the　infant　opened　its　eyes；　smiled　upon　her；　and　stretched　out　two　dimpled　arms。　　In　another　instant　Necile　had　caught　it　to　her　breast　and　was　hurrying　with　it　through　the　forest　paths。



3。　　The　Adoption


The　Master　Woodsman　suddenly　rose；　with　knitted　brows。　　〃There　is　a　strange　presence　in　the　Forest；〃　he　declared。　　Then　the　Queen　and　her　nymphs　turned　and　saw　standing　before　them　Necile；　with　the　sleeping　infant　clasped　tightly　in　her　arms　and　a　defiant　look　in　her　deep　blue　eyes。

And　thus　for　a　moment　they　remained；　the　nymphs　filled　with　surprise　and　consternation；　but　the　brow　of　the　Master　Woodsman　gradually　clearing　as　he　gazed　intently　upon　the　beautiful　immortal　who　had　wilfully　broken　the　Law。　　Then　the　great　Ak；　to　the　wonder　of　all；　laid　his　hand　softly　on　Necile's　flowing　locks　and　kissed　her　on　her　fair　forehead。

〃For　the　first　time　within　my　knowledge；〃　said　he；　gently；　〃a　nymph　has　defied　me　and　my　laws；　yet　in　my　heart　can　I　find　no　word　of　chiding。　　What　is　your　desire；　Necile？〃

〃Let　me　keep　the　child！〃　she　answered；　beginning　to　tremble　and　falling　on　her　knees　in　supplication。

〃Here；　in　the　Forest　of　Burzee；　where　the　human　race　has　never　yet　penetrated？〃　questioned　Ak。

〃Here；　in　the　Forest　of　Burzee；〃　replied　the　nymph；　boldly。　　〃It　is　my　home；　and　I　am　weary　for　lack　of　occupation。　　Let　me　care　for　the　babe！　　See　how　weak　and　helpless　it　is。　　Surely　it　can　not　harm　Burzee　nor　the　Master　Woodsman　of　the　World！〃

〃But　the　Law；　child；　the　Law！〃　cried　Ak；　sternly。

〃The　Law　is　made　by　the　Master　Woodsman；〃　returned　Necile；　〃if　he　bids　me　care　for　the　babe　he　himself　has　saved　from　death；　who　in　all　the　world　dare　oppose　me？〃　　Queen　Zurline；　who　had　listened　intently　to　this　conversation；　clapped　her　pretty　hands　gleefully　at　the　nymph's　answer。

〃You　are　fairly　trapped；　O　Ak！〃　she　exclaimed；　laughing。　　〃Now；　I　pray　you；　give　heed　to　Necile's　petition。〃

The　Woodsman；　as　was　his　habit　when　in　thought；　stroked　his　grizzled　beard　slowly。　　Then　he　said：

〃She　shall　keep　the　babe；　and　I　will　give　it　my　protection。　　But　I　warn　you　all　that　as　this　is　the　first　time　I　have　relaxed　the　Law；　so　shall　it　be　the　last　time。　　Never　more；　to　the　end　of　the　World；　shall　a　mortal　be　adopted　by　an　immortal。　　Otherwise　would　we　abandon　our　happy　existence　for　one　of　trouble　and　anxiety。　　Good　night；　my　nymphs！〃

Then　Ak　was　gone　from　their　midst；　and　Necile　hurried　away　to　her　bower　to　rejoice　over　her　new…found　treasure。



4。　　Claus


Another　day　found　Necile's　bower　the　most　popular　place　in　the　Forest。　The　nymphs　clustered　around　her　and　the　child　that　lay　asleep　in　her　lap；　with　expressions　of　curiosity　and　delight。　　Nor　were　they　wanting　in　praises　for　the　great　Ak's　kindness　in　allowing　Necile　to　keep　the　babe　and　to　care　for　it。　　Even　the　Queen　came　to　peer　into　the　innocent　childish　face　and　to　hold　a　helpless；　chubby　fist　in　her　own　fair　hand。

〃What　shall　we　call　him；　Necile？〃　she　asked；　smiling。　　〃He　must　have　a　name；　you　know。〃

〃Let　him　be　called　Claus；〃　answered　Necile；　〃for　that　means　'a　little　one。'〃

〃Rather　let　him　be　called　Neclaus；〃**　returned　the　Queen；　〃for　that　will　mean　'Necile's　little　one。'〃

The　nymphs　clapped　their　hands　in　delight；　and　Neclaus　became　the　infant's　name；　although　Necile　loved　best　to　call　him　Claus；　and　in　afterdays　many　of　her　sisters　followed　her　example。

Necile　gathered　the　softest　moss　in　all　the　forest　for　Claus　to　lie　upon；　and　she　made　his　bed　in　her　own　bower。　　Of　food　the　infant　had　no　lack。　　The　nymphs　searched　the　forest　for　bell…udders；　which　grow　upon　the　goa…tree　and　when　opened　are　found　to　be　filled　with　sweet　milk。　　And　the　soft…eyed　does　willingly　gave　a　share　of　their　milk　to　support　the　little　stranger；　while　Shiegra；　the　lioness；　often　crept　stealthily　into　Necile's　bower　and　purred　softly　as　she　lay　beside　the　babe　and　fed　it。

So　the　little　one　flourished　and　grew　big　and　sturdy　day　by　day；　while　Necile　taught　him　to　speak　and　to　walk　and　to　play。

His　thoughts　and　words　were　sweet　and　gentle；　for　the　nymphs　knew　no　evil　and　their　hearts　were　pure　and　loving。　　He　became　the　pet　of　the　forest；　for　Ak's　decree　had　forbidden　beast　or　reptile　to　molest　him；　and　he　walked　fearlessly　wherever　his　will　guided　him。

Presently　the　news　reached　the　other　immortals　that　the　nymphs　of　Burzee　had　adopted　a　human　infant；　and　that　the　act　had　been　sanctioned　by　the　great　Ak。　　Therefore　many　of　them　came　to　visit　the　little　stranger；　looking　upon　him　with　much　interest。　　First　the　Ryls；　who　are　first　cousins　to　the　wood…nymphs；　although　so　differently　formed。　　For　the　Ryls　are　required　to　watch　over　the　flowers　and　plants；　as　the　nymphs　watch　over　the　forest　trees。　　They　search　the　wide　world　for　the　food　required　by　the　roots　of　the　flowering　plants；　while　the　brilliant　colors　possessed　by　the　full…blown　flowers　are　due　to　the　dyes　placed　in　the　soil　by　the　Ryls；　which　are　drawn　through　the　little　veins　in　the　roots　and　the　body　of　the　plants；　as　they　reach　maturity。　　The　Ryls　are　a　busy　people；　for　their　flowers　bloom　and　fade　continually；　but　they　are　merry　and　light…hearted　and　are　very　popular　with　the　other　immortals。

Next　came　the　Knooks；　whose　duty　it　is　to　watch　over　the　beasts　of　the　world；　both　gentle　and　wild。　　The　Knooks　have　a　hard　time　of　it；　since　many　of　the　beasts　are　ungovernable　and　rebel　against　restraint。　　But　they　know　how　to　manage　them；　after　all；　and　you　will　find　that　certain　laws　of　the　Knooks　are　obeyed　by　even　the　most　ferocious　animals。　　Their　anxieties　make　the　Knooks　look　old　and　worn　and　crooked；　and　their　natures　are　a　bit　rough　from　associating　with　wild　creatures　continually；　yet　they　are　most　useful　to　humanity　and　to　the　world　in　general；　as　their　laws　are　the　only　laws　the　forest　beasts　recognize　except　those　of　the　Master　Woodsman。

Then　there　were　the　Fairies；　the　guardians　of　mankind；　who　were　much　interested　in　the　adoption　of　Claus　because　their　own　laws　forbade　them　to　become　familiar　with　their　human　charges。　　There　are　instances　on　record　where　the　Fairies　have　shown　themselves　to　human　beings；　and　have　even　conversed　with　them；　but　they　are　supposed　to　guard　the　lives　of　mankind　unseen　and　unknown；　and　if　they　favor　some　people　more　than　others　it　is　because　these　have　won　such　distinction　fairly；　as　the　Fairies　are　very　just　and　impartial。　　But　the　idea　of　adopting　a　child　of　men　had　never　occurred　to　them　because　it　was　in　every　way　opposed　to　their　laws；　　so　their　curiosity　was　intense　to　behold　the　little　stranger　adopted　by　Necile　and　her　sister　nymphs。

Claus　looked　upon　the　immortals　who　t