the life and adventures of santa clause-第4章

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　　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　work。

But　Ak；　who　knew　the　boy's　heart；　was　merciful　and　guided　his　steps。


Coming　through　Burzee　to　its　eastern　edge　Claus　reached　the　Laughing　Valley　of　Hohaho。　　On　each　side　were　rolling　green　hills；　and　a　brook　wandered　midway　between　them　to　wind　afar　off　beyond　the　valley。　　At　his　back　was　the　grim　Forest；　at　the　far　end　of　the　valley　a　broad　plain。　　The　eyes　of　the　young　man；　which　had　until　now　reflected　his　grave　thoughts；　became　brighter　as　he　stood　silent；　looking　out　upon　the　Laughing　Valley。　　Then　on　a　sudden　his　eyes　twinkled；　as　stars　do　on　a　still　night；　and　grew　merry　and　wide。

For　at　his　feet　the　cowslips　and　daisies　smiled　on　him　in　friendly　regard；　the　breeze　whistled　gaily　as　it　passed　by　and　fluttered　the　locks　on　his　forehead；　the　brook　laughed　joyously　as　it　leaped　over　the　pebbles　and　swept　around　the　green　curves　of　its　banks；　the　bees　sang　sweet　songs　as　they　flew　from　dandelion　to　daffodil；　the　beetles　chirruped　happily　in　the　long　grass；　and　the　sunbeams　glinted　pleasantly　over　all　the　scene。

〃Here；〃　cried　Claus；　stretching　out　his　arms　as　if　to　embrace　the　Valley；　〃will　I　make　my　home！〃

That　was　many；　many　years　ago。　　It　has　been　his　home　ever　since。　　It　is　his　home　now。




MANHOOD



1。　　The　Laughing　Valley


When　Claus　came　the　Valley　was　empty　save　for　the　grass；　the　brook；　the　wildflowers；　the　bees　and　the　butterflies。　　If　he　would　make　his　home　here　and　live　after　the　fashion　of　men　he　must　have　a　house。　This　puzzled　him　at　first；　but　while　he　stood　smiling　in　the　sunshine　he　suddenly　found　beside　him　old　Nelko；　the　servant　of　the　Master　Woodsman。　　Nelko　bore　an　ax；　strong　and　broad；　with　blade　that　gleamed　like　burnished　silver。　　This　he　placed　in　the　young　man's　hand；　then　disappeared　without　a　word。

Claus　understood；　and　turning　to　the　Forest's　edge　he　selected　a　number　of　fallen　tree…trunks；　which　he　began　to　clear　of　their　dead　branches。　　He　would　not　cut　into　a　living　tree。　　His　life　among　the　nymphs　who　guarded　the　Forest　had　taught　him　th