Latest / Adventure Books Collection / 09 - The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus - L Frank Baum
Transcript
- Chapter nine of Santa Claus's Manhood. Santa Claus Claus thought that none of the children would ever know where the toys came from, which they found by their bedsides when they wakened the following morning. But kindly deeds are sure to bring fame, and fame has many wings to carry its tidings into far lands. So for miles and miles in every direction, people were talking of Claws and his wonderful gifts to the children. The sweet generousness of his work caused a few selfish folk to sneer, but even these were forced to admit their respect for a man so gentle natured that he loved to devote his life to pleasing the helpless little ones of his race. Therefore, the inhabitants of every city and village had been eagerly watching the coming of Claws, and remarkable stories of his beautiful playthings were told the children to keep them patient and contented. When, on the morning following the first trip of Claws with his deer, the little ones came running to their parents with the pretty toys they had found, and asked from whence they came. There was but one reply to the question. The good Claws must have been here, my darlings, for his are the only toys in all the world. But how did he get in, asked the children. At this The fathers shook their heads, being themselves unable to understand how Claws had gained admittance to their homes. But the mothers, watching the glad faces of their dear ones, whispered that the Good Claus was no mortal man, but assuredly a saint, and they piously blessed his name for the happiness he had bestowed upon their children. A saint, said, one with bowed head has no need to unlock doors if it pleases him to enter our homes. And after, when a child was naughty or disobedient, its mother would say, you must pray to the good Santa Claus for forgiveness. He does not like naughty children, and unless you repent, he will bring you no more pretty toys. But Santa Claus himself would not have approved this speech. He brought toys to the children because they were little and helpless, and because he loved them. He knew that the best of children were sometimes naughty, and that the naughty ones were often good. It is the way with children the world over, and he would not have changed their natures had he possessed the power to do so. And that is how our clause became. Santa Claus, it is possible for any man, by good deeds, to enshrine himself as a saint in the hearts of the people. End of chapter nine, Chapter ten of Santa Claus's Manhood. Christmas Eve, the day that broke. As Claws returned from his night ride with Glossy and Flossy, brought him to a new trouble. Will Nook, the chief guardian of the deer, came to him surly and ill tempered to complain that he had kept Glossy and Flossi beyond daybreak in opposition to his orders. Yet it could not have been very long after daybreak, said Claws. It was one minute after, answered Willnook, and that is as bad as one hour. I shall set the stinging gnats on Glossy and Flossy, and they will thus suffer terribly for their disobedience. Don't do that, begged Klaws. It was my fault. But Willnook would listen to no excuses and went away, grumbling and growling in his ill natured way. For this reason, Klaws entered the forest to consult the seal about rescuing the good deer from punishment. To his delight, he found his old friend, the Master Woodsman, seated in the circle of nymphs. Ac listened to the story of the night journey to the children and of the great assistance the deer had been to Claws by drawing his sledge over the frozen snow. I do not wish my friend to be punished if I can save them, said the toy maker, when he had finished the relation. They were only one minute late, and they ran swifter than a bird flies to get home before daybreak. Ak stroked his beard thoughtfully a moment, and then sent for the Prince of the Knooks, who rules all his people in Burzee, and also for the Queen of the Fairies and the Prince of the Ryls. When all had assembled, Claws told his story again at Ak's command, and then the Master addressed the Prince of the Knooks, saying, the good work that Claws is doing among mankind deserves the support of every honest immortal. Already he is called a saint in some of the towns, and before long the name of Santa Claus will be lovingly known in every home that is blessed with children. Moreover, he is a son of our forest, so we owe him our encouragement. You, ruler of the knooks, have known him these many years. Am I not right in saying he deserves our friendship? The Prince crooked and sour of visage, as all knooks are looked only upon the dead leaves at his feet, and muttered, you are the master woodsman of the world. Axe smiled, but continued in soft tones. It seems that the deer which are guarded by your people can be of great assistance to Claus, and as they seem willing to draw his sledge, I beg that you will permit him to use their services whenever he pleases. The Prince did not reply, but tapped the curled point of his sandal with the tip of his spear, as if in thought. Then the fairy queen spoke to him in this way, If you consent to Act's request, I will see that no harm comes to your deer while they are away from the forest. And the Prince of the Rials added, for my part, I will allow to every deer that assists claws the privilege of eating my casa plants, which will give strength, and my grola plants, which give fleetness of foot, and my marbon plants, which give long life. And the Queen of the Nymphs said, the deer which draw the sledge of claws will be permitted to bathe in the forest pool of nares, which will give them sleek coats and wonderful beauty. The Prince of the Knooks, hearing these promises, shifted uneasily on his seat, for in his heart he hated to refuse a request of his fellow immortals, although they were asking an unusual favor at his hands, and the Knooks are unaccustomed to granting favors of any kind. Finally, he turned to his servants and said, call will Nook. When surly will came and heard the demands of the immortals, he protested loudly against granting them. Dear, our dear, said he, and nothing but dear. Were they horses, it would be right to harness them like horses. But no one harnesses dear, because they are free, wild creatures, owing no service of any sort to mankind. It would degrade my dear to labor for Claws, who is only a man in spite of the friendship lavished on him by the immortals. You have heard, said the Prince to Ac. There is truth in what Will says. Call Glossy and Flossi returned the Master. The deer were brought to the conference, and Ac asked them if they objected to drawing the sledge for Claws. No, indeed, replied Glossie. We enjoyed the trip very much, and we tried to get home by daybreak, said Flossi. But we're unfortunately a minute too late. A minute lost at daybreak doesn't matter, said Ac. You are forgiven for that delay, provided it does not happen again, said the Prince of the Knooks sternly. And will you permit them to make another journey with me? Asked Clause. Eagerly, the Prince reflected while he gazed at Will, who was scowling, and at the Master Woodsman, who was smiling. Then he stood up and addressed the company as follows, since you all urge me to grant the favor, I will permit the deer to go with Claws once every year on Christmas Eve, provided they always return to the forest by daybreak, he may select any number he pleases, up to ten to draw his sledge, and those shall be known among us as reindeer, to distinguish them from the others. And they shall bathe in the pool of Nares and eat the cassa and the gral and marbon plants, and shall be under the especial protection of the fairy Queen. And now see scowling will Nook, for my words shall be obeyed. He hobbled quickly away through the trees to avoid the thanks of Claws and the approval of the other immortals, and will, looking as cross as ever, followed him. But Ac was satisfied, knowing that he could rely on the promise of the Prince, however grudgingly given, and Glossy and Flossi ran home, kicking up their heels delightedly at every step. When is Christmas Eve, Claws, asked the Master, In about ten days, he replied, Then, I cannot use the deer this year, said Klaws thoughtfully, for I shall not have time enough to make my sack full of toys. The shrewd Prince foresaw that, responded Ak, and therefore named Christmas Eve as the day you might use the deer, knowing it would cause you to lose an entire year. If I only had the toys the Aguas stole from me, said Klaws, sadly, I could easily fill my sack for the children. Where are they asked the master. I do not know, replied Claws, but the wicked Oguas probably hid them in the mountains. Ac turned to the fairy queen. Can you find them? He asked, I will try, she replied brightly. Then Claws went back to the Laughing Valley to work as hard as he could, and a band of fairies immediately flew to the mountain that had been haunted by the Oguas and began a search for the stolen toys. The fairies, as we well know, possess wonderful powers, but the cunning Oguas had hidden the toys in a deep cave and covered the opening with rocks so no one could look in. Therefore, all search for the missing playthings proved in vain for several days, and Claws, who sat at home waiting for news from the fairies, almost despaired of getting the toys before for Christmas Eve. He worked hard every moment, but it took considerable time to carve out and to shape each toy, and to paint it properly, so that on the morning before Christmas Eve, only half of one small shelf above the window was filled with playthings ready for the children. But on this morning the fairies who were searching the mountains had at new thought. They joined hands and moved in a straight line through the rocks that formed the mountain, beginning at the topmost peak, and working downward, so that no spot could be missed by their bright eyes. And at last they discovered the cave where the toys had been heaped up by the wicked aguas. It did not take them long to burst open the mouth of the cave, and then each one seized as many toys as he could carry, and they all flew to claws and laid the treasure before him. The good man was rejoiced to receive, just in the nick of time, such a store of playthings with which to load his sledge, and he sent word to Glossy and Flossy to be ready for the journey at nightfall. With all his other labors, he had managed to find time since the last trip to repair the harness and to strengthen his sledge, so that when the deer came to him at twilight, he had no difficulty in harnessing them. We must go in another direction to night, he told them, where we shall find children I have never yet visited. And we must travel fast and work quickly, for my sack is full of toys and running over the brim. So just as the moon arose, they dashed out of the Laughing valley and across the plain and over the hills to the south. The air was sharp and frosty, and the starlight touched the snowflakes and made them glitter like countless diamonds. The reindeer leaped onward with strong, steady bounds, and Claus's heart was so light and merry that he laughed and sang while the wind whistled past his years. Wi the ho ho ho and ha ha ha and a ho ho ha ha e. Now away we got or the frozen snow, as merry as we can be. Jack Frost heard him and came racing up with his nippers, but when he saw it was claws, he laughed and turned away again. The mother owls heard him as he passed near a wood, and stuck their heads out of the hollow places in the tree trunks. But when they saw who it was, they whispered to the owlets nesting near them that it was only Santa Claus, carrying toys to the children. It is strange how much those mother owls know. Claws stopped at some of the scattering farm houses and climbed down the chimneys to leave presents for the babies. Soon after he reached a village and worked merrily for an hour distributing playthings among the sleeping little ones. Then away again he went, singing his joyous carol. Now way we go o'er the gleaming snow, while the deer runs swift and free. For to girls en boys, we carried the toys that will fill their hearts with gleep. The deer liked the sound of his deep bass voice and kept time to the song with their hoof beats on the hard snow. But soon they stopped at another chimney, and Santa Claus, with sparkling eyes and face brushed red by the wind, climbed down its smoky sides and left a present for every child the house contained. It was a merry, happy night swiftly the deer ran, and busily their driver worked to scatter his gifts among the sleeping children. But the sack was empty at last, and the sledge headed homeward. And now again the race, with daybreak began. Glossy and Flossie had no mind to be rebuked a second time for tardiness, so they fled with a swiftness that enabled them to pass the gale on which the frost king rode, and soon brought them to the Laughing Valley. It is true, when Claws released his steeds from their harness, the eastern sky was streaked with gray, but Glossy and Flossy were deep in the forest before day fairly broke. Claws was so wearied with his night's work that he threw himself upon his bed and fell into a deep slumber. And while he slept, the Christmas sun appeared in the sky and shone upon hundreds of happy homes, where the sound of childish laughter proclaimed that Santa Claus had made them a visit. God bless him. It was his first Christmas Eve, and for hundreds of years since then he has nobleeful build his mission to bring happiness to the hearts of little children, end of Chapter ten,