the life and adventures of santa clause-第3部分

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ll　finally　it　became　his　custom　to　return　thither　only　to　sleep。

The　nymph；　who　had　come　to　love　him　dearly；　was　puzzled　to　comprehend　the　changed　nature　of　her　charge；　and　unconsciously　altered　her　own　mode　of　life　to　conform　to　his　whims。　　She　followed　him　readily　through　the　forest　paths；　as　did　many　of　her　sister　nymphs；　explaining　as　they　walked　all　the　mysteries　of　the　gigantic　wood　and　the　habits　and　nature　of　the　living　things　which　dwelt　beneath　its　shade。

The　language　of　the　beasts　became　clear　to　little　Claus；　but　he　never　could　understand　their　sulky　and　morose　tempers。　　Only　the　squirrels；　the　mice　and　the　rabbits　seemed　to　possess　cheerful　and　merry　natures；　yet　would　the　boy　laugh　when　the　panther　growled；　and　stroke　the　bear's　glossy　coat　while　the　creature　snarled　and　bared　its　teeth　menacingly。　　The　growls　and　snarls　were　not　for　Claus；　he　well　knew；　so　what　did　they　matter？

He　could　sing　the　songs　of　the　bees；　recite　the　poetry　of　the　wood…flowers　and　relate　the　history　of　every　blinking　owl　in　Burzee。　He　helped　the　Ryls　to　feed　their　plants　and　the　Knooks　to　keep　order　among　the　animals。　　The　little　immortals　regarded　him　as　a　privileged　person；　being　especially　protected　by　Queen　Zurline　and　her　nymphs　and　favored　by　the　great　Ak　himself。

One　day　the　Master　Woodsman　came　back　to　the　forest　of　Burzee。　　He　had　visited；　in　turn；　all　his　forests　throughout　the　world；　and　they　were　many　and　broad。

Not　until　he　entered　the　glade　where　the　Queen　and　her　nymphs　were　assembled　to　greet　him　did　Ak　remember　the　child　he　had　permitted　Necile　to　adopt。　　Then　he　found；　sitting　familiarly　in　the　circle　of　lovely　immortals；　a　broad…shouldered；　stalwart　youth；　who；　when　erect；　stood　fully　as　high　as　the　shoulder　of　the　Master　himself。

Ak　paused；　silent　and　frowning；　to　bend　his　piercing　gaze　upon　Claus。　The　clear　eyes　met　his　own　steadfastly；　and　the　Woodsman　gave　a　sigh　of　relief　as　he　marked　their　placid　depths　and　read　the　youth's　brave　and　innocent　heart。　　Nevertheless；　as　Ak　sat　beside　the　fair　Queen；　and　the　golden　chalice；　filled　with　rare　nectar；　passed　from　lip　to　lip；　the　Master　Woodsman　was　strangely　silent　and　reserved；　and　stroked　his　beard　many　times　with　a　thoughtful　motion。

With　morning　he　called　Claus　aside；　in　kindly　fashion；　saying：

〃Bid　good　by；　for　a　time；　to　Necile　and　her　sisters；　for　you　shall　accompany　me　on　my　journey　through　the　world。〃

The　venture　pleased　Claus；　who　knew　well　the　honor　of　being　companion　of　the　Master　Woodsman　of　the　world。　　But　Necile　wept　for　the　first　time　in　her　life；　and　clung　to　the　boy's　neck　as　if　she　could　not　bear　to　let　him　go。　　The　nymph　who　had　mothered　this　sturdy　youth　was　still　as　dainty；　as　charming　and　beautiful　as　when　she　had　dared　to　face　Ak　with　the　babe　clasped　to　her　breast；　nor　was　her　love　less　great。　　Ak　beheld　the　two　clinging　together；　seemingly　as　brother　and　sister　to　one　another；　and　again　he　wore　his　thoughtful　look。



6。　　Claus　Discovers　Humanity


Taking　Claus　to　a　small　clearing　in　the　forest；　the　Master　said：　〃Place　your　hand　upon　my　girdle　and　hold　fast　while　we　journey　through　the　air；　for　now　shall　we　encirle　the　world　and　look　upon　many　of　the　haunts　of　those　men　from　whom　you　are　descended。〃

These　words　caused　Claus　to　marvel；　for　until　now　he　had　thought　himself　the　only　one　of　his　kind　upon　the　earth；　yet　in　silence　he　grasped　firmly　the　girdle　of　the　great　Ak；　his　astonishment　forbidding　speech。

Then　the　vast　forest　of　Burzee　seemed　to　fall　away　from　their　feet；　and　the　youth　found　himself　passing　swiftly　through　the　air　at　a　great　height。

Ere　long　there　were　spires　beneath　them；　while　buildings　of　many　shapes　and　colors　met　their　downward　view。　　It　was　a　city　of　men；　and　Ak；　pausing　to　descend；　led　Claus　to　its　inclosure。　　Said　the　Master：

〃So　long　as　you　hold　fast　to　my　girdle　you　will　remain　unseen　by　all　mankind；　though　seeing　clearly　yourself。　　To　release　your　grasp　will　be　to　separate　yourself　forever　from　me　and　your　home　in　Burzee。〃

One　of　the　first　laws　of　the　Forest　is　obedience；　and　Claus　had　no　thought　of　disobeying　the　Master's　wish。　　He　clung　fast　to　the　girdle　and　remained　invisible。

Thereafter　with　each　moment　passed　in　the　city　the　youth's　wonder　grew。　　He；　who　had　supposed　himself　created　differently　from　all　others；　now　found　the　earth　swarming　with　creatures　of　his　own　kind。

〃Indeed；〃　said　Ak；　〃the　immortals　are　few；　but　the　mortals　are　many。〃

Claus　looked　earnestly　upon　his　fellows。　　There　were　sad　faces；　gay　and　reckless　faces；　pleasant　faces；　anxious　faces　and　kindly　faces；　all　mingled　in　puzzling　disorder。　　Some　worked　at　tedious　tasks；　some　strutted　in　impudent　conceit；　some　were　thoughtful　and　grave　while　others　seemed　happy　and　content。　　Men　of　many　natures　were　there；　as　everywhere；　and　Claus　found　much　to　please　him　and　much　to　make　him　sad。

But　especially　he　noted　the　childrenfirst　curiously；　then　eagerly；　then　lovingly。　　Ragged　little　ones　rolled　in　the　dust　of　the　streets；　playing　with　scraps　and　pebbles。　　Other　children；　gaily　dressed；　were　propped　upon　cushions　and　fed　with　sugar…plums。　　Yet　the　children　of　the　rich　were　not　happier　than　those　playing　with　the　dust　and　pebbles；　it　seemed　to　Claus。

〃Childhood　is　the　time　of　man's　greatest　content；〃　said　Ak；　following　the　youth's　thoughts。　　〃'Tis　during　these　years　of　innocent　pleasure　that　the　little　ones　are　most　free　from　care。〃

〃Tell　me；〃　said　Claus；　〃why　do　not　all　these　babies　fare　alike？〃

〃Because　they　are　born　in　both　cottage　and　palace；〃　returned　the　Master。　　〃The　difference　in　the　wealth　of　the　parents　determines　the　lot　of　the　child。　　Some　are　carefully　tended　and　clothed　in　silks　and　dainty　linen；　others　are　neglected　and　covered　with　rags。〃

〃Yet　all　seem　equally　fair　and　sweet；〃　said　Claus；　thoughtfully。

〃While　they　are　babesyes；〃　agreed　Ak。　　〃Their　joy　is　in　being　alive；　and　they　do　not　stop　to　think。　　In　after　years　the　doom　of　mankind　overtakes　them；　and　they　find　they　must　struggle　and　worry；　work　and　fret；　to　gain　the　wealth　that　is　so　dear　to　the　hearts　of　men。　　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