We have followed the life of Claus from the time he was found a helpless infant by the Wood-Nymph Necile and reared to manhood in the great Forest of Burzee. And we know how he began to make toys for children and how, with the assistance and goodwill2 of the immortals4, he was able to distribute them to the little ones throughout the world.
For many years he carried on this noble work; for the simple, hard-working life he led gave him perfect health and strength. And doubtless a man can live longer in the beautiful Laughing Valley, where there are no cares and everything is peaceful and merry, than in any other part of the world.
But when many years had rolled away Santa Claus grew old. The long beard of golden brown that once covered his cheeks and chin gradually became gray, and finally turned to pure white. His hair was white, too, and there were wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, which showed plainly when he laughed. He had never been a very tall man, and now he became fat, and waddled6 very much like a duck when he walked. But in spite of these things he remained as lively as ever, and was just as jolly and gay, and his kind eyes sparkled as brightly as they did that first day when he came to the Laughing Valley.
Yet a time is sure to come when every mortal who has grown old and lived his life is required to leave this world for another; so it is no wonder that, after Santa Claus had driven his reindeer7 on many and many a Christmas Eve, those stanch8 friends finally whispered among themselves that they had probably drawn9 his sledge10 for the last time.
Then all the Forest of Burzee became sad and all the Laughing Valley was hushed; for every living thing that had known Claus had used to love him and to brighten at the sound of his footsteps or the notes of his merry whistle.
No doubt the old man's strength was at last exhausted11, for he made no more toys, but lay on his bed as in a dream.
The Nymph Necile, she who had reared him and been his foster-mother, was still youthful and strong and beautiful, and it seemed to her but a short time since this aged12, gray-bearded man had lain in her arms and smiled on her with his innocent, baby lips.
In this is shown the difference between mortals and immortals.
It was fortunate that the great Ak came to the Forest at this time. Necile sought him with troubled eyes and told him of the fate that threatened their friend Claus.
At once the Master became grave, and he leaned upon his ax and stroked his grizzled beard thoughtfully for many minutes. Then suddenly he stood up straight, and poised13 his powerful head with firm resolve, and stretched out his great right arm as if determined14 on doing some mighty15 deed. For a thought had come to him so grand in its conception that all the world might well bow before the Master Woodsman and honor his name forever!
It is well known that when the great Ak once undertakes to do a thing he never hesitates an instant. Now he summoned his fleetest messengers, and sent them in a flash to many parts of the earth. And when they were gone he turned to the anxious Necile and comforted her, saying:
"Be of good heart, my child; our friend still lives. And now run to your Queen and tell her that I have summoned a council of all the immortals of the world to meet with me here in Burzee this night. If they obey, and harken unto my words, Claus will drive his reindeer for countless16 ages yet to come."
At midnight there was a wondrous17 scene in the ancient Forest of Burzee, where for the first time in many centuries the rulers of the immortals who inhabit the earth were gathered together.
There was the Queen of the Water Sprites, whose beautiful form was as clear as crystal but continually dripped water on the bank of moss18 where she sat. And beside her was the King of the Sleep Fays, who carried a wand from the end of which a fine dust fell all around, so that no mortal could keep awake long enough to see him, as mortal eyes were sure to close in sleep as soon as the dust filled them. And next to him sat the Gnome19 King, whose people inhabit all that region under the earth's surface, where they guard the precious metals and the jewel stones that lie buried in rock and ore. At his right hand stood the King of the Sound Imps20, who had wings on his feet, for his people are swift to carry all sounds that are made. When they are busy they carry the sounds but short distances, for there are many of them; but sometimes they speed with the sounds to places miles and miles away from where they are made. The King of the Sound Imps had an anxious and careworn21 face, for most people have no consideration for his Imps and, especially the boys and girls, make a great many unnecessary sounds which the Imps are obliged to carry when they might be better employed.
The next in the circle of immortals was the King of the Wind Demons22, slender of frame, restless and uneasy at being confined to one place for even an hour. Once in a while he would leave his place and circle around the glade23, and each time he did this the Fairy Queen was obliged to untangle the flowing locks of her golden hair and tuck them back of her pink ears. But she did not complain, for it was not often that the King of the Wind Demons came into the heart of the Forest. After the Fairy Queen, whose home you know was in old Burzee, came the King of the Light Elves, with his two Princes, Flash and Twilight24, at his back. He never went anywhere without his Princes, for they were so mischievous25 that he dared not let them wander alone.
Prince Flash bore a lightning-bolt in his right hand and a horn of gunpowder26 in his left, and his bright eyes roved constantly around, as if he longed to use his blinding flashes. Prince Twilight held a great snuffer in one hand and a big black cloak in the other, and it is well known that unless Twilight is carefully watched the snuffers or the cloak will throw everything into darkness, and Darkness is the greatest enemy the King of the Light Elves has.
In addition to the immortals I have named were the King of the Knooks, who had come from his home in the jungles of India; and the King of the Ryls, who lived among the gay flowers and luscious27 fruits of Valencia. Sweet Queen Zurline of the Wood-Nymphs completed the circle of immortals.
But in the center of the circle sat three others who possessed28 powers so great that all the Kings and Queens showed them reverence29.
These were Ak, the Master Woodsman of the World, who rules the forests and the orchards30 and the groves31; and Kern, the Master Husbandman of the World, who rules the grain fields and the meadows and the gardens; and Bo, the Master Mariner32 of the World, who rules the seas and all the craft that float thereon. And all other immortals are more or less subject to these three.
When all had assembled the Master Woodsman of the World stood up to address them, since he himself had summoned them to the council.
Very clearly he told them the story of Claus, beginning at the time when as a babe he had been adopted a child of the Forest, and telling of his noble and generous nature and his life-long labors33 to make children happy.
"And now," said Ak, "when he had won the love of all the world, the Spirit of Death is hovering34 over him. Of all men who have inhabited the earth none other so well deserves immortality35, for such a life can not be spared so long as there are children of mankind to miss him and to grieve over his loss. We immortals are the servants of the world, and to serve the world we were permitted in the Beginning to exist. But what one of us is more worthy36 of immortality than this man Claus, who so sweetly ministers to the little children?"
He paused and glanced around the circle, to find every immortal3 listening to him eagerly and nodding approval. Finally the King of the Wind Demons, who had been whistling softly to himself, cried out:
"What is your desire, O Ak?"
That this demand was wholly unexpected was proved by the immortals springing to their feet and looking into each other's face with dismay and then upon Ak with wonder. For it was a grave matter, this parting with the Mantle of Immortality.
The Queen of the Water Sprites spoke39 in her low, clear voice, and the words sounded like raindrops splashing upon a window-pane.
"In all the world there is but one Mantle of Immortality," she said.
The King of the Sound Fays added:
"It has existed since the Beginning, and no mortal has ever dared to claim it."
And the Master Mariner of the World arose and stretched his limbs, saying:
"I know all this," answered Ak, quietly. "But the Mantle exists, and if it was created, as you say, in the Beginning, it was because the Supreme41 Master knew that some day it would be required. Until now no mortal has deserved it, but who among you dares deny that the good Claus deserves it? Will you not all vote to bestow it upon him?"
They were silent, still looking upon one another questioningly.
"Of what use is the Mantle of Immortality unless it is worn?" demanded Ak. "What will it profit any one of us to allow it to remain in its lonely shrine42 for all time to come?"
"Enough!" cried the Gnome King, abruptly43. "We will vote on the matter, yes or no. For my part, I say yes!"
"My people in Burzee tell me they have learned to love him; therefore I vote to give Claus the Mantle," said the King of the Ryls.
"He is already a comrade of the Knooks," announced the ancient King of that band. "Let him have immortality!"
"Let him have it—let him have it!" sighed the King of the Wind Demons.
"Why not?" asked the King of the Sleep Fays. "He never disturbs the slumbers45 my people allow humanity. Let the good Claus be immortal!"
"I do not object," said the King of the Sound Imps.
"Nor I," murmured the Queen of the Water Sprites.
"If Claus does not receive the Mantle it is clear none other can ever claim it," remarked the King of the Light Elves, "so let us have done with the thing for all time."
"The Wood-Nymphs were first to adopt him," said Queen Zurline. "Of course I shall vote to make him immortal."
Ak now turned to the Master Husbandman of the World, who held up his right arm and said "Yes!"
And the Master Mariner of the World did likewise, after which Ak, with sparkling eyes and smiling face, cried out:
"I thank you, fellow immortals! For all have voted 'yes,' and so to our dear Claus shall fall the one Mantle of Immortality that it is in our power to bestow!"
"Let us fetch it at once," said the Fay King; "I'm in a hurry."
They bowed assent46, and instantly the Forest glade was deserted47. But in a place midway between the earth and the sky was suspended a gleaming crypt of gold and platinum48, aglow49 with soft lights shed from the facets50 of countless gems51. Within a high dome52 hung the precious Mantle of Immortality, and each immortal placed a hand on the hem5 of the splendid Robe and said, as with one voice:
"We bestow this Mantle upon Claus, who is called the Patron Saint of Children!"
At this the Mantle came away from its lofty crypt, and they carried it to the house in the Laughing Valley.
The Spirit of Death was crouching53 very near to the bedside of Claus, and as the immortals approached she sprang up and motioned them back with an angry gesture. But when her eyes fell upon the Mantle they bore she shrank away with a low moan of disappointment and quitted that house forever.
Softly and silently the immortal Band dropped upon Claus the precious Mantle, and it closed about him and sank into the outlines of his body and disappeared from view. It became a part of his being, and neither mortal nor immortal might ever take it from him.
Then the Kings and Queens who had wrought54 this great deed dispersed55 to their various homes, and all were well contented56 that they had added another immortal to their Band.
And Claus slept on, the red blood of everlasting57 life coursing swiftly through his veins58; and on his brow was a tiny drop of water that had fallen from the ever-melting gown of the Queen of the Water Sprites, and over his lips hovered59 a tender kiss that had been left by the sweet Nymph Necile. For she had stolen in when the others were gone to gaze with rapture60 upon the immortal form of her foster son.
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1
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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2
goodwill
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| n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉 | |
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3
immortal
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| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
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4
immortals
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| 不朽的人物( immortal的名词复数 )； 永生不朽者 | |
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hem
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| n.贴边，镶边；vt.缝贴边；(in)包围，限制 | |
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6
waddled
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| v.（像鸭子一样）摇摇摆摆地走( waddle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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7
reindeer
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| n.驯鹿 | |
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8
stanch
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| v.止住（血等）；adj.坚固的；坚定的 | |
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9
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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10
sledge
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| n.雪橇，大锤；v.用雪橇搬运，坐雪橇往 | |
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11
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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12
aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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13
poised
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| a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
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14
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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15
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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16
countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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17
wondrous
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| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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18
moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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19
gnome
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| n.土地神；侏儒，地精 | |
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20
imps
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| n.（故事中的）小恶魔( imp的名词复数 )；小魔鬼；小淘气；顽童 | |
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21
careworn
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| adj.疲倦的，饱经忧患的 | |
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22
demons
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| n.恶人( demon的名词复数 )；恶魔；精力过人的人；邪念 | |
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23
glade
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| n.林间空地，一片表面有草的沼泽低地 | |
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24
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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25
mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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26
gunpowder
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| n.火药 | |
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27
luscious
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| adj.美味的；芬芳的；肉感的，引与性欲的 | |
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28
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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29
reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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30
orchards
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| （通常指围起来的）果园( orchard的名词复数 ) | |
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31
groves
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| 树丛，小树林( grove的名词复数 ) | |
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32
mariner
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| n.水手号不载人航天探测器，海员，航海者 | |
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33
labors
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| v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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34
hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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35
immortality
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| n.不死，不朽 | |
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36
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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37
bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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38
mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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39
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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40
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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42
shrine
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| n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣 | |
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43
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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44
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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45
slumbers
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| 睡眠，安眠( slumber的名词复数 ) | |
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46
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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47
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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48
platinum
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| n.白金 | |
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49
aglow
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| adj.发亮的；发红的；adv.发亮地 | |
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50
facets
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| n.（宝石或首饰的）小平面( facet的名词复数 )；（事物的）面；方面 | |
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51
gems
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| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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52
dome
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| n.圆屋顶，拱顶 | |
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53
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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54
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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55
dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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56
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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57
everlasting
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| adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的 | |
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58
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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59
hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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60
rapture
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| n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜 | |
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