Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-22
Copyright, 1902, by Bowen Merrill Coz

work was done the Ryls declared it was
| exactly as good as live cat.
That is, to all appearances" added the
| Red Ryl.
| Blinkie seemed little offended by the
! attention bestowed upon the toy, and that
| she might not seem to approve the 1mlta-
| ton cat she walked to the corner OF the
! hearth and sat down with dignified air.
! But Claus was delighted, and as soon as
| morning came he started out and tramped
! through the snow, across the valley and
| the plain, until he came to a village. There,
| in a poor hut near the walls of the beauti-
| full palace of the Lord of Lerd, a little girl
| lay upon a wretched cot, moaning with
| pain.
Claus approached the child and kissed her
| and comforted her. and then he drew the
J toy cat from beneath his coat, where he
had hidden it, and placed it in her arms.
All, how we'll he felt himself repaid for
his labor and his long walk when he saw
the little ones eyes grow bright with
her breast, If it had been a precious
gem and would not let 1t go for single
| moment. The fever was quoted, the pain
grew less, and she fell into a sweet and re-
freshing sleep.
Claus laughed and whistled and sang all
the way home. Never had he been SO
happy as on that day.
When he entered his house he found
Shlegra, the lioneSS, awaiting him. Since
his babyhood Shiegra had loved Claus, and
while he dWelt in the forest she had often
come to visit him at Needles bower After
Claus had gone to live in the Laughing VAL
ley Shiegra became lonely and i'll at ease,
and now she had braved the snow drifts
which all lions aphor, to see him once
more. Shiegra was getting old and her
teeth were beginning to fall out, while the
hairs that tipped her ears and tail had
changed from tawny yellow to white.
Claus found her lying on his hearth, and
he put his arms around the neck Of the
lioness and Rugged her lovingly. The cat
had retired into a far corner. She did not
care to associate with Shiegra.
Claus told his old friend about the cats
he had made, and how much pleasure they
had given Weekum and the sick girl. SHE
gra did not know much about children; In
deed, II she met child she could scarcely
be trusted not to devour it. But she was
Interested in Claus new labors, and said:
These images seem to me very attract
i've Yet | cannot see why you should make
cats, which are very unimportant animals
suppose, now that | am here, you make
the image of lioness, the queen of all
beasts. Then, indeed, your children will be
happy-and safe at the same time?'
Claus thought this was a good suggestion
So he got piece of wood and sharpened
his knife, while Shiegra crouched upon the
hearth at his feet. With much care he
carved the head in the likeness Of the
Honess, even to the two fierce teeth that
curved over her lower lip and the deep,
frowning lines above her wide-open eyes
When ii was finished he said
GU nave terrible look, Shiegra."
Then the image is like me-" she answer
ed; for L am indeed terrible to all who are
not my friends"
Claus now carved out the body, with SHE
gra's long tail trailing behind it. The image
Of the crouching lioness was very ufe-like,
1T pleases me- said Shiegra yawnng
and stretching her body gracefully. Now
I will watch while you paint"
He brought the paints the Ryls had given
him from the cupboard and colored the
image to resemble the real Shiegra.
The lioness placed her big padded paws
upon the edge of the table and raised her.
self while she carefully examined the toy
that was her likeness.
You are indeed skillful,' she said, proud
ly. The children will like that better
than cats. I'm sure"
Then snarling at Blinkie, who arched her
back in terror and whined fearfully, she
walked away toward her forest home with
stately strides