Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-06
Copyright, 1902, by Bowen-Merrill Coz

said he 81 could make the journey in a
day"
but you have not" returned Glossie,
looking at his own slender legs Win
pride. ,
Perhaps I could ride upon your back,
Claus ventured to remark. after pause
"Oh. no: our backs are not strong enough
to bear your weight" said Flossie, decldeo,
ly But if you had a sledge, and could
harness us to it. we might draw you easily,
and your pack as we'll
'Til make a sledger' exclaimed Claus.
''Win you agree to draw me If do?
We'll" replied Flossie, 1--WE must hrst
go and ask the Knocks. who are our guard
ians, for permission; but If they consent
and you can make sledge and harness,
| we will gladly assist YOU
Then go at oncer cried Claus, eager
| ". Il am sure the friendly Knocks will
| give their consent and by the time you are
/ back l shall be ready to harness you to
my sledge.'
| Flossie and Glossie, being deer of much
| intelligence. had long wished to see the
| great world so they gladly ran over the
| frozen snow to ask the KNOCKS if they
! might carry Claus on his journey.
| Meantime the toymaker hurriedly began
| the construction of sledge, using ma
| terial from his wood pile. He made two
| long runners that turned upward at the
| front ends. and across these nailed short
! boards, to make a platform. 1t was soon
| completed but was as rude. In appear
| ance as it is possible for a sledge to be.
The harness was more difficult to pre-
| pare. but Claus twisted strong cords to-
| gether and knotted them so they would tit
| around the necks of the deer, in the shape
| of a collar. From these ran other cords
| to fasten the deer to the front of the
sledge.
Before the work was completed Glossie
| and Flossie were back from the forest,
| having been granted permission by VIII
Knock to make the journey with Claus
provided they would return to Burzee by
daybreak the next morning.
That is not very long time said Flos-
sic; but we are swift and strong, and If
we get started by this evening We can
| travel many miles during the night
Claus decided to make the attempt, so he
hurried on his preparations as fast as pos
sible. After time he fastened the collars
around the necks of his steeds and har-
messed them to his rude sledge. Then he
placed a stool the little platform, to
serve as a seat, and filled sack with his
prettiest toys.
How do you intend to guide us?" asked
Glossie. I'VE have never been out of the
forest before, except to visit your house, so
we shall not know the way"
Claus thought about that for q moment.
Then he brought more cords and fastened
two of them to the spreading antlers of
each deer, one on the right and the other
on the left.
Those will be my reins," said Claus.
land when l pull them to the right or to
the left you must go in that direction. If
dc not pull the reins at all you may go
straight ahead"
Very WE'LL answered Glossie and Flos-
sic; and then they asked: Are you ready?"
Claus seated himself upon the stool,
placed the sack of toys at his feet, and
then gathered up the reins.
'All ready!' he shouted; away we 60"
The deer leaned forward lifted their sen-
der limbs, and the next moment away flew
the sledge the frozen snow. The swift
ness of the motion surprised Claus, for in
a few strides they We're across the valley
and gliding over broad plain beyond.
The day had melted into evening by the
time they started; for, swiftly as Claus
had worked, many hours had been consum-
ed In making his preparations. But the
moon shone brightly to light their way. and
to travel by night as by day.
The deer liked 1t better; for, although
they wished to see something of the world,
they were timid about meeting men, and
row all the jewellers in the towns and
farmhouses were sound asleep and could
not them
Away and away they sped, on and on over
the hills and through the valleys and across
the plains until they reached village
where Claus had never been before.
Here he called on them to stop, and they
now presented itself, for the people had
locked their doors when they went to bed.
and Claus found he could not enter the
houses to leave his toys.
Il am afraid, my friends, we have made
cur journey for nothing" said he, for
shall be obliged to carry my playthings
back home again without giving them to
the children of this village"
What's the natter" asked Flossie.