The Cairo bulletin., 1904-12-29
Chapter eleventh
Row Little Mayris Became frightened


u the Laughing Valley was filled
with Joyous excitement. The
brook was so happy at being free once
again that 1t gurgled more boisterous-
ly than ever and dashed so recklessly
against the rocks that it sent showers
Of spray high in the air The grass
thrust it's sharp little blades upward
through the mat of dead stalks where
1t had hidden from the snow, but the
flowers were yet too timid to show
themselves. although the Rys We're
busy feeding their roots. The sun was
III remarkably good humor and sent
his rays dancing merrily throughout
the Valley
Claus was eating his dinner one day
when he heard timid knock on his
door.
Come in" he called.
No one entered, but after a pause
came another rapping.
Claus jumped up and threw open
the door Before him stood Il small
girl holding a smaller brother fast by
the hand.
us you Tlausf' she asked shyly.
Indeed l am. my dearr he answer
ed, with a laugh, as he caught both
children in his arms and kissed them.
"You are very welcome. and you have
come just i'm time to share my dinner"
He took them to the table and fed
them with fresh milk and nut cakes
When they had eaten enough he asked
why have you made this long jour
ney TO see meT"
Il wants a tat!' replied little Mayrie;
and her brother, who had not yet
learned TO speak many words, nodded
his head and exclaimed like an echo,
Tat"
"0h, you want my toy cats, do youW
returned Claus, greatly pleased ID dis
cover that his creations were so popu
lar with children.
The little visitors nodded eagerly.
unfortunately" he continued, Il
have but one cat now ready, for | car
ried two to children in the town yes
terday And the one I have shall be
given to your brother, Mayrie, because
lie is the smaller, and the next one
make shall be for YOU
The boys face was bright with
smiles as he took the precious toy
Claus held out to Elm. but little Maybe
covered her face with her arm and be-
gan to sob grievously.
Ill wants t-t.tat nowp' she
walled
Her disappointment made Claus feel
miserable for moment. Then he sud
denly remembered Shiegra.
Don't cry. darlingT he said sooth-
ingly Il have toy much nicer than
a cat and you shall have that"
He went TO the cupboard and drew
out the image of the lioness. Which he
placed on the table before Maybe,
The girl raised her arm and gave one
glance at the fierce teeth and glaring
eyes of the beast, and then, uttering a
terrified scream, she rushed from the
house The boy followed her. also
screaming Justify and even dropping
his precious cat in his fear.
For a moment Claus stood motion
less. being puzzled and astonished
Then he threw Shiegra's image into
the cupboard and ran after the chill
dren, calling to them not TO be fright
ened.
Little Mayrie stopped in her fight
and her brother chung to her skirt but
they both cast fearful glanccssat the
house until Claus had assured them
many times that the beast had been
locked in the cupboard =
"Yet why were you frightened az
seeing it," he asked. TT is only toy
TO play WITH
Its bad" said Mayrie decidedly,
"an'-an'-just horrid,, an not a bit
nice, like tats"'
perhaps You are right" returned
Claus thoughtfully. But if you viii
return with me to the house | will
soon make you a pretty cat"
So they timidly entered the house
again. having faith in their friends
words: and afterward they had the
joy of watching Claus carve out cat
from bit of wood and paint IL in
natural colors. 1t did not take him
long to do this. for he had become skill
full with his knife by this time. and
Mayrie loved her toy the more dearly
because she had seen il made.
After his little visitors had trotted
away on their journey homeward
Claus sat long in deep thought. And
he then decided that such fierce crea-
lures as his friend the liOness would
never do as models from which to
fashion his toys.
There must be nothing to frighten
the dear babies he reflected; "and
while know Shiegra well. and am not
afraid of her, it is but natural that
children should look upon her image
s with terror Hereafter | will choose
such mild hammered animals as squir
reIs and rabbits and deer and lamb
kins from which TO carve my toys, for
then the little ones will love rather
than fear them"