The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1904-12-15
Upon reaching the brook he drank

eyes up to him iaughingly and isped
their dainty song:
blooming fairly. growing rarely,
Never fOweretS were SO gay.
Perfume breathing. Joy bequeathing.
.As or Colors we display.
It made Claus laugh to hear the little
things voice their happiness as they
nodded gracefully on their stems But
another strain caught his ear as the
sunbeams fe,! gently across his face
and whispered:
''Here is gladnes3 that our rays
Warm the Valley through the days:
Here is happiness, to give
Comfort unto all who live.'
"1es,' cried Claus in answer, there
are happiness and joy in all things
here. The Laughing Valley is valley
Of peace and good will
He passed the day talking with the
ants and beetles and exchanging jokes
with the light hearted butterflies. And
at night he lay on his bed of soft moss
and slept soundly.
Then came the Fairies, merry, but
noiseless, bringing skillets and pots and
dishes and pans and all the tools nee
essary to prepare food and to comfort
mortal. With these they filled cup
board and fireplace, finally placing
stout suit Of wool clothing on the stool
by the bedside.
When Claus awOke he rubbed his
ayes again and laughed and spoke,
aloud Els thanks to the Fairies and the
Master NoodsElIn who had sent them.
With eIga," joy he examined all his
new possessions. wondering what some
might be used For, but in the days.
whctn lie lssM chung to- the girdIe of the
great Ak Hatl visited the cities OF men
his eyes, ha,a been ruick to note all the
manners alEI customs OF the race to-
which he belonged so he guessed from
the gi.Sts brCs1ghr Esy the Fairies that
the Master c.zpeetea him hereafter to,
live ILL tile G1slsion of his fellow crea-
lures.
''Wliii1ii: meaas; thar mEHst pillow the.
eartli AND plant eOcn." Ets reflected,
$50, thar whe1s winter comes I shall.
have gaIne,eU Good iH plenty
Bit as, he stood in the grassy Valley
lie saw Giat, to- turn up tire earth in
OF PRETTY HELPLESS; flowers as well as
tkeusandsso of the tender blades of grass.
kAnd. this 5e' could not Bear to do.
Therefors' lie. stretched out his arms,
and. uttere.ll a; peculiar whistle he had,
learned; in. the. Forest afterward cry
iEg:
''Ryls: Of the Field Fsswers-eome to,
met
Instantly a. dozen of the queer little
Rgls We're squatting upor the ground
before, hinli. and they nodded to him in,
cheerfili greeting.
CLAUS: ga::sa:A ur-,rr theEn earnestly.
sIour' brothers of the Forest" he
isaid, II h:zAe' krscswn and loved many
years.. l; SHALL lore you. also. when We
h,svc. haco?,ia friends. To me the laws,
OF the RNiss. whether those OF the For
est Or Of tac" field, are sacred. l have
never willf:1ly destroyed one Of the
asssers, Nosa' tend so carefully but, l.
naa1st piaa,*. grain TO- use for food dur
ing the GELD winter, AID how am L. to-
DIS this, without killing the little crea-
tazres; that: sing: to me So prettily Oftfleir' /.
fragrant BlnssoHs3'
l. The Yellow Efy1- he who tendSi the
auttercu7ss, llide answer:
|, 'Iret not friend Claus. The great
Ak has spoken to US of you. There. is
better york for you in life than to-
labor for" food. and though, not being:
of the Forest, Ak has no command
over. us, nevertheless are We glad to-
favoS sne he loves. Live, therefore, to-
do the good work you are resolved to
undertake. We, the Field sElss. Will
attend to your food supplies
After this speech the Ry1s; were 20
longer to be seen, and Claus, drove from
his mind the thought OF tilling the.
earth.
When next he wandered back to his
dwelling a bowl Of fresh milk stood
upon the table. bread was in the cup
board and sweet honey filled dish be-
side it. A pretty basket Of rosy apples
and new plucked grapes, was, also wait
ing him. He called out. Thanks, my
friends" to the invisible Ryls and
straightway began to eat Of the food.
Thereafter, when hungry, he had but
to look into the cupboard to find goodly
supplies brought by the kindly Ryls
And the Knocks cut and stacked much
wood for his fireplace. And the Fairies
brought him warm blankets and cloth
ing.
So began his life in the Laughing
Valley, with the favor and friendship
of the immortals to minister to hts
| every want
(TO BE CONTINUED)