The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-12-26

"HEN Claus came the Valley was
AVA empty save for the grass, the
brook, the wild flowers, the
bees and the butterflies If he would
make his home here and live after
the fashion, Of men he must have a
house This puzzled him at first. but
while he stood smiling in the sunshine
ko, the servant OF the Master Woods
man. Nelko bore an AK, strong and
broad. with blade that cleaned like
FURNISHED silver. This he placed in
the young mans hand, then disappear
ed without a word
Claus understood, and, turning TO the
Forests edge, be selected a number OF
fallen tree trunks. which he began 10
clear of their dead branches. He
would not cut into n living tree His
life among the nymphs who guarded
the Forest had taught him that live
tree is sacred being Il created thing
endowed with feeling. But with the
dead and fallen trees ii was different.
They had fulfilled their destiny as
active members of the Forest com
munity. and now it was fitting that
their remains should minister to the
needs of man. d
The AK bit deep into the logs AZ every
stroke. II seemed 10 have a force of
its own, and Claus had but TO swing
and guide it,
When shadows began creeping over
the green hills TO lie in the Valley
overnight, the young man had chopped
many logs into equal lengths and
proper shapes for building a house such
as he had seen the poorer classes of
mon inhabt. Then, resolving to await
another day before he tried to tit the
logs together. Claus ale some of the
sweet roots he well knew how 10 find,
drank deeply from the laughing brook
and lay down to sleep on the grass,
first seeking a spot where no flowers
grew lest the weight of his body
should crush them.
And while he siumbered and breathed
in the perfume of the wondrous Valley
the Spirit OF Happiness crept into his
heart and drove out all terror and
care and misgivings. Nevcrmore would
the face OF Claus be clOuded with anX-
iety; nevermore would the trials of
life weigh him down as with burden.
The Laughing Valley had claimed him
for its own.
Would that we all might live in that
delightful place. But then, maybe, it
would become overcrowded. For ages
1t had awaited tenant Was il chance
that led young Claus to make his home
I'm this happy vale? OR may we guess
that his thoughtful friends. the i'm
mortals, had directed his steps when
he wandered away from Burzee to
seek home in the great world?
Certain 1t is that while the moon
peered over the hilltop and flooded with
its soft beams the body of the sleeping
stranger the Laughing Valley was
filed with the queer, crooked shapes
Of the friendly KNOCKS. These people
spoke no words, but worked with skill
and swIftness. The logs Claus had
trimmed with his bright ax were car
ried TO a spot beside the brook and
fitted one upon another and during the
night strong and roomy dwelling was
built
The birds came sweeping into the
Valley at daybreak. and their songs. so
seldom heard in the deep wood. aroused
the stranger He rubbed the web of
sleep from his eyelids and looked
around. The house met his gaze.
Il must thank the KNOCKS for this"
said he gratefully. Then he walked TO
his dwelling and entered at the door
way. A large room faced him. having
n fireplace at the end and a table and
bench in the middle Beside the fire
place was cupboard. Another door
way was beyond. Claus entered here
also and saw smaller room with a
bed against the wall and a stool set
near a small stand. ON the bed were
many LAYERS OF dried moss brought
from the Forest
Indeed. il is a palace exclaimed
the smiling Claus. Il must thank the
good KNOCKS again for their knowledge
Of mans needs as well as for their
labors in my behalf"
He left his new home with glad
feeling that he was not quite alone in
the world. although be had chosen to
abandon his Forest life Friendships
are not easily broken and the i'm
mortals are everywhere.
Upon reaching the brook be drank
of the pure water and then sat down
on the bank 10 laugh at the mischie-
vous sambois of the ripples as they
pushed one another against rocks or
crowded desperately TO see which
should first reach the turn beyond.
And as they raced away he listened to
thu snnr thav sanas - -