The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1904-12-29

SAp VI HIS spear, GS IL III THOUGHT.
Then the Fairy Queen spoke to him
in this way: "If you consent to AXIS
request will see that no harm comes
to your deer while they are away from
the Forest"
And the Prince of the Ryls added:
For my part will allow every deer
that assists Claus the privilege of eat
Ing my casa plants, which give
strength, and my grawle plants, which
give f1eetness Of foot and my MARION
plants, which give long life''
And the Queen Of the Nynphs said,
'"The deer which draw the sledge of
Claus will be permitted to battle in the
Forest pool Of Mares, which will give
them sleek coats and great beauty"
The Prince of the Knocks, hearing
these promises, shifted uneasily on his
seat, for in his heart he hated to refuse
request of his fellow immortals, al
though they were asking an unusual
favor at his hands, and the Knocks
are unaccustomed to granting favors Of
any kind. Finally he turned to his
servants and said:
Call Will Knock
When surly Will came and heard the
demands of the immortals he protested
loudly against granting them.
Deer are deer" said he, land moth
ing but deer. Were they horses it
would be right to harness them like
horses. But no one harnesses deer, be-
cause they are free, wild creatures,
owing no service of any sort to man
kind. 1t would degrade my deer to
labor for Claus, who Is only a man in
spite of the friendship lavished on him
by the immortals."
''You have heard" said the Prince to
Ak. 'There is truth in what Will says"
Call Glossie and Flossie," returned
the Master.
The deer were brought to the con-
ference and Ak asked them if they OBJ
jected to drawing the sledge for Claus.
mo, indeed" replied Glossie. eve
enjoyed the trip very much.'
'And we tried hard to get home by
daybreak," added Flossie, shut were
unfortunately a minute too late.'
"A minute lost at daybreak doesn't
matter" said Ak. "You are forgiven
for that delay"
provided it does not happen again.
said the Prince of the Knocks sternly.
"And will you permit them to make
another journey with me?' asked Claus.
The Prince reflected while he gazed
at Will, who was scowling, and at the
Master Woodsman, who was smiling.
Then he stood up and addressed the
company as follows:
"Since you all urge me to grant the
favor I will permit the deer to go with
Claus once every year, on Christmas
Eve, provided they always return to
the Forest by daybreak. He may Sc,
lect any number he pleases, up to ten,
to draw his sledge, and those shall be
known among us as Reindeer, to dis
tinguish them from the others. And
they shall battle in the Pool of Mares,
and eat the casa and grawle and mar.
bon plants, and shall be under the es-
pecial protection of the Fairy Queen.
And now cease scowling, Will KNOCK,
for my words shall be obeyed"
He hobbled quickly away through
the trees to avoid the thanks of Claus
and the approval Of the other immor,
tails, and Will followed him.
But Ak was satisfied, knowing that
he could rely on the promise of the
Prince, however grudgingly given; and
Glossie and Flossie ran home, kicking
up their heels delightedly at every step.
'When is Christmas Eve?" Claus
asked the Master
"1n about ten days." he replied.
''Then I cannot use the deer this
year." said Claus thoughtfully, :'for I
shall not have time enough to make my
sackful of toys"
''The shrewd Prince foresaw that
responded Ak, land therefore named
Christmas Eve as the day you might
use the deer, knowing it would cause
you to lose an entire year."
."If I only had the toys the Awgwas
stole from me-" said Claus sadly, :"