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

quickly supplying the little ones living
near by he saw he must now extend
his travels to wider fields.
Remembering the time when he had
journeyed with Ak through all the
world, he knew children everywhere,
and he longed to make as many as pos
sible happy with his gifts.
So he loaded a great sack with all
kinds Of toys, slung it upon his back
that he might carry it more easily, and
started off on longer trip than he had
yet undertaken.
Wherever he showed his merry face,
in hamlet or in farmhouse, he received
cordial welcome, for his fame had
spread into far lands. At each village
the children swarmed about him, fol-
lowing his footsteps wherever he went,
and the women thanked him gratefully
for the joy he brought their little ones,
and the men looked upon him euriously
that he should devote his time to such
a queer occupation as toymaklng. But
every one smiled on him and gave him
kindly words, and Claus felt amply re-
paid for his long journey.
When the sack was empty he went
back again to the Laughing Valley
and once more filled it to the brim.
This time he followed another road,
into different part of the country,
and carried happiness to many children
who never before had owned a toy or
guessed that such a delightful play
thing existed
After a third journey, so far away
that Claus was many days walking the
distance, the store Of toys became ex-
hausted and without delay he set about
making fresh supply.
From seeing SO many children and
studying their tastes he had acquired
several new ideas about toys.
The dollies were, he had found, the,
most delightful of all playthings for
babies and little girls, and often those
who could not say dolly would call
for "doll'' in their sweet baby talk
So Claus resolved to make many dolls;
Of all sizes and to dress them in bright
colored clothing. The older boys and
even some Of the girls loved the i'm
ages of animals, so he still made cats,
and elephants and horses. And many
Of the little fellows had musical ma
lures and longed for drums and Gym
balls and whistles and horns. So he.
made number Of toy drums. with tiny
sticks to beat them with, and he made
whistles from the willow trees and
horns from the bog reeds and cymbals
from bits of beaten metal.
All this kept him busily at work, and
before he realized it the winter season
came, with deeper SHOWS than usual,
and he knew he could not leave the
Valley with his heavy pack. Moreover,
the next trip would take him farther
from home than ever before, and Jack
Frost was mischievous enough to nip
his nose and ears if he undertook, the.
long journey while the Frost King
reigned. The Frost King was Jacks
father and never reproved him for his
FRANKS.
So Claus remained at his workbench,
but he whistled and sang as merrily
as ever, for he would allow no disap-
pointment to sour his temper or make
him unhappy.
One bright morning he looked from
his window and saw two of the deer
he had known in the Forest walking
toward his house.
Claus was surprised, not that the
friendly deer should visit him, but that
they walked on the surface of the snow
as easily as if it were solid ground,
Notwithstanding the fact that through
out the Valley the snow lay many feet
deep. He had walked out of his house
day or two before and had sunk to
his armpits in drift
So when the deer came near he open
ed the door and called to them:
"Good morning, Flossie! Tell me
how you are able to walk on the snow
SO easily"
ut is frozen hard" answered Fiossie
'"The Frost King has breathed on it,"
said Glossie coming up, land the sur
face is now as solid as ice."
Perhaps remarked Claus thought
fully, II might now carry my pack Of
toys to the children"
lis IL long journey! asked tlOSSle.
eyes, it will take me many days, for
the pack is heavy" answered Claus.
"Then the snow would melt before
you could get back said the deer.
"You must wait until spring, Claus"
Claus sighed. Had I your fleet
feet" said he, II could make the jour-
ney in day.
"But you have not returned Glossie,
looking at his own slender legs with
pride.
Perhaps I could ride upon your
back Clans ventured to remark after
pause.
"Oh, no, our backs are not strong
enough to bear your weight said
Flossie decidedly. But if you had a
sledge and could harness us to it we
might draw you easily and your pack
as well''
"1'll make sledge," exclaimed Claus.
'Will you agree to draw me if I do?"