The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-12-23

separate yourself forever from me ana
your home IN Burzec"
One of the first laws OF the Forest Is
4 obedience, and Claus had no thought of
disobeylng the Masters wish. He
chung fast to the girdle and remained
invisible
Thereafter with each moment passed
in the city the youths wonder grew.
He who had supposed himself created
differently from all others now found
the earth swarming with creatures of
his own kind.
Indeed, said Ak. ''the immortals
are few, but the mortals are many"
! Claus looked earnestly upon his fell
lows. There were sad faces. gay and
reckless faces. pleasant faces, anxious
faces and kindly faces. all mingled In
puzzling disorder. Some worked at
tedious tasks. some strutted in impu-
dent conceit some were thoughtful
and grave, while others seemed happy
and content Men of many nata, :
were there, as everywhere, and Claus
found much TO please him and much
to make him sad
But especially he noted the children
first curiously. then eagerly. then low
ingly Ragged little ones rolled in Ire
dust of the streets. playing with scraps
and pebbles Other children, gayly
dressed, were propped upon cushions
and fed with sugar plums. Yet the
children Of the rich were not happier
than those playing with the dust and
pebbles, it seemed to Claus.
childhood is the time of mans
greatest content" said Ak, following
the youths thoughts. IT'S during
these years of innocent pleasure that
the little ones are most free from
care"
"Tell me" said Claus, why do not
all these babies fare alike:"
Because they are born in both cot
tage and palace" returned the Master.
1.-THE difference in the wealth of the
parents determines the lot of the child
Some are carefully tended and clothed
in silks and dainty linen; others are
neglected and covered with rags"
"Yet all seem equally fair and sweet, +"
said Claus thoughtfully.
"While they are babes, yes" agreed
Ak "Their joy is in being alive, and
they do not stop to think. In after
years the doom of mankind oyertakes
them, and they find they must struggle
and worry. work and fret. 10 gain the
wealth that is so dear TO the hearts
of men. Such things are unknown in
the Forest where you were reared"
Claus was silent for moment. Then
he asked
"Why was | reared in the Forest,
among those who are not Of my racer
Then Ak. in gentle voice, told him
the story of his babyhood-how he had
been abandoned at the Forests edge
and left prey to wild beasts, and
how the loving nymph Necile had res
cued him ard brought him to manhood
under the protection Of the immortals.
yet am not Of them" said Claus
musingly.-
You are not of them" returned the
Woodsman THE nymph who cared
for you as a mother seems now like
sister to you. BY and by. when you
grow old and gray. she will seem like
Il daughter Yet another brief span
and you will be but memory, while
she remains Neeile."
"Then why, If man must perish, is
he born?" demanded the boy.
Everything perishes except the
world itself and its keepers" answered
Ak. but while life lasts everything
on earth has its use. The wise seek
ways to be helpful to the world, for
the helpful ones are sure to live
again"
Much of this Claus failed TO under
stand fully, but longing seized him
TO become helpful 10 his fellows. and
he remained grave and thoughtful
while they resumed their journey.
They visited many dwellings Of men
in many parts of the world, watching
farmers toll in the fields. warriors dash
into cruel fray and merchants ex-
change their goods for bits of white
and yellow metal. And everywhere
the eyes of Claus sought ont the chill
dren in love and pity. for the thought
Of his own helpless babyhood was
strong within him. and he yearned TO
give help to the innocent little ones or
his race even as be. had been succored
by the kindly nymph.
Day by day the Master Woodsman
and his pupil traversed the earth, Ak
speaking but seldom to the youth. who
chung steadfastly TO his girdle. but
guiding him into all places where he
might become familiar with the lives
Of human beings.
And at last they returned to the
grand old Forest of Burzee. where the
Master set Claus down within the cir
Gle of nymphs. among whom the pretty
Necile anxiously awaited him.
The brow of the great Ak was nav
calm and peaceful but the brow Of
Claus had become lined with deep
thought. Necile sighed at the change
in her foster son. who until now had
been ever joyous and smiling. and the
thought came to her that never again
would the life of the boy be the same
a. before this eventful journey.