The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-01-05
carry wien they might be better en-

was the King Of the Wind Demons.
slender OF frame, restless and uneasy
at being confined to one place for even
an hour. Once in awhile he would
leave his place and circle around the
glade, and each time he did this the
Fairy Queen was obliged to untangle
the lowing locks of her golden hair
! and tuck them back of her pink ears.
But she did not complain, for it was
not often that the King Of the Wind
Demons came into the heart of the
Forest. After the Fairy Queen, whose
home you know was in old Burzee.
came the King Of the Light Elves, with
his two Princes, Flash and Twilight,
at his back. He never went anywhere
without his Princes for they were so
mischievous that he dared not let them
wander alone.
Prince Flash bore a lightning bolt in
his right hand and horn of gunpow-
der in his left, and his bright eyes
roved constantly around as if he long
ed to use his binding flashes. Prince
Twilight held a great snuffer in one
hand and a big black cloak in the
Twilight is carefully watched the
Snuffers or the cloak will throw every
thing into darkness, and Darkness is
the greatest enemy the King of the
Light Elves has.
In addition to the immortals I have
named We're the King Of the Knocks,
who had come from his home in the
jungles of India, and the King Of the
Ryls, who lived among the gay flow
ers and luscious fruits of Valencia
Sweet Queen Zurline of the Wood
Nymphs completed the circle of i'm
mortalS
But in the center of the circle sat
three others who possessed powers so
great that all the Kings and Queens
showed them reverence.
These were Ak, the Master Woods
man of the World, who rules the for
ests and the orchards and the groves:
and Kern, the Master Husbandman Of
the World, who rules the grain fields
and the meadows and the gardens;
and Bo, the Master Mariner Of the
World, who rules the seas and all the
craft that float thereon. And all other
immortals are more OF less subject to
these three.
When all had assembled the Master
WOodsman of the World stood up to
address them, since he himself had
summoned them to the council.
Very clearly he told them the story
of Claus, beginning at the time when
as babe he had been adopted child
of the Forest and telling of his noble
and generous nature and his lifelong
labors to make children happt.
And now,' said Ak. when he has
won the love Of all the world, the
Spirit of Death is lowering over him.
OF all men who have inhabited the
earth none other so we'll deserves i'm
mortality, for such a life cannot be
spared so long as there are children
Of mankind to miss him and to grieve
over his loss. We immortals are the
servants of the world, and to serve
the world we were permitted in the
Beginning to exist. But what one of
us is more worthy of immortality than
this man Claus, who so sweetly min
listers to the little children?''
He paused and glanced around the
circle to find every immortal listening
to him eagerly and nodding approval.
Finally the King of the Wind Demons,
who had been whistling softly to him
self, cried out:
What is your desire. O Ak?"
ITO bestow upon Claus the Mantle
of Immortality!' said Ak boldly.
That this demand was wholly unex-
pected was proved by the immortals
springing to their feet and looking into
each others face with dismay and then
upon Ak with wonder For it was q
grave matter, this parting with the
Mantle Of Immortality.
The Queen of the Water Sprites
spoke in her low, clear voice, and the
words sounded like raindrops splash
ing upon window pane.
In all the world there is but one
Mantle of Immortality she said.
The King of the Sound Fays added:
1T has existed since the Beginning
and no mortal has ever dared to claim
it."
And the Master Mariner Of the World
arose and stretched his limbs, say
ing:
"Only by the vote Of every immor-
tai can it be bestowed upon a NOR
ta1"
Il know all this answered Ak quiet
~. "But the Mantle exists, and if it
was created, as you say, in the Be
ginning, it was because the Supreme
Master knew that some day it would
be required. Until now no mortal has
deserved it, but who among you dares
deny that the good Claus deserves it?
Will you not all vote to bestow it upon
him."
They We're silent, still looking upon
one another questioningly.
"Of what use is the Mantle of I'm
mortality unless it is worm" demand
ed Ak. what will it profit any one
OF us to allow it to remain in its lone
~ shrine for all time to come?'
HFnOuphr, orio6 tho Cpo,,o IT,.