The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1905-01-04

1 OF The Knocks, saying
"The good work that Claus is doing
among mankind deserves the support
Of every honest immortal Already he
is called Saint in some Of the towns.
and before long the name OF Santa
Claus viii be lovingly known i'll every
home that is blessed with children.
] Moreover. he is Il sou of our Forest, so
we owe him our encouragement. You,
Ruler of the KNOCKS, have known him
/ these many years; am | not right in
saying he deserves our friendship
The Prince crooked and sour Of Wis
! age. as an Knocks are, looked only up
on the dead leaves at his feet and muir
INJURED, "You are the Master Woods
man of the Worldw
Ak smiled, but continued, in soft
tones. 1T seems that the deer which
are guarded by your people can he Of
/ great assistance to Claus, and as they
/ seem willing TO draw his slelge | beg
that you viii permit him to use their
services whenever he pleases.
The Prince did not reply. but tapped
| the tuIltt punt Vi HIS SdAAdl WIN TN
tip of his spear, as if in thought
Then the Fairy Queen spoke 10 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 heetness of foot and my MARION
plants. which give long life"
And the Queen Of the Nymphs said,
1.-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
| a request of his fellow immortals, al
though they were asking an unusual
| favor at his hands, and the Knocks
are unaccustomed to granting fayors Of
any kind Finally he turned to his
servants and said:
call win KNOCK"
When surly Will came and heard the
demands of the immortals he protested
| loudly against granting them.
Deer are deer" said he. 'and moth
ing but DEER Were they horses it
would be right to harness them like
| horses. But no one harnesses deer, be-
canse 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 viii says"
"Call Glossie and Flossie,' returned
the Master
The deer were brought to the con
ference and Ak asked them il they OBJ
jected TO drawing the sledge for Claus.
"No indeedv' replied Glossle. I'VE
enjoyed the trip very much"
"And we tried hard to get home by
daYbreak," added Flossie. but 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 Clau.
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:
"Snce you all urge me TO grant the
favor 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
Iect 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. win 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 Fiossie ran home, kicking
up their heels delightedly at every step.
when is Christmas Ever Claus
/ asked the Master
'In about ten days" he replied.
Then | cannot use the deer this
year." said Claus thoughtfully, "fOr
shall not have time enough to make my
/ sackful Of toys"
1.-THE shTewd Prince foresaw that.
responded Ak, 'and therefore named
Christmas Eve as the day you might
use the deer. knowing it would cause
you to lose an entire year.
III | only had the toys the Awgwas
stole from me- said Claus sadly, 81
could Gil my sack Tor the ehildrea.'