12. The First Christmas Tree
Claus had always kept his promise to the Knooks by returning to theLaughing Valley by daybreak, but only the swiftness of his reindeer hasenabled him to do this, for he travels over all the world.
He loved his work and he loved the brisk night ride on his sledge andthe gay tinkle of the sleigh-bells. On that first trip with the tenreindeer only Glossie and Flossie wore bells; but each year thereafterfor eight years Claus carried presents to the children of the GnomeKing, and that good-natured monarch gave him in return a string ofbells at each visit, so that finally every one of the ten deer wassupplied, and you may imagine what a merry tune the bells played as thesledge sped over the snow.
The children's stockings were so long that it required a great manytoys to fill them, and soon Claus found there were other things besidestoys that children love. So he sent some of the Fairies, who werealways his good friends, into the Tropics, from whence they returnedwith great bags full of oranges and bananas which they had plucked fromthe trees. And other Fairies flew to the wonderful Valley ofPhunnyland, where delicious candies and bonbons grow thickly on thebushes, and returned laden with many boxes of sweetmeats for the littleones. These things Santa Claus, on each Christmas Eve, placed in thelong stockings, together with his toys, and the children were glad toget them, you may be sure.
There are also warm countries where there is no snow in winter, butClaus and his reindeer visited them as well as the colder climes, forthere were little wheels inside the runners of his sledge whichpermitted it to run as smoothly over bare ground as on the snow. Andthe children who lived in the warm countries learned to know the nameof Santa Claus as well as those who lived nearer to the Laughing Valley.
Once, just as the reindeer were ready to start on their yearly trip, aFairy came to Claus and told him of three little children who livedbeneath a rude tent of skins on a broad plain where there were no treeswhatever. These poor babies were miserable and unhappy, for theirparents were ignorant people who neglected them sadly. Claus resolvedto visit these children before he returned home, and during his ride hepicked up the bushy top of a pine tree which the wind had broken offand placed it in his sledge.
It was nearly morning when the deer stopped before the lonely tent ofskins where the poor children lay asleep. Claus at once planted thebit of pine tree in the sand and stuck many candles on the branches.Then he hung some of his prettiest toys on the tree, as well as severalbags of candies. It did not take long to do all this, for Santa Clausworks quickly, and when all was ready he lighted the candles and,thrusting his head in at the opening of the tent, he shouted:
"Merry Christmas, little ones!"
With that he leaped into his sledge and was out of sight before thechildren, rubbing the sleep from their eyes, could come out to see whohad called them.
You can imagine the wonder and joy of those little ones, who had neverin their lives known a real pleasure before, when they saw the tree,sparkling with lights that shone brilliant in the gray dawn and hungwith toys enough to make them happy for years to come! They joinedhands and danced around the tree, shouting and laughing, until theywere obliged to pause for breath. And their parents, also, came out tolook and wonder, and thereafter had more respect and consideration fortheir children, since Santa Claus had honored them with such beautifulgifts.
The idea of the Christmas tree pleased Claus, and so the following yearhe carried many of them in his sledge and set them up in the homes ofpoor people who seldom saw trees, and placed candles and toys on thebranches. Of course he could not carry enough trees in one load of allwho wanted them, but in some homes the fathers were able to get treesand have them all ready for Santa Claus when he arrived; and these thegood Claus always decorated as prettily as possible and hung with toysenough for all the children who came to see the tree lighted.
These novel ideas and the generous manner in which they were carriedout made the children long for that one night in the year when theirfriend Santa Claus should visit them, and as such anticipation is verypleasant and comforting the little ones gleaned much happiness bywondering what would happen when Santa Claus next arrived.
Perhaps you remember that stern Baron Braun who once drove Claus fromhis castle and forbade him to visit his children? Well, many yearsafterward, when the old Baron was dead and his son ruled in his place,the new Baron Braun came to the house of Claus with his train ofknights and pages and henchmen and, dismounting from his charger, baredhis head humbly before the friend of children.
"My father did not know your goodness and worth," he said, "andtherefore threatened to hang you from the castle walls. But I havechildren of my own, who long for a visit from Santa Claus, and I havecome to beg that you will favor them hereafter as you do otherchildren."
Claus was pleased with this speech, for Castle Braun was the only placehe had never visited, and he gladly promised to bring presents to theBaron's children the next Christmas Eve.
The Baron went away contented, and Claus kept his promise faithfully.
Thus did this man, through very goodness, conquer the hearts of all;and it is no wonder he was ever merry and gay, for there was no home inthe wide world where he was not welcomed more royally than any king.
OLD AGE
The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus Page 18
