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4. Claus
Another day found Necile's bower the most popular place in the Forest. The
nymphs clustered around her and the child that lay asleep in her lap, with
expressions of curiosity and delight. Nor were they wanting in praises for the
great Ak's kindness in allowing Necile to keep the babe and to care for it.
Even the Queen came to peer into the innocent childish face and to hold a
helpless, chubby fist in her own fair hand.
"
What shall we call him, Necile?" she asked, smiling. "He must have a name,
you know."
"
"
Let him be called Claus," answered Necile, "for that means 'a little one.'"
Rather let him be called Neclaus,"** returned the Queen, "for that will mean
'Necile's little one.'"
The nymphs clapped their hands in delight, and Neclaus became the infant's
name, although Necile loved best to call him Claus, and in afterdays many of
her sisters followed her example.
Necile gathered the softest moss in all the forest for Claus to lie upon, and she
made his bed in her own bower. Of food the infant had no lack. The nymphs
searched the forest for bell-udders, which grow upon the goa-tree and when
opened are found to be filled with sweet milk. And the soft-eyed does willingly
gave a share of their milk to support the little stranger, while Shiegra, the
lioness, often crept stealthily into Necile's bower and purred softly as she lay
beside the babe and fed it.
So the little one flourished and grew big and sturdy day by day, while Necile
taught him to speak and to walk and to play.
His thoughts and words were sweet and gentle, for the nymphs knew no evil
and their hearts were pure and loving. He became the pet of the forest, for
Ak's decree had forbidden beast or reptile to molest him, and he walked
fearlessly wherever his will guided him.
Presently the news reached the other immortals that the nymphs of Burzee
had adopted a human infant, and that the act had been sanctioned by the
great Ak. Therefore many of them came to visit the little stranger, looking
upon him with much interest. First the Ryls, who are first cousins to the
wood-nymphs, although so differently formed. For the Ryls are required to
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