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7. Claus Leaves the Forest
When good Queen Zurline had touched the golden chalice with her fair lips
and it had passed around the circle in honor of the travelers' return, the
Master Woodsman of the World, who had not yet spoken, turned his gaze
frankly upon Claus and said:
"
Well?"
The boy understood, and rose slowly to his feet beside Necile. Once only his
eyes passed around the familiar circle of nymphs, every one of whom he
remembered as a loving comrade; but tears came unbidden to dim his sight,
so he gazed thereafter steadfastly at the Master.
"
I have been ignorant," said he, simply, "until the great Ak in his kindness
taught me who and what I am. You, who live so sweetly in your forest bowers,
ever fair and youthful and innocent, are no fit comrades for a son of
humanity. For I have looked upon man, finding him doomed to live for a brief
space upon earth, to toil for the things he needs, to fade into old age, and then
to pass away as the leaves in autumn. Yet every man has his mission, which
is to leave the world better, in some way, than he found it. I am of the race of
men, and man's lot is my lot. For your tender care of the poor, forsaken babe
you adopted, as well as for your loving comradeship during my boyhood, my
heart will ever overflow with gratitude. My foster-mother," here he stopped
and kissed Necile's white forehead, "I shall love and cherish while life lasts.
But I must leave you, to take my part in the endless struggle to which
humanity is doomed, and to live my life in my own way."
"
What will you do?" asked the Queen, gravely.
"
I must devote myself to the care of the children of mankind, and try to make
them happy," he answered. "Since your own tender care of a babe brought to
me happiness and strength, it is just and right that I devote my life to the
pleasure of other babes. Thus will the memory of the loving nymph Necile be
planted within the hearts of thousands of my race for many years to come,
and her kindly act be recounted in song and in story while the world shall
last. Have I spoken well, O Master?"
"
You have spoken well," returned Ak, and rising to his feet he continued: "Yet
one thing must not be forgotten. Having been adopted as the child of the
Forest, and the playfellow of the nymphs, you have gained a distinction which
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