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had become skillful with his knife by this time, and Mayrie loved her toy the
more dearly because she had seen it made.
After his little visitors had trotted away on their journey homeward Claus sat
long in deep thought. And he then decided that such fierce creatures as his
friend the lioness would never do as models from which to fashion his toys.
"
There must be nothing to frighten the dear babies," he reflected; "and while I
know Shiegra well, and am not afraid of her, it is but natural that children
should look upon her image with terror. Hereafter I will choose such mild-
mannered animals as squirrels and rabbits and deer and lambkins from
which to carve my toys, for then the little ones will love rather than fear them."
He began his work that very day, and before bedtime had made a wooden
rabbit and a lamb. They were not quite so lifelike as the cats had been,
because they were formed from memory, while Blinkie had sat very still for
Claus to look at while he worked.
But the new toys pleased the children nevertheless, and the fame of Claus'
playthings quickly spread to every cottage on plain and in village. He always
carried his gifts to the sick or crippled children, but those who were strong
enough walked to the house in the Valley to ask for them, so a little path was
soon worn from the plain to the door of the toy-maker's cottage.
First came the children who had been playmates of Claus, before he began to
make toys. These, you may be sure, were well supplied. Then children who
lived farther away heard of the wonderful images and made journeys to the
Valley to secure them. All little ones were welcome, and never a one went
away empty-handed.
This demand for his handiwork kept Claus busily occupied, but he was quite
happy in knowing the pleasure he gave to so many of the dear children. His
friends the immortals were pleased with his success and supported him
bravely.
The Knooks selected for him clear pieces of soft wood, that his knife might not
be blunted in cutting them; the Ryls kept him supplied with paints of all
colors and brushes fashioned from the tips of timothy grasses; the Fairies
discovered that the workman needed saws and chisels and hammers and
nails, as well as knives, and brought him a goodly array of such tools.
Claus soon turned his living room into a most wonderful workshop. He built a
bench before the window, and arranged his tools and paints so that he could
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