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"
But I want toys!" cried Bessie, wiping away the tears that forced themselves
into her eyes. "If I can not have them, I shall be very unhappy."
Claus was troubled, for her grief recalled to him the thought that his desire
was to make all children happy, without regard to their condition in life. Yet,
while so many poor children were clamoring for his toys he could not bear to
give one to them to Bessie Blithesome, who had so much already to make her
happy.
"
Listen, my child," said he, gently; "all the toys I am now making are promised
to others. But the next shall be yours, since your heart so longs for it. Come
to me again in two days and it shall be ready for you."
Bessie gave a cry of delight, and leaning over her pony's neck she kissed Claus
prettily upon his forehead. Then, calling to her men-at-arms, she rode gaily
away, leaving Claus to resume his work.
"
If I am to supply the rich children as well as the poor ones," he thought, "I
shall not have a spare moment in the whole year! But is it right I should give
to the rich? Surely I must go to Necile and talk with her about this matter."
So when he had finished the toy deer, which was very like a deer he had
known in the Forest glades, he walked into Burzee and made his way to the
bower of the beautiful Nymph Necile, who had been his foster mother.
She greeted him tenderly and lovingly, listening with interest to his story of
the visit of Bessie Blithesome.
"
And now tell me," said he, "shall I give toys to rich children?"
"
We of the Forest know nothing of riches," she replied. "It seems to me that
one child is like another child, since they are all made of the same clay, and
that riches are like a gown, which may be put on or taken away, leaving the
child unchanged. But the Fairies are guardians of mankind, and know mortal
children better than I. Let us call the Fairy Queen."
This was done, and the Queen of the Fairies sat beside them and heard Claus
relate his reasons for thinking the rich children could get along without his
toys, and also what the Nymph had said.
"
Necile is right," declared the Queen; "for, whether it be rich or poor, a child's
longings for pretty playthings are but natural. Rich Bessie's heart may suffer
as much grief as poor Mayrie's; she can be just as lonely and discontented,
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