www.freeclassicebooks.com

and just as gay and happy. I think, friend Claus, it is your duty to make all

little ones glad, whether they chance to live in palaces or in cottages."

Your words are wise, fair Queen," replied Claus, "and my heart tells me they

are as just as they are wise. Hereafter all children may claim my services."

Then he bowed before the gracious Fairy and, kissing Necile's red lips, went

back into his Valley.

At the brook he stopped to drink, and afterward he sat on the bank and took a

piece of moist clay in his hands while he thought what sort of toy he should

make for Bessie Blithesome. He did not notice that his fingers were working

the clay into shape until, glancing downward, he found he had unconsciously

formed a head that bore a slight resemblance to the Nymph Necile!

At once he became interested. Gathering more of the clay from the bank he

carried it to his house. Then, with the aid of his knife and a bit of wood he

succeeded in working the clay into the image of a toy nymph. With skillful

strokes he formed long, waving hair on the head and covered the body with a

gown of oakleaves, while the two feet sticking out at the bottom of the gown

were clad in sandals.

But the clay was soft, and Claus found he must handle it gently to avoid

ruining his pretty work.

Perhaps the rays of the sun will draw out the moisture and cause the clay to

become hard," he thought. So he laid the image on a flat board and placed it

in the glare of the sun.

This done, he went to his bench and began painting the toy deer, and soon he

became so interested in the work that he forgot all about the clay nymph. But

next morning, happening to notice it as it lay on the board, he found the sun

had baked it to the hardness of stone, and it was strong enough to be safely

handled.

Claus now painted the nymph with great care in the likeness of Necile, giving

it deep-blue eyes, white teeth, rosy lips and ruddy-brown hair. The gown he

colored oak-leaf green, and when the paint was dry Claus himself was

charmed with the new toy. Of course it was not nearly so lovely as the real

Necile; but, considering the material of which it was made, Claus thought it

was very beautiful.

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus