4. How Little Mayrie Became Frightened
The winter was over now, and all the Laughing Valley was filled withjoyous excitement. The brook was so happy at being free once againthat it gurgled more boisterously than ever and dashed so recklesslyagainst the rocks that it sent showers of spray high in the air. Thegrass thrust its sharp little blades upward through the mat of deadstalks where it had hidden from the snow, but the flowers were yet tootimid to show themselves, although the Ryls were busy feeding theirroots. The sun was in remarkably good humor, and sent his rays dancingmerrily throughout the Valley.
Claus was eating his dinner one day when he heard a timid knock on hisdoor.
"Come in!" he called.
No one entered, but after a pause came another rapping.
Claus jumped up and threw open the door. Before him stood a small girlholding a smaller brother fast by the hand.
"Is you Tlaus?" she asked, shyly.
"Indeed I am, my dear!" he answered, with a laugh, as he caught bothchildren in his arms and kissed them. "You are very welcome, and youhave come just in time to share my dinner."
He took them to the table and fed them with fresh milk and nut-cakes.When they had eaten enough he asked:
"Why have you made this long journey to see me?"
"I wants a tat!" replied little Mayrie; and her brother, who had notyet learned to speak many words, nodded his head and exclaimed like anecho: "Tat!"
"Oh, you want my toy cats, do you?" returned Claus, greatly pleased todiscover that his creations were so popular with children.
The little visitors nodded eagerly.
"Unfortunately," he continued, "I have but one cat now ready, for Icarried two to children in the town yesterday. And the one I haveshall be given to your brother, Mayrie, because he is the smaller; andthe next one I make shall be for you."
The boy's face was bright with smiles as he took the precious toy Clausheld out to him; but little Mayrie covered her face with her arm andbegan to sob grievously.
"I--I--I wants a t--t--tat now!" she wailed.
Her disappointment made Claus feel miserable for a moment. Then hesuddenly remembered Shiegra.
"Don't cry, darling!" he said, soothingly; "I have a toy much nicerthan a cat, and you shall have that."
He went to the cupboard and drew out the image of the lioness, which heplaced on the table before Mayrie.
The girl raised her arm and gave one glance at the fierce teeth andglaring eyes of the beast, and then, uttering a terrified scream, sherushed from the house. The boy followed her, also screaming lustily,and even dropping his precious cat in his fear.
For a moment Claus stood motionless, being puzzled and astonished.Then he threw Shiegra's image into the cupboard and ran after thechildren, calling to them not to be frightened.
Little Mayrie stopped in her flight and her brother clung to her skirt;but they both cast fearful glances at the house until Claus had assuredthem many times that the beast had been locked in the cupboard.
"Yet why were you frightened at seeing it?" he asked. "It is only atoy to play with!"
"It's bad!" said Mayrie, decidedly, "an'--an'--just horrid, an' not abit nice, like tats!"
"Perhaps you are right," returned Claus, thoughtfully. "But if youwill return with me to the house I will soon make you a pretty cat."
So they timidly entered the house again, having faith in their friend'swords; and afterward they had the joy of watching Claus carve out a catfrom a bit of wood and paint it in natural colors. It did not take himlong to do this, for he had become skillful with his knife by thistime, and Mayrie loved her toy the more dearly because she had seen itmade.
After his little visitors had trotted away on their journey homewardClaus sat long in deep thought. And he then decided that such fiercecreatures as his friend the lioness would never do as models from whichto fashion his toys.
"There must be nothing to frighten the dear babies," he reflected; "andwhile I know Shiegra well, and am not afraid of her, it is but naturalthat children should look upon her image with terror. Hereafter I willchoose such mild-mannered animals as squirrels and rabbits and deer andlambkins from which to carve my toys, for then the little ones willlove rather than fear them."
He began his work that very day, and before bedtime had made a woodenrabbit and a lamb. They were not quite so lifelike as the cats hadbeen, because they were formed from memory, while Blinkie had sat verystill for Claus to look at while he worked.
But the new toys pleased the children nevertheless, and the fame ofClaus' playthings quickly spread to every cottage on plain and invillage. He always carried his gifts to the sick or crippled children,but those who were strong enough walked to the house in the Valley toask for them, so a little path was soon worn from the plain to the doorof the toy-maker's cottage.
First came the children who had been playmates of Claus, before hebegan to make toys. These, you may be sure, were well supplied. Thenchildren who lived farther away heard of the wonderful images and madejourneys 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 wasquite happy in knowing the pleasure he gave to so many of the dearchildren. His friends the immortals were pleased with his success andsupported him bravely.
The Knooks selected for him clear pieces of soft wood, that his knifemight not be blunted in cutting them; the Ryls kept him supplied withpaints of all colors and brushes fashioned from the tips of timothygrasses; the Fairies discovered that the workman needed saws andchisels and hammers and nails, as well as knives, and brought him agoodly array of such tools.
Claus soon turned his living room into a most wonderful workshop. Hebuilt a bench before the window, and arranged his tools and paints sothat he could reach everything as he sat on his stool. And as hefinished toy after toy to delight the hearts of little children hefound himself growing so gay and happy that he could not refrain fromsinging and laughing and whistling all the day long.
"It's because I live in the Laughing Valley, where everything elselaughs!" said Claus.
But that was not the reason.