Good evening.
Welcome to Dreamtime Stories with Jackie.
I'm so glad you're here this evening as we continue with the life and adventures of Santa Claus.
We've been reading the section of his youth in chapters one through six and now we come to the last chapter in his youth.
So snuggle down into your blankets,
Make sure your pillows are just the way you like them,
And we'll begin chapter seven,
Claus Leaves the Forest.
When good Queen Zerlin had touched the golden chalice with her fair lips and it had passed around the circle in honor of the traveler's 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 Nasiel.
Once only his eyes passed around the familiar circle of nymphs,
Every one of whom he remembered as a loving friend,
But tears came unbidden to him and dimmed his sight,
So he gazed thereafter steadfastly at the master.
I have been ignorant,
Said he simply,
Until the great Ach 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 and finding him sad to live for a brief space upon the earth,
To toil for things he needs,
To fade into old age,
And then to pass away as the leaves in autumn pass.
Yet every person 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 your loving friendship during my boyhood,
My heart will ever overflow with gratitude.
My foster mother,
Here he stopped and kissed Naseel's white forehead.
I shall love and cherish you while life lasts,
But I must leave you to take my part as a member of humanity 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 Naseel be planted within the hearts of thousands of my race for many years to come,
And her kindly act will be recounted in song and in story while the world shall last.
Have I spoken well,
Oh master?
You have spoken well,
Returned Ach,
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 forever separates you from your kind.
Therefore,
When you go forth into the world of men,
You shall retain the protection of the forest and the powers you now enjoy will remain with you to assist you in your labors.
In any need you may call upon the nymphs,
The rills,
Nooks,
The fairies,
And they will serve you gladly.
I,
The master woodsman of the world,
Have said it,
And my word is law.
Klaus looked upon Ach with grateful eyes.
This will make me mighty among men,
He replied,
Protected by these kind friends.
I may be able to make thousands of little children happy.
I will try very hard to do my duty,
And I know the forest people will give me their sympathy and help.
We will,
Cried the merry rills,
Laughing.
We will,
Said the fairy queen earnestly.
We will,
Shouted the crooked nooks,
Scowling.
We will,
Exclaimed the sweet nymphs proudly.
But Nasil said nothing.
She only folded Klaus in her arms and kissed him tenderly.
The world is big,
Continued the boy,
Turning again to his loyal friends,
But men are everywhere.
I shall begin my work near my friends,
So that if I meet with misfortune,
I can come to the forest for counsel or help.
With that he gave them all a loving look and turned away.
There was no need to say goodbye.
For him the sweet wild life of the forest was over.
He went forth bravely to meet the tasks of humanity.
But Ach,
Who knew the boy's heart,
Was merciful and guided his steps.
Coming through Bersey to its eastern edge,
Klaus reached the laughing valley of Ho-Ha-Ho.
On each side were rolling green hills,
And a brook wandered midway between them to wind afar,
Off beyond the valley.
At his back was the grim forest.
At the far end of the valley of broad plain,
The eyes of the young man,
Which had until now reflected his grave thoughts,
Became brighter as he stood silent,
Looking out upon the laughing valley.
Then,
All of a sudden,
His eyes twinkled,
As stars do on a still night,
And grew merry and wide.
For at his feet the cowslips and daisies smiled on him in friendly regard.
The breeze whistled gaily as it passed by and fluttered the locks on his forehead.
The brook laughed joyously as it leaped over the pebbles and swept around the green curves of its banks.
The bees sang sweet songs as they flew from dandelion to daffodil.
The beetles chirruped happily in the long grass,
And the sunbeams glinted pleasantly over all the scene.
Here,
Cried Klaus,
Stretching out his arms as if to embrace the valley,
Will I make my home.
That was many,
Many years ago,
And it has been his home ever since.
It is his home now.
So snuggle down for a good night's sleep and come back soon as we join Klaus in this section called Manhood.
The next chapter is the Laughing Valley.
Good night now and sweet dreams.
