The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus

by L. Frank Baum

  6. Claus Discovers Humanity

  Taking Claus to a small clearing in the forest, the Master said: "Placeyour hand upon my girdle and hold fast while we journey through theair; for now shall we encircle the world and look upon many of thehaunts of those men from whom you are descended."

  These words caused Claus to marvel, for until now he had thoughthimself the only one of his kind upon the earth; yet in silence hegrasped firmly the girdle of the great Ak, his astonishment forbiddingspeech.

  Then the vast forest of Burzee seemed to fall away from their feet, andthe youth found himself passing swiftly through the air at a greatheight.

  Ere long there were spires beneath them, while buildings of many shapesand colors met their downward view. It was a city of men, and Ak,pausing to descend, led Claus to its inclosure. Said the Master:

  "So long as you hold fast to my girdle you will remain unseen by allmankind, though seeing clearly yourself. To release your grasp will beto separate yourself forever from me and your home in Burzee."

  One of the first laws of the Forest is obedience, and Claus had nothought of disobeying the Master's wish. He clung fast to the girdleand remained invisible.

  Thereafter with each moment passed in the city the youth's wonder grew.He, who had supposed himself created differently from all others, nowfound the earth swarming with creatures of his own kind.

  "Indeed," said Ak, "the immortals are few; but the mortals are many."

  Claus looked earnestly upon his fellows. There were sad faces, gay andreckless faces, pleasant faces, anxious faces and kindly faces, allmingled in puzzling disorder. Some worked at tedious tasks; somestrutted in impudent conceit; some were thoughtful and grave whileothers seemed happy and content. Men of many natures were there, aseverywhere, and Claus found much to please him and much to make him sad.

  But especially he noted the children--first curiously, then eagerly,then lovingly. Ragged little ones rolled in the dust of the streets,playing with scraps and pebbles. Other children, gaily dressed, werepropped upon cushions and fed with sugar-plums. Yet the children ofthe rich were not happier than those playing with the dust and pebbles,it seemed to Claus.

  "Childhood is the time of man's greatest content," said Ak, followingthe youth's thoughts. "'Tis during these years of innocent pleasurethat the little ones are most free from care."

  "Tell me," said Claus, "why do not all these babies fare alike?"

  "Because they are born in both cottage and palace," returned theMaster. "The difference in the wealth of the parents determines thelot of the child. Some are carefully tended and clothed in silks anddainty linen; others are neglected and covered with rags."

  "Yet all seem equally fair and sweet," said Claus, thoughtfully.

  "While they are babes--yes;" agreed Ak. "Their joy is in being alive,and they do not stop to think. In after years the doom of mankindovertakes them, and they find they must struggle and worry, work andfret, to gain the wealth that is so dear to the hearts of men. Suchthings are unknown in the Forest where you were reared." Claus wassilent a moment. Then he asked:

  "Why was I reared in the forest, among those who are not of my race?"

  Then Ak, in gentle voice, told him the story of his babyhood: how hehad been abandoned at the forest's edge and left a prey to wild beasts,and how the loving nymph Necile had rescued him and brought him tomanhood under the protection of the immortals.

  "Yet I am not of them," said Claus, musingly.

  "You are not of them," returned the Woodsman. "The nymph who cared foryou as a mother seems now like a sister to you; by and by, when yougrow old and gray, she will seem like a daughter. Yet another briefspan and you will be but a memory, while she remains Necile."

  "Then why, if man must perish, is he born?" demanded the boy.

  "Everything perishes except the world itself and its keepers," answeredAk. "But while life lasts everything on earth has its use. The wiseseek ways to be helpful to the world, for the helpful ones are sure tolive again."

  Much of this Claus failed to understand fully, but a longing seized himto become helpful to his fellows, and he remained grave and thoughtfulwhile they resumed their journey.

  They visited many dwellings of men in many parts of the world, watchingfarmers toil in the fields, warriors dash into cruel fray, andmerchants exchange their goods for bits of white and yellow metal. Andeverywhere the eyes of Claus sought out the children in love and pity,for the thought of his own helpless babyhood was strong within him andhe yearned to give help to the innocent little ones of his race even ashe had been succored by the kindly nymph.

  Day by day the Master Woodsman and his pupil traversed the earth, Akspeaking but seldom to the youth who clung steadfastly to his girdle,but guiding him into all places where he might become familiar with thelives of human beings.

  And at last they returned to the grand old Forest of Burzee, where theMaster set Claus down within the circle of nymphs, among whom thepretty Necile anxiously awaited him.

  The brow of the great Ak was now calm and peaceful; but the brow ofClaus had become lined with deep thought. Necile sighed at the changein her foster-son, who until now had been ever joyous and smiling, andthe thought came to her that never again would the life of the boy bethe same as before this eventful journey with the Master.