×

We use cookies to help make LingQ better. By visiting the site, you agree to our cookie policy.


image

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, MANHOOD, 10. Christmas Eve

MANHOOD, 10. Christmas Eve

The day that broke as Claus returned from his night ride with Glossie and Flossie brought to him a new trouble. Will Knook, the chief guardian of the deer, came to him, surly and ill-tempered, to complain that he had kept Glossie and Flossie beyond daybreak, in opposition to his orders. "Yet it could not have been very long after daybreak," said Claus. "It was one minute after," answered Will Knook, "and that is as bad as one hour. I shall set the stinging gnats on Glossie and Flossie, and they will thus suffer terribly for their disobedience." "Don't do that!" begged Claus. "It was my fault." But Will Knook would listen to no excuses, and went away grumbling and growling in his ill-natured way. For this reason Claus entered the Forest to consult Necile about rescuing the good deer from punishment. To his delight he found his old friend, the Master Woodsman, seated in the circle of Nymphs. Ak listened to the story of the night journey to the children and of the great assistance the deer had been to Claus by drawing his sledge over the frozen snow. "I do not wish my friends to be punished if I can save them," said the toy-maker, when he had finished the relation. "They were only one minute late, and they ran swifter than a bird flies to get home before daybreak." Ak stroked his beard thoughtfully a moment, and then sent for the Prince of the Knooks, who rules all his people in Burzee, and also for the Queen of the Fairies and the Prince of the Ryls. When all had assembled Claus told his story again, at Ak's command, and then the Master addressed the Prince of the Knooks, saying: "The good work that Claus is doing among mankind deserves the support of every honest immortal. Already he is called a Saint in some of the towns, and before long the name of Santa Claus will be lovingly known in every home that is blessed with children. Moreover, he is a son of our Forest, so we owe him our encouragement. You, Ruler of the Knooks, have known him these many years; am I not right in saying he deserves our friendship?" The Prince, crooked and sour of visage as all Knooks are, looked only upon the dead leaves at his feet and muttered: "You are the Master Woodsman of the World!" Ak smiled, but continued, in soft tones: "It seems that the deer which are guarded by your people can be of great assistance to Claus, and as they seem willing to draw his sledge I beg that you will permit him to use their services whenever he pleases." The Prince did not reply, but tapped the curled point of his sandal with the tip of his spear, as if in thought. Then the Fairy Queen spoke to him in this way: "If you consent to Ak's request I will see that no harm comes to your deer while they are away from the Forest." And the Prince of the Ryls added: "For my part I will allow to every deer that assists Claus the privilege of eating my casa plants, which give strength, and my grawle plants, which give fleetness of foot, and my marbon plants, which give long life." And the Queen of the Nymphs said: "The deer which draw the sledge of Claus will be permitted to bathe in the Forest pool of Nares, which will give them sleek coats and wonderful beauty." The Prince of the Knooks, hearing these promises, shifted uneasily on his seat, for in his heart he hated to refuse a request of his fellow immortals, although they were asking an unusual favor at his hands, and the Knooks are unaccustomed to granting favors of any kind. Finally he turned to his servants and said: "Call Will Knook." When surly Will came and heard the demands of the immortals he protested loudly against granting them. "Deer are deer," said he, "and nothing but deer. Were they horses it would be right to harness them like horses. But no one harnesses deer because they are free, wild creatures, owing no service of any sort to mankind. It would degrade my deer to labor for Claus, who is only a man in spite of the friendship lavished on him by the immortals." "You have heard," said the Prince to Ak. "There is truth in what Will says." "Call Glossie and Flossie," returned the Master. The deer were brought to the conference and Ak asked them if they objected to drawing the sledge for Claus. "No, indeed!" replied Glossie; "we enjoyed the trip very much." "And we tried to get home by daybreak," added Flossie, "but were unfortunately a minute too late." "A minute lost at daybreak doesn't matter," said Ak. "You are forgiven for that delay." "Provided it does not happen again," said the Prince of the Knooks, sternly. "And will you permit them to make another journey with me?" asked Claus, eagerly. The Prince reflected while he gazed at Will, who was scowling, and at the Master Woodsman, who was smiling. Then he stood up and addressed the company as follows: "Since you all urge me to grant the favor I will permit the deer to go with Claus once every year, on Christmas Eve, provided they always return to the Forest by daybreak. He may select any number he pleases, up to ten, to draw his sledge, and those shall be known among us as Reindeer, to distinguish them from the others. And they shall bathe in the Pool of Nares, and eat the casa and grawle and marbon plants and shall be under the especial protection of the Fairy Queen. And now cease scowling, Will Knook, for my words shall be obeyed!" He hobbled quickly away through the trees, to avoid the thanks of Claus and the approval of the other immortals, and Will, looking as cross as ever, followed him. But Ak was satisfied, knowing that he could rely on the promise of the Prince, however grudgingly given; and Glossie and Flossie ran home, kicking up their heels delightedly at every step. "When is Christmas Eve?" Claus asked the Master. "In about ten days," he replied. "Then I can not use the deer this year," said Claus, thoughtfully, "for I shall not have time enough to make my sackful of toys." "The shrewd Prince foresaw that," responded Ak, "and therefore named Christmas Eve as the day you might use the deer, knowing it would cause you to lose an entire year." "If I only had the toys the Awgwas stole from me," said Claus, sadly, "I could easily fill my sack for the children." "Where are they?" asked the Master. "I do not know," replied Claus, "but the wicked Awgwas probably hid them in the mountains." Ak turned to the Fairy Queen. "Can you find them?" he asked. "I will try," she replied, brightly. Then Claus went back to the Laughing Valley, to work as hard as he could, and a band of Fairies immediately flew to the mountain that had been haunted by the Awgwas and began a search for the stolen toys. The Fairies, as we well know, possess wonderful powers; but the cunning Awgwas had hidden the toys in a deep cave and covered the opening with rocks, so no one could look in. Therefore all search for the missing playthings proved in vain for several days, and Claus, who sat at home waiting for news from the Fairies, almost despaired of getting the toys before Christmas Eve. He worked hard every moment, but it took considerable time to carve out and to shape each toy and to paint it properly, so that on the morning before Christmas Eve only half of one small shelf above the window was filled with playthings ready for the children. But on this morning the Fairies who were searching in the mountains had a new thought. They joined hands and moved in a straight line through the rocks that formed the mountain, beginning at the topmost peak and working downward, so that no spot could be missed by their bright eyes. And at last they discovered the cave where the toys had been heaped up by the wicked Awgwas. It did not take them long to burst open the mouth of the cave, and then each one seized as many toys as he could carry and they all flew to Claus and laid the treasure before him. The good man was rejoiced to receive, just in the nick of time, such a store of playthings with which to load his sledge, and he sent word to Glossie and Flossie to be ready for the journey at nightfall. With all his other labors he had managed to find time, since the last trip, to repair the harness and to strengthen his sledge, so that when the deer came to him at twilight he had no difficulty in harnessing them. "We must go in another direction to-night," he told them, "where we shall find children I have never yet visited. And we must travel fast and work quickly, for my sack is full of toys and running over the brim!" So, just as the moon arose, they dashed out of the Laughing Valley and across the plain and over the hills to the south. The air was sharp and frosty and the starlight touched the snowflakes and made them glitter like countless diamonds. The reindeer leaped onward with strong, steady bounds, and Claus' heart was so light and merry that he laughed and sang while the wind whistled past his ears: "With a ho, ho, ho! And a ha, ha, ha! And a ho, ho! ha, ha, hee! Now away we go O'er the frozen snow, As merry as we can be!" Jack Frost heard him and came racing up with his nippers, but when he saw it was Claus he laughed and turned away again. The mother owls heard him as he passed near a wood and stuck their heads out of the hollow places in the tree-trunks; but when they saw who it was they whispered to the owlets nestling near them that it was only Santa Claus carrying toys to the children. It is strange how much those mother owls know. Claus stopped at some of the scattered farmhouses and climbed down the chimneys to leave presents for the babies. Soon after he reached a village and worked merrily for an hour distributing playthings among the sleeping little ones. Then away again he went, signing his joyous carol: "Now away we go O'er the gleaming snow, While the deer run swift and free! For to girls and boys We carry the toys That will fill their hearts with glee!" The deer liked the sound of his deep bass voice and kept time to the song with their hoofbeats on the hard snow; but soon they stopped at another chimney and Santa Claus, with sparkling eyes and face brushed red by the wind, climbed down its smoky sides and left a present for every child the house contained. It was a merry, happy night. Swiftly the deer ran, and busily their driver worked to scatter his gifts among the sleeping children. But the sack was empty at last, and the sledge headed homeward; and now again the race with daybreak began. Glossie and Flossie had no mind to be rebuked a second time for tardiness, so they fled with a swiftness that enabled them to pass the gale on which the Frost King rode, and soon brought them to the Laughing Valley. It is true when Claus released his steeds from their harness the eastern sky was streaked with gray, but Glossie and Flossie were deep in the Forest before day fairly broke. Claus was so wearied with his night's work that he threw himself upon his bed and fell into a deep slumber, and while he slept the Christmas sun appeared in the sky and shone upon hundreds of happy homes where the sound of childish laughter proclaimed that Santa Claus had made them a visit. God bless him! It was his first Christmas Eve, and for hundreds of years since then he has nobly fulfilled his mission to bring happiness to the hearts of little children.

MANHOOD, 10. Christmas Eve MANHOOD, 10. Nochebuena MANHOOD, 10. Veille de Noël クリスマス・イブ 男子气概,10.平安夜

The day that broke as Claus returned from his night ride with Glossie and Flossie brought to him a new trouble. اليوم الذي اندلع عندما عاد كلاوس من رحلته الليلية مع Glossie وFlossie جلب له مشكلة جديدة. Will Knook, the chief guardian of the deer, came to him, surly and ill-tempered, to complain that he had kept Glossie and Flossie beyond daybreak, in opposition to his orders. جاء إليه ويل نوك، كبير حراس الغزلان، وهو غاضب وسيء الطباع، ليشتكي من أنه احتفظ بـGlossie وFlossie بعد الفجر، خلافًا لأوامره. "Yet it could not have been very long after daybreak," said Claus. قال كلاوس: «مع ذلك، لا يمكن أن يكون قد مضى وقت طويل بعد طلوع الفجر.» "It was one minute after," answered Will Knook, "and that is as bad as one hour. أجاب ويل نوك: «لقد مرت دقيقة واحدة، وهذا سيء بقدر ساعة واحدة. I shall set the stinging gnats on Glossie and Flossie, and they will thus suffer terribly for their disobedience." سأضع البعوض اللاذع على Glossie وFlossie، وبالتالي سيعانون بشدة بسبب عصيانهم." "Don't do that!" begged Claus. "It was my fault." But Will Knook would listen to no excuses, and went away grumbling and growling in his ill-natured way. لكن ويل نوك لم يستمع لأي أعذار، وذهب متذمرًا ومزمجرًا بطريقته السيئة. For this reason Claus entered the Forest to consult Necile about rescuing the good deer from punishment. ولهذا السبب دخل كلاوس إلى الغابة لاستشارة نيكيلي بشأن إنقاذ الغزال الطيب من العقاب. To his delight he found his old friend, the Master Woodsman, seated in the circle of Nymphs. ومن دواعي سروره أنه وجد صديقه القديم، سيد الحطاب، جالسًا في دائرة الحوريات. Ak listened to the story of the night journey to the children and of the great assistance the deer had been to Claus by drawing his sledge over the frozen snow. "I do not wish my friends to be punished if I can save them," said the toy-maker, when he had finished the relation. "They were only one minute late, and they ran swifter than a bird flies to get home before daybreak." Ak stroked his beard thoughtfully a moment, and then sent for the Prince of the Knooks, who rules all his people in Burzee, and also for the Queen of the Fairies and the Prince of the Ryls. When all had assembled Claus told his story again, at Ak's command, and then the Master addressed the Prince of the Knooks, saying: "The good work that Claus is doing among mankind deserves the support of every honest immortal. عندما اجتمع الجميع، روى كلاوس قصته مرة أخرى، بأمر من آك، ثم خاطب السيد أمير نوك قائلاً: "إن العمل الجيد الذي يقوم به كلاوس بين البشر يستحق دعم كل خالد صادق. Already he is called a Saint in some of the towns, and before long the name of Santa Claus will be lovingly known in every home that is blessed with children. Moreover, he is a son of our Forest, so we owe him our encouragement. علاوة على ذلك، فهو ابن غابتنا، لذلك نحن مدينون له بتشجيعنا. You, Ruler of the Knooks, have known him these many years; am I not right in saying he deserves our friendship?" The Prince, crooked and sour of visage as all Knooks are, looked only upon the dead leaves at his feet and muttered: "You are the Master Woodsman of the World!" لم ينظر الأمير، الذي كان ملتويًا ومتعكر المظهر مثل كل نوك، إلا إلى الأوراق الميتة عند قدميه وتمتم: "أنت سيد الحطاب في العالم!" Ak smiled, but continued, in soft tones: "It seems that the deer which are guarded by your people can be of great assistance to Claus, and as they seem willing to draw his sledge I beg that you will permit him to use their services whenever he pleases." The Prince did not reply, but tapped the curled point of his sandal with the tip of his spear, as if in thought. لم يجب الأمير، بل نقر على طرف نعله الملتوي بطرف رمحه، كما لو كان يفكر. Then the Fairy Queen spoke to him in this way: "If you consent to Ak's request I will see that no harm comes to your deer while they are away from the Forest." ثم تحدثت إليه الملكة الجنية بهذه الطريقة: "إذا وافقت على طلب آك، فسوف أرى أنه لن يحدث أي ضرر لغزالك أثناء وجودهم بعيدًا عن الغابة". And the Prince of the Ryls added: "For my part I will allow to every deer that assists Claus the privilege of eating my casa plants, which give strength, and my grawle plants, which give fleetness of foot, and my marbon plants, which give long life." وأضاف أمير آل ريلز: "من جهتي، سأسمح لكل غزال يساعد كلاوس بامتياز أكل نباتات المنزل التي تعطي القوة، ونباتات الغرغرة التي تعطي سرعة القدم، ونباتات الماربون التي أعط حياة طويلة." And the Queen of the Nymphs said: "The deer which draw the sledge of Claus will be permitted to bathe in the Forest pool of Nares, which will give them sleek coats and wonderful beauty." وقالت ملكة الحوريات: "سيُسمح للغزال الذي يجر زلاجة كلوز بالاستحمام في بركة غابة ناريس، مما سيمنحهم معاطف أنيقة وجمالاً رائعًا". The Prince of the Knooks, hearing these promises, shifted uneasily on his seat, for in his heart he hated to refuse a request of his fellow immortals, although they were asking an unusual favor at his hands, and the Knooks are unaccustomed to granting favors of any kind. عندما سمع أمير آل نوك هذه الوعود، تحرك على مقعده بقلق، لأنه كان يكره في قلبه رفض طلب زملائه الخالدين، على الرغم من أنهم كانوا يطلبون خدمة غير عادية من يديه، ولم يعتاد آل نوك على منح الخدمات. من أي نوع. Finally he turned to his servants and said: "Call Will Knook." When surly Will came and heard the demands of the immortals he protested loudly against granting them. عندما جاء ويل عابسًا وسمع مطالب الخالدين، احتج بصوت عالٍ على الموافقة عليها. "Deer are deer," said he, "and nothing but deer. Were they horses it would be right to harness them like horses. لو كانوا خيولا لكان من الصواب تسخيرهم مثل الخيول. But no one harnesses deer because they are free, wild creatures, owing no service of any sort to mankind. لكن لا أحد يسخر الغزلان لأنها مخلوقات برية حرة، لا تقدم أي خدمة للبشرية من أي نوع. It would degrade my deer to labor for Claus, who is only a man in spite of the friendship lavished on him by the immortals." سوف يحط من شأن غزالتي أن تعمل من أجل كلاوس، الذي هو مجرد رجل على الرغم من الصداقة التي أغدقها عليه الخالدون. "You have heard," said the Prince to Ak. قال الأمير لأك: "لقد سمعت". "There is truth in what Will says." "هناك حقيقة فيما يقوله ويل." "Call Glossie and Flossie," returned the Master. The deer were brought to the conference and Ak asked them if they objected to drawing the sledge for Claus. تم إحضار الغزلان إلى المؤتمر وسألهم آك عما إذا كانوا يعترضون على سحب الزلاجة لكلوز. "No, indeed!" replied Glossie; "we enjoyed the trip very much." "And we tried to get home by daybreak," added Flossie, "but were unfortunately a minute too late." "A minute lost at daybreak doesn't matter," said Ak. "You are forgiven for that delay." "Provided it does not happen again," said the Prince of the Knooks, sternly. قال أمير آل نوك بصرامة: "شريطة ألا يتكرر ذلك مرة أخرى". "And will you permit them to make another journey with me?" "وهل تسمح لهم بالقيام برحلة أخرى معي؟" asked Claus, eagerly. The Prince reflected while he gazed at Will, who was scowling, and at the Master Woodsman, who was smiling. فكر الأمير بينما كان يحدق في ويل، الذي كان عابسًا، وفي المعلم وودسمان، الذي كان يبتسم. Then he stood up and addressed the company as follows: "Since you all urge me to grant the favor I will permit the deer to go with Claus once every year, on Christmas Eve, provided they always return to the Forest by daybreak. ثم وقف وخاطب المجموعة بما يلي: "بما أنكم جميعًا تحثونني على منح المعروف، فسوف أسمح للغزال بالذهاب مع كلوز مرة واحدة كل عام، عشية عيد الميلاد، بشرط أن يعودوا دائمًا إلى الغابة عند الفجر. He may select any number he pleases, up to ten, to draw his sledge, and those shall be known among us as Reindeer, to distinguish them from the others. يمكنه اختيار أي عدد يريده، حتى عشرة، لسحب زلاجته، وسيُعرف هؤلاء بيننا باسم الرنة، لتمييزهم عن الآخرين. And they shall bathe in the Pool of Nares, and eat the casa and grawle and marbon plants and shall be under the especial protection of the Fairy Queen. وسوف يستحمون في بركة ناريس، ويأكلون نبات الكاز والنبات المربون، وسيكونون تحت الحماية الخاصة للملكة الجنية. And now cease scowling, Will Knook, for my words shall be obeyed!" والآن توقف عن العبوس يا ويل نوك، لأن كلماتي ستُطاع!» He hobbled quickly away through the trees, to avoid the thanks of Claus and the approval of the other immortals, and Will, looking as cross as ever, followed him. سارع وهو يعرج مبتعدًا عبر الأشجار، لتجنب شكر كلوز وموافقة الخالدين الآخرين، وتبعه ويل، الذي بدا بمظهر الصليب كما كان دائمًا. But Ak was satisfied, knowing that he could rely on the promise of the Prince, however grudgingly given; and Glossie and Flossie ran home, kicking up their heels delightedly at every step. لكن آك كان راضيًا، إذ علم أنه يستطيع الاعتماد على وعد الأمير، مهما كان على مضض؛ وركض كل من Glossie وFlossie إلى المنزل، وهما يرفعان كعبيهما بسعادة في كل خطوة. "When is Christmas Eve?" Claus asked the Master. "In about ten days," he replied. "Then I can not use the deer this year," said Claus, thoughtfully, "for I shall not have time enough to make my sackful of toys." "The shrewd Prince foresaw that," responded Ak, "and therefore named Christmas Eve as the day you might use the deer, knowing it would cause you to lose an entire year." أجاب آك: "لقد توقع الأمير الذكي ذلك، ولذلك أطلق على ليلة عيد الميلاد اسم اليوم الذي قد تستخدم فيه الغزال، لعلمه أن ذلك سيتسبب في خسارة عام كامل." "If I only had the toys the Awgwas stole from me," said Claus, sadly, "I could easily fill my sack for the children." "Where are they?" asked the Master. "I do not know," replied Claus, "but the wicked Awgwas probably hid them in the mountains." Ak turned to the Fairy Queen. "Can you find them?" he asked. "I will try," she replied, brightly. Then Claus went back to the Laughing Valley, to work as hard as he could, and a band of Fairies immediately flew to the mountain that had been haunted by the Awgwas and began a search for the stolen toys. The Fairies, as we well know, possess wonderful powers; but the cunning Awgwas had hidden the toys in a deep cave and covered the opening with rocks, so no one could look in. الجنيات، كما نعلم جيدًا، تمتلك قوى رائعة؛ لكن أوجواس الماكر كان قد خبأ الألعاب في كهف عميق وقام بتغطية الفتحة بالحجارة، حتى لا يتمكن أحد من النظر إليها. Therefore all search for the missing playthings proved in vain for several days, and Claus, who sat at home waiting for news from the Fairies, almost despaired of getting the toys before Christmas Eve. ولذلك فإن كل عمليات البحث عن الألعاب المفقودة باءت بالفشل لعدة أيام، وكاد كلوز، الذي كان يجلس في المنزل في انتظار الأخبار من الجنيات، يائسًا من الحصول على الألعاب قبل ليلة عيد الميلاد. He worked hard every moment, but it took considerable time to carve out and to shape each toy and to paint it properly, so that on the morning before Christmas Eve only half of one small shelf above the window was filled with playthings ready for the children. لقد عمل بجد في كل لحظة، لكن الأمر استغرق وقتًا طويلاً لنحت كل لعبة وتشكيلها ورسمها بشكل صحيح، بحيث أنه في الصباح السابق لليلة عيد الميلاد، لم يكن سوى نصف رف صغير فوق النافذة مملوءًا بألعاب جاهزة للأطفال. . But on this morning the Fairies who were searching in the mountains had a new thought. They joined hands and moved in a straight line through the rocks that formed the mountain, beginning at the topmost peak and working downward, so that no spot could be missed by their bright eyes. لقد ضموا أيديهم وتحركوا في خط مستقيم عبر الصخور التي شكلت الجبل، بدءًا من القمة العليا ثم عملوا نحو الأسفل، بحيث لا يمكن أن تفوت عيونهم الساطعة أي نقطة. And at last they discovered the cave where the toys had been heaped up by the wicked Awgwas. وأخيراً اكتشفوا الكهف حيث تم تجميع الألعاب من قبل الأجواس الأشرار. It did not take them long to burst open the mouth of the cave, and then each one seized as many toys as he could carry and they all flew to Claus and laid the treasure before him. لم يستغرق الأمر وقتًا طويلاً حتى فتحوا فم الكهف، ثم استولى كل منهم على أكبر عدد ممكن من الألعاب التي استطاع حملها وطاروا جميعًا إلى كلاوس ووضعوا الكنز أمامه. The good man was rejoiced to receive, just in the nick of time, such a store of playthings with which to load his sledge, and he sent word to Glossie and Flossie to be ready for the journey at nightfall. كان الرجل الطيب سعيدًا لأنه حصل، في الوقت المناسب تمامًا، على مثل هذا المخزون من الألعاب ليحمل بها زلاجته، وأرسل رسالة إلى Glossie وFlossie ليكونا جاهزين للرحلة عند حلول الظلام. With all his other labors he had managed to find time, since the last trip, to repair the harness and to strengthen his sledge, so that when the deer came to him at twilight he had no difficulty in harnessing them. مع كل أعماله الأخرى، تمكن من إيجاد الوقت، منذ الرحلة الأخيرة، لإصلاح الحزام وتقوية زلاجته، بحيث عندما يأتي الغزال إليه عند الشفق لا يجد صعوبة في تسخيرها. "We must go in another direction to-night," he told them, "where we shall find children I have never yet visited. قال لهم: «يجب أن نذهب في اتجاه آخر الليلة، حيث سنجد أطفالًا لم أزرهم من قبل. And we must travel fast and work quickly, for my sack is full of toys and running over the brim!" So, just as the moon arose, they dashed out of the Laughing Valley and across the plain and over the hills to the south. The air was sharp and frosty and the starlight touched the snowflakes and made them glitter like countless diamonds. كان الهواء حادًا وباردًا، ولامس ضوء النجوم ندفات الثلج وجعلها تتلألأ مثل عدد لا يحصى من الماس. The reindeer leaped onward with strong, steady bounds, and Claus' heart was so light and merry that he laughed and sang while the wind whistled past his ears: "With a ho, ho, ho! قفز حيوان الرنة إلى الأمام بحدود قوية وثابتة، وكان قلب كلاوس خفيفًا ومبهجًا لدرجة أنه ضحك وغنى بينما كانت الريح تصفر عبر أذنيه: "مع هو، هو، هو! And a ha, ha, ha! And a ho, ho! ha, ha, hee! Now away we go O'er the frozen snow, As merry as we can be!" Jack Frost heard him and came racing up with his nippers, but when he saw it was Claus he laughed and turned away again. سمعه جاك فروست وجاء مسرعًا حاملًا حلماته، ولكن عندما رأى أنه كلاوس ضحك واستدار مبتعدًا مرة أخرى. The mother owls heard him as he passed near a wood and stuck their heads out of the hollow places in the tree-trunks; but when they saw who it was they whispered to the owlets nestling near them that it was only Santa Claus carrying toys to the children. سمعته البومة الأم وهو يمر بالقرب من الغابة وأخرجت رؤوسها من الأماكن المجوفة في جذوع الأشجار؛ ولكن عندما رأوا من هو، همسوا للبوم التي تعشش بالقرب منهم أنه فقط سانتا كلوز يحمل الألعاب للأطفال. It is strange how much those mother owls know. من الغريب مدى معرفة تلك البوم الأم. Claus stopped at some of the scattered farmhouses and climbed down the chimneys to leave presents for the babies. توقف كلاوس عند بعض بيوت المزارع المتناثرة ونزل من المداخن ليترك الهدايا للأطفال. Soon after he reached a village and worked merrily for an hour distributing playthings among the sleeping little ones. وبعد فترة وجيزة وصل إلى القرية وعمل بمرح لمدة ساعة في توزيع الألعاب على الأطفال الصغار النائمين. Then away again he went, signing his joyous carol: "Now away we go O'er the gleaming snow, While the deer run swift and free! ثم ذهب بعيدًا مجددًا، وهو يوقع ترنيمه المبهجة: "الآن سنذهب بعيدًا فوق الثلج اللامع، بينما تجري الغزلان بسرعة وحرية! For to girls and boys We carry the toys That will fill their hearts with glee!" The deer liked the sound of his deep bass voice and kept time to the song with their hoofbeats on the hard snow; but soon they stopped at another chimney and Santa Claus, with sparkling eyes and face brushed red by the wind, climbed down its smoky sides and left a present for every child the house contained. أحب الغزال صوته العميق الجهير وحافظ على وقته للأغنية مع دقات حوافره على الثلج القاسي؛ لكنهم سرعان ما توقفوا عند مدخنة أخرى، ونزل سانتا كلوز، بعينين متلألئتين ووجه أحمر بفعل الريح، من جوانبها المليئة بالدخان وترك هدية لكل طفل يحتوي عليه المنزل. It was a merry, happy night. Swiftly the deer ran, and busily their driver worked to scatter his gifts among the sleeping children. ركضت الغزالة بسرعة، وكان سائقها مشغولاً بتوزيع هداياه بين الأطفال النائمين. But the sack was empty at last, and the sledge headed homeward; and now again the race with daybreak began. لكن الكيس أصبح فارغًا أخيرًا، واتجهت الزلاجة إلى المنزل؛ والآن مرة أخرى بدأ السباق مع طلوع الفجر. Glossie and Flossie had no mind to be rebuked a second time for tardiness, so they fled with a swiftness that enabled them to pass the gale on which the Frost King rode, and soon brought them to the Laughing Valley. لم يكن لدى Glossie وFlossie أي رغبة في أن يتم توبيخهما مرة أخرى بسبب التأخير، لذلك هربا بسرعة مكنتهما من اجتياز العاصفة التي ركبها ملك الصقيع، وسرعان ما أحضرهما إلى وادي الضحك. It is true when Claus released his steeds from their harness the eastern sky was streaked with gray, but Glossie and Flossie were deep in the Forest before day fairly broke. صحيح أنه عندما أطلق كلاوس جواده من أحزمةهما، كانت السماء الشرقية ملطخة باللون الرمادي، لكن جلوسي وفلوسي كانا في أعماق الغابة قبل أن ينبلج النهار تمامًا. Claus was so wearied with his night's work that he threw himself upon his bed and fell into a deep slumber, and while he slept the Christmas sun appeared in the sky and shone upon hundreds of happy homes where the sound of childish laughter proclaimed that Santa Claus had made them a visit. كان كلوز متعبًا جدًا من عمله الليلي لدرجة أنه ألقى بنفسه على سريره ودخل في نوم عميق، وبينما كان نائمًا ظهرت شمس عيد الميلاد في السماء وأشرقت على مئات المنازل السعيدة حيث أعلن صوت الضحك الطفولي أن سانتا كلوز قد جعلهم زيارة. God bless him! It was his first Christmas Eve, and for hundreds of years since then he has nobly fulfilled his mission to bring happiness to the hearts of little children. لقد كانت عشية عيد الميلاد الأولى له، ومنذ مئات السنين منذ ذلك الحين، قام بمهمته بنبل في جلب السعادة إلى قلوب الأطفال الصغار.