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The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, MANHOOD, 8. The First Journey with the Reindeer, Part 1

MANHOOD, 8. The First Journey with the Reindeer, Part 1

Those were happy days for Claus when he carried his accumulation of toys to the children who had awaited them so long. During his imprisonment in the Valley he had been so industrious that all his shelves were filled with playthings, and after quickly supplying the little ones living near by he saw he must now extend his travels to wider fields. Remembering the time when he had journeyed with Ak through all the world, he know children were everywhere, and he longed to make as many as possible happy with his gifts. So he loaded a great sack with all kinds of toys, slung it upon his back that he might carry it more easily, and started off on a longer trip than he had yet undertaken. Wherever he showed his merry face, in hamlet or in farmhouse, he received a cordial welcome, for his fame had spread into far lands. At each village the children swarmed about him, following his footsteps wherever he went; and the women thanked him gratefully for the joy he brought their little ones; and the men looked upon him curiously that he should devote his time to such a queer occupation as toy-making. But every one smiled on him and gave him kindly words, and Claus felt amply repaid for his long journey. When the sack was empty he went back again to the Laughing Valley and once more filled it to the brim. This time he followed another road, into a different part of the country, and carried happiness to many children who never before had owned a toy or guessed that such a delightful plaything existed. After a third journey, so far away that Claus was many days walking the distance, the store of toys became exhausted and without delay he set about making a fresh supply. From seeing so many children and studying their tastes he had acquired several new ideas about toys. The dollies were, he had found, the most delightful of all playthings for babies and little girls, and often those who could not say "dolly" would call for a "doll" in their sweet baby talk. So Claus resolved to make many dolls, of all sizes, and to dress them in bright-colored clothing. The older boys--and even some of the girls--loved the images of animals, so he still made cats and elephants and horses. And many of the little fellows had musical natures, and longed for drums and cymbals and whistles and horns. So he made a number of toy drums, with tiny sticks to beat them with; and he made whistles from the willow trees, and horns from the bog-reeds, and cymbals from bits of beaten metal. All this kept him busily at work, and before he realized it the winter season came, with deeper snows than usual, and he knew he could not leave the Valley with his heavy pack. Moreover, the next trip would take him farther from home than every before, and Jack Frost was mischievous enough to nip his nose and ears if he undertook the long journey while the Frost King reigned. The Frost King was Jack's father and never reproved him for his pranks. So Claus remained at his work-bench; but he whistled and sang as merrily as ever, for he would allow no disappointment to sour his temper or make him unhappy. One bright morning he looked from his window and saw two of the deer he had known in the Forest walking toward his house. Claus was surprised; not that the friendly deer should visit him, but that they walked on the surface of the snow as easily as if it were solid ground, notwithstanding the fact that throughout the Valley the snow lay many feet deep. He had walked out of his house a day or two before and had sunk to his armpits in a drift. So when the deer came near he opened the door and called to them: "Good morning, Flossie! Tell me how you are able to walk on the snow so easily." "It is frozen hard," answered Flossie. "The Frost King has breathed on it," said Glossie, coming up, "and the surface is now as solid as ice." "Perhaps," remarked Claus, thoughtfully, "I might now carry my pack of toys to the children." "Is it a long journey?" asked Flossie. "Yes; it will take me many days, for the pack is heavy," answered Claus. "Then the snow would melt before you could get back," said the deer. "You must wait until spring, Claus." Claus sighed. "Had I your fleet feet," said he, "I could make the journey in a day." "But you have not," returned Glossie, looking at his own slender legs with pride. "Perhaps I could ride upon your back," Claus ventured to remark, after a pause. "Oh no; our backs are not strong enough to bear your weight," said Flossie, decidedly. "But if you had a sledge, and could harness us to it, we might draw you easily, and your pack as well." "I'll make a sledge!" exclaimed Claus. "Will you agree to draw me if I do?" "Well," replied Flossie, "we must first go and ask the Knooks, who are our guardians, for permission; but if they consent, and you can make a sledge and harness, we will gladly assist you." "Then go at once!" cried Claus, eagerly. "I am sure the friendly Knooks will give their consent, and by the time you are back I shall be ready to harness you to my sledge." Flossie and Glossie, being deer of much intelligence, had long wished to see the great world, so they gladly ran over the frozen snow to ask the Knooks if they might carry Claus on his journey. Meantime the toy-maker hurriedly began the construction of a sledge, using material from his wood-pile. He made two long runners that turned upward at the front ends, and across these nailed short boards, to make a platform. It was soon completed, but was as rude in appearance as it is possible for a sledge to be. The harness was more difficult to prepare, but Claus twisted strong cords together and knotted them so they would fit around the necks of the deer, in the shape of a collar. From these ran other cords to fasten the deer to the front of the sledge. Before the work was completed Glossie and Flossie were back from the Forest, having been granted permission by Will Knook to make the journey with Claus provided they would to Burzee by daybreak the next morning. "That is not a very long time," said Flossie; "but we are swift and strong, and if we get started by this evening we can travel many miles during the night."

MANHOOD, 8. The First Journey with the Reindeer, Part 1 MANHOOD, 8. El primer viaje con los renos, 1ª parte MANHOOD, 8. Перша подорож з оленями, частина 1

Those were happy days for Claus when he carried his accumulation of toys to the children who had awaited them so long. During his imprisonment in the Valley he had been so industrious that all his shelves were filled with playthings, and after quickly supplying the little ones living near by he saw he must now extend his travels to wider fields. أثناء سجنه في الوادي، كان مجتهدًا جدًا لدرجة أن جميع أرففه امتلأت بالألعاب، وبعد أن زود الأطفال الصغار الذين يعيشون بالقرب منه سريعًا، رأى أنه يجب عليه الآن توسيع رحلاته إلى حقول أوسع. Remembering the time when he had journeyed with Ak through all the world, he know children were everywhere, and he longed to make as many as possible happy with his gifts. يتذكر الوقت الذي سافر فيه مع Ak عبر جميع أنحاء العالم، وكان يعلم أن الأطفال موجودون في كل مكان، وكان يتوق إلى إسعاد أكبر عدد ممكن من الهدايا. So he loaded a great sack with all kinds of toys, slung it upon his back that he might carry it more easily, and started off on a longer trip than he had yet undertaken. لذا حمل كيسًا كبيرًا بجميع أنواع الألعاب، وعلقه على ظهره حتى يتمكن من حمله بسهولة أكبر، وانطلق في رحلة أطول مما قام به حتى الآن. Wherever he showed his merry face, in hamlet or in farmhouse, he received a cordial welcome, for his fame had spread into far lands. أينما أظهر وجهه المرح، في قرية صغيرة أو في مزرعة، تلقى ترحيبا حارا، لأن شهرته انتشرت في الأراضي البعيدة. At each village the children swarmed about him, following his footsteps wherever he went; and the women thanked him gratefully for the joy he brought their little ones; and the men looked upon him curiously that he should devote his time to such a queer occupation as toy-making. وفي كل قرية كان الأطفال يتجمعون حوله، يتبعون خطواته أينما ذهب؛ وكانت النساء يشكرونه شاكرين الفرح الذي جلبه لأطفالهن الصغار؛ ونظر إليه الرجال بفضول لأنه يجب أن يكرس وقته لمهنة غريبة مثل صناعة الألعاب. But every one smiled on him and gave him kindly words, and Claus felt amply repaid for his long journey. When the sack was empty he went back again to the Laughing Valley and once more filled it to the brim. This time he followed another road, into a different part of the country, and carried happiness to many children who never before had owned a toy or guessed that such a delightful plaything existed. هذه المرة اتبع طريقًا آخر، إلى جزء مختلف من البلاد، وحمل السعادة للعديد من الأطفال الذين لم يمتلكوا لعبة من قبل أو خمنوا أن مثل هذه اللعبة المبهجة موجودة. After a third journey, so far away that Claus was many days walking the distance, the store of toys became exhausted and without delay he set about making a fresh supply. بعد رحلة ثالثة، بعيدًا جدًا لدرجة أن كلاوس كان يمشي عدة أيام، أصبح متجر الألعاب مرهقًا، وسرعان ما بدأ في صنع إمدادات جديدة. From seeing so many children and studying their tastes he had acquired several new ideas about toys. The dollies were, he had found, the most delightful of all playthings for babies and little girls, and often those who could not say "dolly" would call for a "doll" in their sweet baby talk. لقد وجد أن الدمى هي أكثر الألعاب المبهجة للأطفال الرضع والفتيات الصغيرات، وغالبًا ما يطلب أولئك الذين لا يستطيعون نطق كلمة "دولي" كلمة "دمية" في حديثهم اللطيف مع الأطفال. So Claus resolved to make many dolls, of all sizes, and to dress them in bright-colored clothing. The older boys--and even some of the girls--loved the images of animals, so he still made cats and elephants and horses. And many of the little fellows had musical natures, and longed for drums and cymbals and whistles and horns. وكان للعديد من الرفاق الصغار طبيعة موسيقية، وكانوا يشتاقون إلى الطبول والصنوج والصفارات والأبواق. So he made a number of toy drums, with tiny sticks to beat them with; and he made whistles from the willow trees, and horns from the bog-reeds, and cymbals from bits of beaten metal. All this kept him busily at work, and before he realized it the winter season came, with deeper snows than usual, and he knew he could not leave the Valley with his heavy pack. Moreover, the next trip would take him farther from home than every before, and Jack Frost was mischievous enough to nip his nose and ears if he undertook the long journey while the Frost King reigned. علاوة على ذلك، فإن الرحلة التالية ستأخذه بعيدًا عن المنزل أكثر من أي رحلة سابقة، وكان جاك فروست مؤذًا بما يكفي لقضم أنفه وأذنيه إذا قام بالرحلة الطويلة أثناء حكم ملك الصقيع. The Frost King was Jack's father and never reproved him for his pranks. So Claus remained at his work-bench; but he whistled and sang as merrily as ever, for he would allow no disappointment to sour his temper or make him unhappy. فبقي كلاوس على طاولة عمله؛ لكنه كان يصفر ويغني بمرح كما كان دائمًا، لأنه لم يسمح لأي خيبة أمل أن تعكر أعصابه أو تجعله تعيسًا. One bright morning he looked from his window and saw two of the deer he had known in the Forest walking toward his house. Claus was surprised; not that the friendly deer should visit him, but that they walked on the surface of the snow as easily as if it were solid ground, notwithstanding the fact that throughout the Valley the snow lay many feet deep. تفاجأ كلاوس؛ لا يعني ذلك أن الغزال الودود يجب أن يزوره، بل أنهم ساروا على سطح الثلج بسهولة كما لو كان أرضًا صلبة، على الرغم من حقيقة أن الثلج كان يصل إلى عمق عدة أقدام في جميع أنحاء الوادي. He had walked out of his house a day or two before and had sunk to his armpits in a drift. لقد خرج من منزله قبل يوم أو يومين وغرق حتى إبطه في الانجراف. So when the deer came near he opened the door and called to them: "Good morning, Flossie! Tell me how you are able to walk on the snow so easily." "It is frozen hard," answered Flossie. "The Frost King has breathed on it," said Glossie, coming up, "and the surface is now as solid as ice." قال جلوسي وهو يقترب: "لقد تنفس ملك الصقيع، وأصبح السطح الآن صلبًا مثل الجليد." "Perhaps," remarked Claus, thoughtfully, "I might now carry my pack of toys to the children." قال كلاوس مفكرًا: «ربما أستطيع الآن أن أحمل حقيبتي من الألعاب إلى الأطفال.» "Is it a long journey?" asked Flossie. "Yes; it will take me many days, for the pack is heavy," answered Claus. أجاب كلاوس: "نعم، سيستغرق الأمر عدة أيام، لأن الحقيبة ثقيلة". "Then the snow would melt before you could get back," said the deer. "You must wait until spring, Claus." Claus sighed. "Had I your fleet feet," said he, "I could make the journey in a day." قال: «لو كانت قدماك سريعة، لاستطاعت أن أقوم بالرحلة في يوم واحد.» "But you have not," returned Glossie, looking at his own slender legs with pride. "لكنك لم تفعل ذلك"، أجاب جلوسي وهو ينظر بفخر إلى ساقيه النحيلتين. "Perhaps I could ride upon your back," Claus ventured to remark, after a pause. "ربما أستطيع الركوب على ظهرك"، تجرأ كلاوس على التعليق بعد فترة من الصمت. "Oh no; our backs are not strong enough to bear your weight," said Flossie, decidedly. قال فلوسي بحزم: "أوه لا؛ ظهورنا ليس قويًا بما يكفي لتحمل وزنك". "But if you had a sledge, and could harness us to it, we might draw you easily, and your pack as well." "ولكن إذا كان لديك مزلجة، ويمكنك تسخيرنا لها، فقد نتمكن من جذبك بسهولة، وكذلك حقيبتك أيضًا." "I'll make a sledge!" exclaimed Claus. صاح كلوز. "Will you agree to draw me if I do?" "هل توافق على رسم لي إذا فعلت؟" "Well," replied Flossie, "we must first go and ask the Knooks, who are our guardians, for permission; but if they consent, and you can make a sledge and harness, we will gladly assist you." أجاب فلوسي: "حسنًا، يجب علينا أولاً أن نذهب ونطلب الإذن من آل نوك، وهم الأوصياء علينا؛ ولكن إذا وافقوا، ويمكنك صنع زلاجة وحزام، فسوف نساعدك بكل سرور." "Then go at once!" "ثم اذهب على الفور!" cried Claus, eagerly. بكى كلوز بفارغ الصبر. "I am sure the friendly Knooks will give their consent, and by the time you are back I shall be ready to harness you to my sledge." "أنا متأكد من أن أصدقاء نوك الودودين سيعطون موافقتهم، وبحلول وقت عودتك سأكون مستعدًا لربطك بزلاجتي." Flossie and Glossie, being deer of much intelligence, had long wished to see the great world, so they gladly ran over the frozen snow to ask the Knooks if they might carry Claus on his journey. Meantime the toy-maker hurriedly began the construction of a sledge, using material from his wood-pile. في هذه الأثناء، بدأ صانع الألعاب على عجل في بناء الزلاجة، باستخدام مادة من كومة الخشب الخاصة به. He made two long runners that turned upward at the front ends, and across these nailed short boards, to make a platform. لقد صنع مسارين طويلين يتجهان نحو الأعلى عند الأطراف الأمامية، وعبر هذه الألواح القصيرة المسمرة، ليصنعا منصة. It was soon completed, but was as rude in appearance as it is possible for a sledge to be. تم الانتهاء منه قريبًا، لكنه كان فظًا في المظهر بقدر ما يمكن أن تكون عليه الزلاجة. The harness was more difficult to prepare, but Claus twisted strong cords together and knotted them so they would fit around the necks of the deer, in the shape of a collar. كان إعداد الحزام أكثر صعوبة، لكن كلاوس قام بلف الحبال القوية معًا وعقدها بحيث تتناسب حول أعناق الغزلان، على شكل طوق. From these ran other cords to fasten the deer to the front of the sledge. ومن هذه كانت تمتد حبال أخرى لربط الغزال بمقدمة الزلاجة. Before the work was completed Glossie and Flossie were back from the Forest, having been granted permission by Will Knook to make the journey with Claus provided they would to Burzee by daybreak the next morning. قبل اكتمال العمل، عاد Glossie وFlossie من الغابة، بعد أن حصلا على إذن من Will Knook للقيام بالرحلة مع Claus بشرط أن يقوما بذلك إلى Burzee بحلول فجر صباح اليوم التالي. "That is not a very long time," said Flossie; "but we are swift and strong, and if we get started by this evening we can travel many miles during the night."