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The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, MANHOOD, 5. How Bessie Blithesome Came to the Laughing Valley

MANHOOD, 5. How Bessie Blithesome Came to the Laughing Valley

One day, as Claus sat before his door to enjoy the sunshine while he busily carved the head and horns of a toy deer, he looked up and discovered a glittering cavalcade of horsemen approaching through the Valley. When they drew nearer he saw that the band consisted of a score of men-at-arms, clad in bright armor and bearing in their hands spears and battle-axes. In front of these rode little Bessie Blithesome, the pretty daughter of that proud Lord of Lerd who had once driven Claus from his palace. Her palfrey was pure white, its bridle was covered with glittering gems, and its saddle draped with cloth of gold, richly broidered. The soldiers were sent to protect her from harm while she journeyed. Claus was surprised, but he continued to whittle and to sing until the cavalcade drew up before him. Then the little girl leaned over the neck of her palfrey and said: "Please, Mr. Claus, I want a toy!" Her voice was so pleading that Claus jumped up at once and stood beside her. But he was puzzled how to answer her request. "You are a rich lord's daughter," said he, "and have all that you desire." "Except toys," added Bessie. "There are no toys in all the world but yours." "And I make them for the poor children, who have nothing else to amuse them," continued Claus. "Do poor children love to play with toys more than rich ones?" asked Bessie. "I suppose not," said Claus, thoughtfully. "Am I to blame because my father is a lord? Must I be denied the pretty toys I long for because other children are poorer than I?" she inquired earnestly. "I'm afraid you must, dear," he answered; "for the poor have nothing else with which to amuse themselves. You have your pony to ride, your servants to wait on you, and every comfort that money can procure." "But I want toys!" cried Bessie, wiping away the tears that forced themselves into her eyes. "If I can not have them, I shall be very unhappy." Claus was troubled, for her grief recalled to him the thought that his desire was to make all children happy, without regard to their condition in life. Yet, while so many poor children were clamoring for his toys he could not bear to give one to them to Bessie Blithesome, who had so much already to make her happy. "Listen, my child," said he, gently; "all the toys I am now making are promised to others. But the next shall be yours, since your heart so longs for it. Come to me again in two days and it shall be ready for you." Bessie gave a cry of delight, and leaning over her pony's neck she kissed Claus prettily upon his forehead. Then, calling to her men-at-arms, she rode gaily away, leaving Claus to resume his work. "If I am to supply the rich children as well as the poor ones," he thought, "I shall not have a spare moment in the whole year! But is it right I should give to the rich? Surely I must go to Necile and talk with her about this matter." So when he had finished the toy deer, which was very like a deer he had known in the Forest glades, he walked into Burzee and made his way to the bower of the beautiful Nymph Necile, who had been his foster mother. She greeted him tenderly and lovingly, listening with interest to his story of the visit of Bessie Blithesome. "And now tell me," said he, "shall I give toys to rich children?" "We of the Forest know nothing of riches," she replied. "It seems to me that one child is like another child, since they are all made of the same clay, and that riches are like a gown, which may be put on or taken away, leaving the child unchanged. But the Fairies are guardians of mankind, and know mortal children better than I. Let us call the Fairy Queen." This was done, and the Queen of the Fairies sat beside them and heard Claus relate his reasons for thinking the rich children could get along without his toys, and also what the Nymph had said. "Necile is right," declared the Queen; "for, whether it be rich or poor, a child's longings for pretty playthings are but natural. Rich Bessie's heart may suffer as much grief as poor Mayrie's; she can be just as lonely and discontented, and just as gay and happy. I think, friend Claus, it is your duty to make all little ones glad, whether they chance to live in palaces or in cottages." "Your words are wise, fair Queen," replied Claus, "and my heart tells me they are as just as they are wise. Hereafter all children may claim my services." Then he bowed before the gracious Fairy and, kissing Necile's red lips, went back into his Valley. At the brook he stopped to drink, and afterward he sat on the bank and took a piece of moist clay in his hands while he thought what sort of toy he should make for Bessie Blithesome. He did not notice that his fingers were working the clay into shape until, glancing downward, he found he had unconsciously formed a head that bore a slight resemblance to the Nymph Necile! At once he became interested. Gathering more of the clay from the bank he carried it to his house. Then, with the aid of his knife and a bit of wood he succeeded in working the clay into the image of a toy nymph. With skillful strokes he formed long, waving hair on the head and covered the body with a gown of oakleaves, while the two feet sticking out at the bottom of the gown were clad in sandals. But the clay was soft, and Claus found he must handle it gently to avoid ruining his pretty work. "Perhaps the rays of the sun will draw out the moisture and cause the clay to become hard," he thought. So he laid the image on a flat board and placed it in the glare of the sun. This done, he went to his bench and began painting the toy deer, and soon he became so interested in the work that he forgot all about the clay nymph. But next morning, happening to notice it as it lay on the board, he found the sun had baked it to the hardness of stone, and it was strong enough to be safely handled. Claus now painted the nymph with great care in the likeness of Necile, giving it deep-blue eyes, white teeth, rosy lips and ruddy-brown hair. The gown he colored oak-leaf green, and when the paint was dry Claus himself was charmed with the new toy. Of course it was not nearly so lovely as the real Necile; but, considering the material of which it was made, Claus thought it was very beautiful. When Bessie, riding upon her white palfrey, came to his dwelling next day, Claus presented her with the new toy. The little girl's eyes were brighter than ever as she examined the pretty image, and she loved it at once, and held it close to her breast, as a mother does to her child. "What is it called, Claus?" she asked. Now Claus knew that Nymphs do not like to be spoken of by mortals, so he could not tell Bessie it was an image of Necile he had given her. But as it was a new toy he searched his mind for a new name to call it by, and the first word he thought of he decided would do very well. "It is called a dolly, my dear," he said to Bessie. "I shall call the dolly my baby," returned Bessie, kissing it fondly; "and I shall tend it and care for it just as Nurse cares for me. Thank you very much, Claus; your gift has made me happier than I have ever been before!" Then she rode away, hugging the toy in her arms, and Claus, seeing her delight, thought he would make another dolly, better and more natural than the first. He brought more clay from the brook, and remembering that Bessie had called the dolly her baby he resolved to form this one into a baby's image. That was no difficult task to the clever workman, and soon the baby dolly was lying on the board and placed in the sun to dry. Then, with the clay that was left, he began to make an image of Bessie Blithesome herself. This was not so easy, for he found he could not make the silken robe of the lord's daughter out of the common clay. So he called the Fairies to his aid, and asked them to bring him colored silks with which to make a real dress for the clay image. The Fairies set off at once on their errand, and before nightfall they returned with a generous supply of silks and laces and golden threads. Claus now became impatient to complete his new dolly, and instead of waiting for the next day's sun he placed the clay image upon his hearth and covered it over with glowing coals. By morning, when he drew the dolly from the ashes, it had baked as hard as if it had lain a full day in the hot sun. Now our Claus became a dressmaker as well as a toymaker. He cut the lavender silk, and nearly sewed it into a beautiful gown that just fitted the new dolly. And he put a lace collar around its neck and pink silk shoes on its feet. The natural color of baked clay is a light gray, but Claus painted the face to resemble the color of flesh, and he gave the dolly Bessie's brown eyes and golden hair and rosy cheeks. It was really a beautiful thing to look upon, and sure to bring joy to some childish heart. While Claus was admiring it he heard a knock at his door, and little Mayrie entered. Her face was sad and her eyes red with continued weeping. "Why, what has grieved you, my dear?" asked Claus, taking the child in his arms. "I've--I've--bwoke my tat!" sobbed Mayrie. "How?" he inquired, his eyes twinkling. "I--I dwopped him, an' bwoke off him's tail; an'--an'--then I dwopped him an' bwoke off him's ear! An'--an' now him's all spoilt!" Claus laughed. "Never mind, Mayrie dear," he said. "How would you like this new dolly, instead of a cat?" Mayrie looked at the silk-robed dolly and her eyes grew big with astonishment. "Oh, Tlaus!" she cried, clapping her small hands together with rapture; "tan I have 'at boo'ful lady?" "Do you like it?" he asked. "I love it!" said she. "It's better 'an tats!" "Then take it, dear, and be careful not to break it." Mayrie took the dolly with a joy that was almost reverent, and her face dimpled with smiles as she started along the path toward home.

MANHOOD, 5. How Bessie Blithesome Came to the Laughing Valley MANHOOD, 5. Wie Bessie Blithesome ins Lachende Tal kam MANHOOD, 5. Cómo Bessie Blithesome llegó al Valle de la Risa MANHOOD, 5. Come Bessie Blithesome giunse nella Valle Ridente MANHOOD, 5.ベッシー・ブリットサムはいかにして笑う谷に来たか? MANHOOD, 5. Como Bessie Blithesome chegou ao Vale do Riso MANHOOD,5.貝西快樂如何來到笑谷

One day, as Claus sat before his door to enjoy the sunshine while he busily carved the head and horns of a toy deer, he looked up and discovered a glittering cavalcade of horsemen approaching through the Valley. في أحد الأيام، بينما كان كلاوس جالسًا أمام باب منزله للاستمتاع بأشعة الشمس بينما كان منشغلًا بنحت رأس وقرنين لعبة غزال، نظر للأعلى واكتشف موكبًا متلألئًا من الفرسان يقتربون عبر الوادي. When they drew nearer he saw that the band consisted of a score of men-at-arms, clad in bright armor and bearing in their hands spears and battle-axes. In front of these rode little Bessie Blithesome, the pretty daughter of that proud Lord of Lerd who had once driven Claus from his palace. أمام هؤلاء ركبت بيسي بليثسوم الصغيرة، الابنة الجميلة لسيد ليرد الفخور الذي طرد كلاوس ذات مرة من قصره. Her palfrey was pure white, its bridle was covered with glittering gems, and its saddle draped with cloth of gold, richly broidered. وكانت فرسها بيضاء نقية، ولجامها مغطى بالجواهر البراقة، وسرجها مكسو بقطعة من الذهب المطرز بشكل غني. The soldiers were sent to protect her from harm while she journeyed. Claus was surprised, but he continued to whittle and to sing until the cavalcade drew up before him. تفاجأ كلاوس، لكنه استمر في العزف والغناء حتى اقترب الموكب من أمامه. Then the little girl leaned over the neck of her palfrey and said: "Please, Mr. Claus, I want a toy!" ثم انحنت الفتاة الصغيرة فوق رقبة فرسها وقالت: "من فضلك يا سيد كلوز، أريد لعبة!" Her voice was so pleading that Claus jumped up at once and stood beside her. كان صوتها مليئًا بالتوسل لدرجة أن كلاوس قفز على الفور ووقف بجانبها. But he was puzzled how to answer her request. "You are a rich lord's daughter," said he, "and have all that you desire." قال: «أنت ابنة سيد ثري، ولديك كل ما تريدينه.» "Except toys," added Bessie. "There are no toys in all the world but yours." "لا توجد ألعاب في كل العالم غير لعبتك." "And I make them for the poor children, who have nothing else to amuse them," continued Claus. "وأنا أصنعها للأطفال الفقراء، الذين ليس لديهم شيء آخر يسليهم"، تابع كلاوس. "Do poor children love to play with toys more than rich ones?" "هل يحب الأطفال الفقراء اللعب بالألعاب أكثر من الأغنياء؟" asked Bessie. "I suppose not," said Claus, thoughtfully. قال كلاوس مفكرًا: «لا أعتقد ذلك.» "Am I to blame because my father is a lord? "هل أنا الملام لأن والدي سيد؟ Must I be denied the pretty toys I long for because other children are poorer than I?" هل يجب أن أحرم من الألعاب الجميلة التي أتوق إليها لأن الأطفال الآخرين أفقر مني؟" she inquired earnestly. استفسرت بجدية. "I'm afraid you must, dear," he answered; "for the poor have nothing else with which to amuse themselves. You have your pony to ride, your servants to wait on you, and every comfort that money can procure." لديك حصانك الذي ستركبه، وخدمك سيخدمونك، وكل وسائل الراحة التي يمكن أن يوفرها لك المال." "But I want toys!" cried Bessie, wiping away the tears that forced themselves into her eyes. صاحت بيسي وهي تمسح الدموع التي تمركزت في عينيها. "If I can not have them, I shall be very unhappy." Claus was troubled, for her grief recalled to him the thought that his desire was to make all children happy, without regard to their condition in life. كان كلاوس منزعجًا، لأن حزنها ذكّره بفكرة أن رغبته هي جعل جميع الأطفال سعداء، بغض النظر عن حالتهم في الحياة. Yet, while so many poor children were clamoring for his toys he could not bear to give one to them to Bessie Blithesome, who had so much already to make her happy. ومع ذلك، بينما كان الكثير من الأطفال الفقراء يطالبون بألعابه، لم يستطع أن يتحمل أن يعطي واحدة لهم لبيسي بليثسوم، التي كان لديها الكثير بالفعل لجعلها سعيدة. "Listen, my child," said he, gently; "all the toys I am now making are promised to others. قال بلطف: "اسمع يا طفلي". "كل الألعاب التي أصنعها الآن موعودة للآخرين. But the next shall be yours, since your heart so longs for it. لكن القادم سيكون لك، لأن قلبك يشتاق إليه كثيرًا. Come to me again in two days and it shall be ready for you." تعال إلي مرة أخرى بعد يومين ويكون جاهزًا لك." Bessie gave a cry of delight, and leaning over her pony's neck she kissed Claus prettily upon his forehead. Then, calling to her men-at-arms, she rode gaily away, leaving Claus to resume his work. ثم نادت رجالها وانطلقت بمرح بعيدًا، تاركة كلاوس يستأنف عمله. "If I am to supply the rich children as well as the poor ones," he thought, "I shall not have a spare moment in the whole year! "إذا كنت سأقوم بإعالة الأطفال الأغنياء والفقراء على حد سواء،" فكر، "لن يكون لدي لحظة فراغ طوال العام! But is it right I should give to the rich? Surely I must go to Necile and talk with her about this matter." So when he had finished the toy deer, which was very like a deer he had known in the Forest glades, he walked into Burzee and made his way to the bower of the beautiful Nymph Necile, who had been his foster mother. لذلك، عندما انتهى من لعبة الغزال، التي كانت تشبه إلى حد كبير الغزلان التي عرفها في غابات الغابة، دخل إلى بورزي وشق طريقه إلى تعريشة نيمف نيكيلي الجميلة، التي كانت والدته بالتبني. She greeted him tenderly and lovingly, listening with interest to his story of the visit of Bessie Blithesome. "And now tell me," said he, "shall I give toys to rich children?" "We of the Forest know nothing of riches," she replied. "It seems to me that one child is like another child, since they are all made of the same clay, and that riches are like a gown, which may be put on or taken away, leaving the child unchanged. "يبدو لي أن طفلًا واحدًا يشبه طفلًا آخر، إذ أنهم جميعًا مصنوعون من نفس الطين، وأن الثروة مثل الرداء الذي يمكن ارتداؤه أو نزعه، ويترك الطفل دون تغيير. But the Fairies are guardians of mankind, and know mortal children better than I. Let us call the Fairy Queen." This was done, and the Queen of the Fairies sat beside them and heard Claus relate his reasons for thinking the rich children could get along without his toys, and also what the Nymph had said. تم ذلك، وجلست ملكة الجنيات بجانبهم وسمعت كلاوس يروي الأسباب التي جعلته يعتقد أن الأطفال الأثرياء يمكنهم العيش بدون ألعابه، وكذلك ما قالته الحورية. "Necile is right," declared the Queen; "for, whether it be rich or poor, a child's longings for pretty playthings are but natural. أعلنت الملكة: "نيسيل على حق". "لأنه، سواء كان غنيًا أو فقيرًا، فإن شوق الطفل إلى الألعاب الجميلة أمر طبيعي. Rich Bessie's heart may suffer as much grief as poor Mayrie's; she can be just as lonely and discontented, and just as gay and happy. قد يعاني قلب ريتش بيسي من الحزن بقدر ما يعاني منه قلب مايري الفقير؛ يمكن أن تكون وحيدة ومستاءة، ومبهجة وسعيدة بنفس القدر. I think, friend Claus, it is your duty to make all little ones glad, whether they chance to live in palaces or in cottages." "Your words are wise, fair Queen," replied Claus, "and my heart tells me they are as just as they are wise. أجاب كلوز: "كلماتك حكيمة، أيتها الملكة الجميلة، وقلبي يخبرني أنها حكيمة تمامًا. Hereafter all children may claim my services." من الآن فصاعدا، يمكن لجميع الأطفال المطالبة بخدماتي." Then he bowed before the gracious Fairy and, kissing Necile's red lips, went back into his Valley. ثم انحنى أمام الجنية اللطيفة وقبل شفاه نيكيلي الحمراء وعاد إلى واديه. At the brook he stopped to drink, and afterward he sat on the bank and took a piece of moist clay in his hands while he thought what sort of toy he should make for Bessie Blithesome. He did not notice that his fingers were working the clay into shape until, glancing downward, he found he had unconsciously formed a head that bore a slight resemblance to the Nymph Necile! لم يلاحظ أن أصابعه كانت تعمل على تشكيل الطين حتى، نظر إلى الأسفل، ووجد أنه قد شكل دون وعي رأسًا يحمل تشابهًا طفيفًا مع الحورية نيكيلي! At once he became interested. Gathering more of the clay from the bank he carried it to his house. Then, with the aid of his knife and a bit of wood he succeeded in working the clay into the image of a toy nymph. ثم، بمساعدة سكينه وقليل من الخشب، نجح في تحويل الطين إلى صورة حورية لعبة. With skillful strokes he formed long, waving hair on the head and covered the body with a gown of oakleaves, while the two feet sticking out at the bottom of the gown were clad in sandals. بضربات ماهرة قام بتشكيل شعر طويل مموج على الرأس وغطى الجسم بعباءة من أوراق البلوط، بينما كانت القدمان البارزتان في أسفل الرداء ترتديان الصنادل. But the clay was soft, and Claus found he must handle it gently to avoid ruining his pretty work. لكن الطين كان طريًا، ووجد كلاوس أنه يجب عليه التعامل معه بلطف لتجنب إتلاف عمله الجميل. "Perhaps the rays of the sun will draw out the moisture and cause the clay to become hard," he thought. So he laid the image on a flat board and placed it in the glare of the sun. فوضع الصورة على لوح مسطح ووضعها في وهج الشمس. This done, he went to his bench and began painting the toy deer, and soon he became so interested in the work that he forgot all about the clay nymph. بعد ذلك، ذهب إلى مقعده وبدأ في رسم لعبة الغزال، وسرعان ما أصبح مهتمًا جدًا بالعمل لدرجة أنه نسي كل شيء عن حورية الطين. But next morning, happening to notice it as it lay on the board, he found the sun had baked it to the hardness of stone, and it was strong enough to be safely handled. Claus now painted the nymph with great care in the likeness of Necile, giving it deep-blue eyes, white teeth, rosy lips and ruddy-brown hair. رسم كلوز الآن الحورية بعناية كبيرة على شكل Necile، مما منحها عيونًا زرقاء داكنة وأسنانًا بيضاء وشفاه وردية وشعرًا بنيًا محمرًا. The gown he colored oak-leaf green, and when the paint was dry Claus himself was charmed with the new toy. قام بتلوين الثوب باللون الأخضر المصنوع من ورق البلوط، وعندما جف الطلاء، انبهر كلاوس نفسه باللعبة الجديدة. Of course it was not nearly so lovely as the real Necile; but, considering the material of which it was made, Claus thought it was very beautiful. When Bessie, riding upon her white palfrey, came to his dwelling next day, Claus presented her with the new toy. عندما جاءت بيسي، وهي تركب على حصانها الأبيض، إلى منزله في اليوم التالي، قدم لها كلوز اللعبة الجديدة. The little girl's eyes were brighter than ever as she examined the pretty image, and she loved it at once, and held it close to her breast, as a mother does to her child. أصبحت عينا الفتاة الصغيرة أكثر إشراقًا من أي وقت مضى عندما تفحصت الصورة الجميلة، وأحبتها في الحال، ووضعتها بالقرب من صدرها، كما تفعل الأم مع طفلها. "What is it called, Claus?" she asked. Now Claus knew that Nymphs do not like to be spoken of by mortals, so he could not tell Bessie it was an image of Necile he had given her. But as it was a new toy he searched his mind for a new name to call it by, and the first word he thought of he decided would do very well. ولكن نظرًا لأنها كانت لعبة جديدة، فقد بحث في ذهنه عن اسم جديد يطلق عليها، والكلمة الأولى التي فكر فيها قرر أن تكون مفيدة جدًا. "It is called a dolly, my dear," he said to Bessie. "I shall call the dolly my baby," returned Bessie, kissing it fondly; "and I shall tend it and care for it just as Nurse cares for me. Thank you very much, Claus; your gift has made me happier than I have ever been before!" Then she rode away, hugging the toy in her arms, and Claus, seeing her delight, thought he would make another dolly, better and more natural than the first. He brought more clay from the brook, and remembering that Bessie had called the dolly her baby he resolved to form this one into a baby's image. That was no difficult task to the clever workman, and soon the baby dolly was lying on the board and placed in the sun to dry. Then, with the clay that was left, he began to make an image of Bessie Blithesome herself. This was not so easy, for he found he could not make the silken robe of the lord's daughter out of the common clay. لم يكن الأمر بهذه السهولة، لأنه وجد أنه لا يستطيع أن يصنع الثوب الحريري لابنة السيد من الطين العادي. So he called the Fairies to his aid, and asked them to bring him colored silks with which to make a real dress for the clay image. The Fairies set off at once on their errand, and before nightfall they returned with a generous supply of silks and laces and golden threads. انطلقت الجنيات على الفور في مهمتها، وقبل حلول الليل عادت بكمية سخية من الحرير والأربطة والخيوط الذهبية. Claus now became impatient to complete his new dolly, and instead of waiting for the next day's sun he placed the clay image upon his hearth and covered it over with glowing coals. نفد صبر كلاوس الآن لإكمال دولابته الجديدة، وبدلاً من انتظار شمس اليوم التالي، وضع التمثال الطيني على موقده وغطاه بالفحم المتوهج. By morning, when he drew the dolly from the ashes, it had baked as hard as if it had lain a full day in the hot sun. بحلول الصباح، عندما أخرج النملة من الرماد، كانت قد احترقت بقوة كما لو أنها قضت يومًا كاملاً في الشمس الحارقة. Now our Claus became a dressmaker as well as a toymaker. He cut the lavender silk, and nearly sewed it into a beautiful gown that just fitted the new dolly. And he put a lace collar around its neck and pink silk shoes on its feet. ووضع طوقًا من الدانتيل حول رقبته وحذاءً من الحرير الوردي في قدميه. The natural color of baked clay is a light gray, but Claus painted the face to resemble the color of flesh, and he gave the dolly Bessie's brown eyes and golden hair and rosy cheeks. اللون الطبيعي للطين المشوي هو الرمادي الفاتح، لكن كلاوس رسم الوجه ليشبه لون اللحم، وأعطى دوللي بيسي عيون بنية وشعر ذهبي وخدود وردية. It was really a beautiful thing to look upon, and sure to bring joy to some childish heart. لقد كان حقًا شيئًا جميلًا للنظر إليه، ومن المؤكد أنه سيجلب السعادة إلى قلب طفولي. While Claus was admiring it he heard a knock at his door, and little Mayrie entered. وبينما كان كلوز معجبًا به، سمع طرقًا على باب منزله، ودخلت مايري الصغيرة. Her face was sad and her eyes red with continued weeping. "Why, what has grieved you, my dear?" asked Claus, taking the child in his arms. "I've--I've--bwoke my tat!" sobbed Mayrie. "How?" he inquired, his eyes twinkling. "I--I dwopped him, an' bwoke off him's tail; an'--an'--then I dwopped him an' bwoke off him's ear! An'--an' now him's all spoilt!" Claus laughed. "Never mind, Mayrie dear," he said. "How would you like this new dolly, instead of a cat?" Mayrie looked at the silk-robed dolly and her eyes grew big with astonishment. "Oh, Tlaus!" she cried, clapping her small hands together with rapture; "tan I have 'at boo'ful lady?" "Do you like it?" he asked. "I love it!" said she. "It's better 'an tats!" "Then take it, dear, and be careful not to break it." Mayrie took the dolly with a joy that was almost reverent, and her face dimpled with smiles as she started along the path toward home. أخذت مايري العربة بفرحة تكاد تكون موقرة، وكان وجهها مغمضًا بالابتسامات عندما بدأت السير على طول الطريق المؤدي إلى المنزل.