12.  The First Christmas Tree

  Claus had always kept his promise to the Knooks by returning
to the Laughing Valley by daybreak, but only the swiftness of
his reindeer has enabled him to do this, for he travels over
all the world.

  He loved his work and he loved the brisk night ride on his
sledge and the gay tinkle of the sleigh-bells.  On that first
trip with the ten reindeer only Glossie and Flossie wore
bells; but each year thereafter for eight years Claus carried
presents to the children of the Gnome King, and that
good-natured monarch gave him in return a string of bells at
each visit, so that finally every one of the ten deer was
supplied, and you may imagine what a merry tune the bells
played as the sledge sped over the snow.

  The children's stockings were so long that it required a great
many toys to fill them, and soon Claus found there were other
things besides toys that children love.  So he sent some of
the Fairies, who were always his good friends, into the
Tropics, from whence they returned with great bags full of
oranges and bananas which they had plucked from the trees. 
And other Fairies flew to the wonderful Valley of Phunnyland,
where delicious candies and bonbons grow thickly on the
bushes, and returned laden with many boxes of sweetmeats for
the little ones.  These things Santa Claus, on each Christmas
Eve, placed in the long stockings, together with his toys, and
the children were glad to get them, you may be sure.

  There are also warm countries where there is no snow in
winter, but Claus and his reindeer visited them as well as the
colder climes, for there were little wheels inside the runners
of his sledge which permitted it to run as smoothly over bare
ground as on the snow.  And the children who lived in the warm
countries learned to know the name of Santa Claus as well as
those who lived nearer to the Laughing Valley.

  Once, just as the reindeer were ready to start on their yearly
trip, a Fairy came to Claus and told him of three little
children who lived beneath a rude tent of skins on a broad
plain where there were no trees whatever.  These poor babies
were miserable and unhappy, for their parents were ignorant
people who neglected them sadly.  Claus resolved to visit
these children before he returned home, and during his ride he
picked up the bushy top of a pine tree which the wind had
broken off and placed it in his sledge.

  It was nearly morning when the deer stopped before the lonely
tent of skins where the poor children lay asleep.  Claus at
once planted the bit of pine tree in the sand and stuck many
candles on the branches. Then he hung some of his prettiest
toys on the tree, as well as several bags of candies.  It did
not take long to do all this, for Santa Claus works quickly,
and when all was ready he lighted the candles and, thrusting
his head in at the opening of the tent, he shouted:

  "Merry Christmas, little ones!"

  With that he leaped into his sledge and was out of sight
before the children, rubbing the sleep from their eyes, could
come out to see who had called them.

  You can imagine the wonder and joy of those little ones, who
had never in their lives known a real pleasure before, when
they saw the tree, sparkling with lights that shone brilliant
in the gray dawn and hung with toys enough to make them happy
for years to come!  They joined hands and danced around the
tree, shouting and laughing, until they were obliged to pause
for breath.  And their parents, also, came out to look and
wonder, and thereafter had more respect and consideration for
their children, since Santa Claus had honored them with such
beautiful gifts.

  The idea of the Christmas tree pleased Claus, and so the
following year he carried many of them in his sledge and set
them up in the homes of poor people who seldom saw trees, and
placed candles and toys on the branches.  Of course he could
not carry enough trees in one load of all who wanted them, but
in some homes the fathers were able to get trees and have them
all ready for Santa Claus when he arrived; and these the good
Claus always decorated as prettily as possible and hung with
toys enough for all the children who came to see the tree
lighted.

  These novel ideas and the generous manner in which they were
carried out made the children long for that one night in the
year when their friend Santa Claus should visit them, and as
such anticipation is very pleasant and comforting the little
ones gleaned much happiness by wondering what would happen
when Santa Claus next arrived.

  Perhaps you remember that stern Baron Braun who once drove
Claus from his castle and forbade him to visit his children? 
Well, many years afterward, when the old Baron was dead and
his son ruled in his place, the new Baron Braun came to the
house of Claus with his train of knights and pages and
henchmen and, dismounting from his charger, bared his head
humbly before the friend of children.

  "My father did not know your goodness and worth," he said,
"and therefore threatened to hang you from the castle walls. 
But I have children of my own, who long for a visit from Santa
Claus, and I have come to beg that you will favor them
hereafter as you do other children."

  Claus was pleased with this speech, for Castle Braun was the
only place he had never visited, and he gladly promised to
bring presents to the Baron's children the next Christmas Eve.

  The Baron went away contented, and Claus kept his promise
faithfully.

  Thus did this man, through very goodness, conquer the hearts
of all; and it is no wonder he was ever merry and gay, for
there was no home in the wide world where he was not welcomed
more royally than any king.