Join Host Bree Carlile as she reads the seventh chapter of The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus' Youth.
Come with us as we release one bite a day of one of your favorite classic novels, plays & short stories. Bree reads these classics like she reads to her daughter, one chapter a day. If you love books or audiobooks and want something to listen to as you're getting ready, driving to work, or as you're getting ready for bed, check out Bite at a Time Books!
Follow, rate, and review Bite at a Time Books where we read you your favorite classics, one bite at a time. Available wherever you listen to podcasts.
If you ever wondered what inspired your favorite classic novelist to write their stories, what was happening in their lives or the world at the time, check out Bite at a Time Books Behind the Story wherever you listen to podcasts.
Read more stories online from Mirror Online, the book and let's see what we can find.
Speaker:
Take it chapter by chapter, one bite at a time so many adventures and mountains we can climb.
Speaker:
Take it word for wordline by line.
Speaker:
One bite at a time.
Speaker:
My name is Brie Carlyle, and I love to read and wanted to share my passion with listeners like you.
Speaker:
If you want to know what's coming next and vote on upcoming books, sign up for our newsletter at bite atetimebooks.com.
Speaker:
Be sure to follow my show on your favorite podcast platform so you get all the new episodes.
Speaker:
You can find most of our links in the show notes, but also our website, bite.
Speaker:
Atetimebooks.com includes all of the links for our show, including to our patreon to support the show, and YouTube, where we have special behind the narration of the episodes.
Speaker:
We're part of the bite at a Time books Productions network.
Speaker:
If you'd also like to hear what inspired your favorite classic author to write their novels and what was going on in the world at the time, check out The Bite at a Time Books Behind the Story podcast.
Speaker:
Wherever you listen to podcasts today, we'll be continuing the life and adventures of Santa Claus.
Speaker:
Seven claus leaves the forest when good.
Speaker:
Queen Zirlin had touched the golden chalice with her fair lips and it had.
Speaker:
Passed around the circle in honor of the traveler's return.
Speaker:
The master woodsman of the world, who had not yet spoken, turned his gaze frankly upon claws and said, well, the boy understood and rose slowly to his feet beside Nassil.
Speaker:
Once only his eyes passed around the familiar circle of Nymphs, every one of whom he remembered as a loving comrade.
Speaker:
But tears came unbidden to dim his sight, so he gazed thereafter, steadfastly at the master.
Speaker:
I have been ignorant, said he simply, until the great act in his kindness taught me who and what I am.
Speaker:
You who live so sweetly in your forest bowers, ever fair and youthful and innocent, are no fit comrades for a son of humanity.
Speaker:
For I have looked upon man, finding him doomed to live for a brief space upon Earth, to toil for the things he needs to fade in the old age, and then to pass away as the leaves in autumn.
Speaker:
Yet every man has his mission, which is to leave the world better in some way than he found it.
Speaker:
I am of the race of men, and man's lot is my lot for your tender care of the poor, forsaken babe you adopted, as well as for your loving comradeship during my boyhood, my heart will ever overflow with gratitude.
Speaker:
My foster mother here he stopped and kissed Nicil's white forehead.
Speaker:
I shall love and cherish while life lasts, but I must leave you to take my part in the endless struggle to which humanity is doomed, and to live my life in my own way.
Speaker:
What will you do?
Speaker:
Asked the queen gravely.
Speaker:
I must devote myself to the care of the children of mankind and try to make them happy, he answered.
Speaker:
Since your own tender care of a babe brought me happiness and strength, it is just and right that I devote my life to the pleasure of other babes.
Speaker:
Thus will the memory of the loving nymph NICIL be placed within the hearts of thousands of my race for many years to come, and her kindly act be recounted in song and in story while the world shall last.
Speaker:
Have I spoken well, O Master, you have spoken well, returned AK, and rising to his feet, he continued he had one thing must not be forgotten.
Speaker:
Having been adopted as a child of the forest and a playfellow of the nymphs, you have gained a distinction which forever separates you from your kind.
Speaker:
Therefore, when you go forth into the world of men, you shall retain the protection of the forest, and the powers.
Speaker:
You now enjoy will remain with you.
Speaker:
To assist you in your labors.
Speaker:
In any need, you may call upon the nymphs, the Reels, the Nooks and the fairies, and they will serve you gladly.
Speaker:
I, the master woodsman of the world.
Speaker:
Have said it, and my word is the law.
Speaker:
Loss looked upon ACK with grateful eyes.
Speaker:
This will make me mighty among men, he replied.
Speaker:
Protected by these kind friends, I may be able to make thousands of little children happy.
Speaker:
I will try very hard to do my duty, and I know the forest people will give me their sympathy and help.
Speaker:
We will, said the Fairy Queen earnestly.
Speaker:
We will.
Speaker:
Cried the merry reals laughing.
Speaker:
We will.
Speaker:
Shouted the crooked nooks scowling.
Speaker:
We will.
Speaker:
Exclaimed the sweet nymphs proudly.
Speaker:
But Nestle said nothing.
Speaker:
She only folded claws in her arms and kissed him tenderly.
Speaker:
The world is big, continued the boy, turning again to his loyal friends.
Speaker:
But men are everywhere.
Speaker:
I shall begin my work near my friends, so that if I meet with misfortune, I can come to the forest for counsel or help.
Speaker:
With that he gave them all a loving look and turned away.
Speaker:
There was no need to say goodbye by for him.
Speaker:
The sweet wildlife of the forest was over.
Speaker:
He went forth bravely to meet his doom, the doom of the race of man, the necessity to worry and work.
Speaker:
But AK, who knew the boy's heart, was merciful and guided his steps.
Speaker:
Coming through Burzi to its eastern edge.
Speaker:
Claus reached the laughing valley of Hoaho.
Speaker:
On each side were rolling green hills.
Speaker:
And a brook wandered midway between them.
Speaker:
To wind a far off beyond the valley.
Speaker:
At his back was the grim forest.
Speaker:
At the far end of the valley a broad plain.
Speaker:
The eyes of the young man which.
Speaker:
Had until now reflected his grave thoughts became brighter as he stood silent, looking.
Speaker:
Out upon the laughing valley.
Speaker:
Then, on a sudden, his eyes twinkled as stars do on a still night and grew merry and wide, for at his feet the cowslips and daisies smiled on him in friendly regard.
Speaker:
The breeze whistled gaily as it passed by and fluttered the locks on his forehead.
Speaker:
The brook laughed joyously as it leapt over the pebbles and swept around the green curves of its banks.
Speaker:
The bees sang sweet songs as they flew from dandelion to daffodil.
Speaker:
The Beatles chiroped happily in the long grass, and the sunbeams glinted pleasantly over all the scene.
Speaker:
Here.
Speaker:
Cried Claus, stretching out his arms as if to embrace the valley.
Speaker:
Will I make my home?
Speaker:
That was many, many years ago.
Speaker:
It has been his home ever since.
Speaker:
It is his home now.
Speaker:
Thank you for joining Bite at a Time Books today while we read a bite of one of your favorite classics.
Speaker:
Again, my name is Brie Carlyle and I hope you come back tomorrow for the next bite of the life and adventures of Santa Claus.
Speaker:
Don't forget to sign up for our newsletter@bitteimebooks.com.
Speaker:
You can check out the show notes or our website byteedimebooks.com for the rest.
Speaker:
Of the links for our show.
Speaker:
Take a look and look, and let's see what we can find.
