Join Host Bree Carlile as she reads the eighth chapter of The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus.

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Frank Baum manhood One The Laughing Valley When Claus came, the valley was empty, save for the grass, the brook, the wildflowers, the bees and the butterflies.

If he would make his home here and live after the fashion of men, he must have a house.

This puzzled him at first, but while he stood smiling in the sunshine, he suddenly found beside him old Nalco, the servant of the master woodsman.

Nelko bore an axe, strong and broad, with blade that gleamed like burnished silver.

This he placed in the young man's hand, then disappeared without a word.

Claus understood, and turning to the forest's edge, he selected a number of fallen tree trunks which he began to clear of their dead branches he would not cut into a living tree.

His life among the nymphs who guarded the forest had taught him that a live tree is sacred, being a created thing endowed with feeling.

But with the dead and fallen trees, it was different.

They had fulfilled their destiny as active members of the forest community, and now it was fitting that their remains should minister to the needs of man.

The axe bit deep into the logs at every stroke.

It seemed to have a force of its own, and claws had but to swing and guide it.

When shadows began creeping over the green hills to lie in the valley.

Overnight, the young man had chopped many logs into equal lengths and proper shapes for building a house such as he had seen the poor classes of men inhabit.

Then, resolving to await another day before he tried to fit the logs together, claus ate some of the sweet roots he well knew how to find, drank deeply from the laughing brook and lay down to sleep on the grass, first seeking a spot where no flowers grew, lest the weight of his body should crush them.

And while he slumbered and breathed in the perfume of the wondrous valley, the spirit of happiness crept into his heart and drove out all terror and care and misgivings.

Nevermore would the face of Claws be clouded with anxieties.

Never more would the trials of life weigh him down as with a burden.

The laughing valley had claimed him for its own.

What?

That we all might live in that delightful place?

But then maybe it would become overcrowded.

For ages it had awaited a tenant.

Was it chance that led young Claws to make his home in this happy veil?

Or may we guess that his thoughtful friends, the Immortals, had directed his steps when he wandered away from Burzi to seek a home in the great world?

Certainly it is that while the moon peered over the hilltop and flooded with its soft beams the body of the sleeping stranger, the Laughing Valley was filled with the queer crooked shapes of the friendly nooks.

These people spoke no words, but worked with skill and swiftness.

The log's claws had trimmed with its bright axe were carried to a spot beside the brook and fitted one upon another, and during the night a strong and roomy dwelling was built.

The birds came sweeping into the valley at daybreak, and their songs, so seldom heard in the deep wood, aroused the stranger.

He rubbed the web of sleep from his eyelids and looked around.

The house met his gaze.

I must thank the nooks for this, said he gratefully.

Then he walked to his dwelling and entered at the doorway.

A large room faced him, having a fireplace at the end and a table and bench in the middle.

Beside the fireplace was a cupboard.

Another doorway was beyond.

Claus entered here also, and saw a smaller room with a bed against the wall and a stool set near a small stand.

On the bed were many layers of dried moss brought from the forest.

Indeed, it is a palace.

Exclaimed the smiling claws.

I must thank the nooks again for their knowledge of man's needs, as well as for their labors in my behalf.

He left his new home with a glad feeling that he was not quite alone in the world, although he had chosen to abandon his forest life.

Friendships are not easily broken, and the Immortals are everywhere.

Upon reaching the brook, he drank of the pure water and then sat down on the bank to laugh at the mischievous gambles of the ripples as they pushed one another against rocks, or crowded desperately to see which should first reach the turn beyond.

And as they raced away, he listened to the song they sang rushing, pushing, on we go not a wave may gently flow, all are too excited, every drop delighted turns to spray and marry play as we tumble on our way.

Next, claws searched for roots to eat, while the daffodils turned their little eyes up to him, laughingly and list their dainty song blooming fairly, growing rarely, never flower it's we're so gay, perfume, breathing joy bequeathing as our colors we display.

It made Claus laugh to hear the little things voice their happiness as they nodded gracefully on their stems.

But another strain caught his ear as the sunbeam fell gently across his face and whispered here is gladness that our rays warm the valley through the days.

Here is happiness to give comfort unto all who live.

Yes.

Cried claused.

An answer.

There is happiness and joy in all things.

Here the laughing valley is a valley of peace and goodwill.

He passed the day talking with the ants and beetles and exchanging jokes with the light hearted butterflies, and at night he lay on his bed of soft moss and slept soundly.

Then came the fairies, merry but noiseless, bringing skillets and pots and dishes and pans and all the tools necessary to prepare food, and a comfort immortal with these.

They filled cupboard in fireplace, finally placing a stout suit of wool clothing on the stool by the bedside.

When Claus awoke, he rubbed his eyes again and laughed and spoke aloud his thanks to the fairies and the master woodsmen who had sent them.

With eager joy he examined all his new possessions, wondering what some might be used for.

But in the days when he had clung to the girdle of the great AK and visited the cities of men, his eyes had been quick to note all the manners and customs of the race to which he belonged.

So he guessed from the gifts brought by the fairies that the master expected him hereafter to live in the fashion of his fellow creatures.

Which means that I must plough the earth and plant corn, he reflected, so that when winter comes I shall have garnered food and plenty.

But as he stood in the grassy valley, he saw that to turn up the earth and furrows would be to destroy hundreds of pretty helpless flowers, as well as thousands of tender blades of grass, and this he could not bear to do.

Therefore he stretched out his arms and uttered a peculiar whistle he had learned in the forest afterward, crying reels of the flower field, come to me instantly.

A dozen of the queer little reels were squatting upon the ground before him, and they nodded to him in cheerful greeting.

Gloss gazed upon them earnestly.

Your brothers of the forest, he said, I have known and loved many years.

I shall love you also when we have become friends.

To me the laws of the reels, whether those of the forest or of the field, are sacred.

I have never willfully destroyed one of the flowers you tend so carefully.

But I must plant grain to use for food during the cold winter.

And how am I to do this without killing the little creatures that sing to me so prettily of their fragrant blossoms?

The yellow reel.

He who tends the buttercups made answer.

Fret not, friend Claus.

The great AK has spoken to us of you.

There's better work for you in life than to labor for food.

And though not being of the forest, AK has no command over us, nevertheless are we glad to favor one he loves.

Live therefore, to do the good work you are resolved to undertake.

We, the field reels, will attend to your food supplies.

After this speech.

The reels were no longer to be seen and Claus drove from his mind the thought of tilling the earth.

When next he wandered back to his dwelling, a bowl of fresh milk stood upon the table, bread was in the cupboard and sweet honey filled a dish beside it.

A pretty basket of rosy apples and new plucked grapes was also awaiting him.

He called out thanks, my friends to the invisible reels and straight away began to eat of the food.

Thereafter, when hungry, he had but to look into the cupboard to find goodly supplies brought by the kindly reels and the nooks cut and stacked much wood for his fireplace and the fairies brought him warm blankets and clothing.

So began his life in the laughing valley, with the favor and friendship of the immortals to minister to his every want.

Thank you for joining Bite at a.

Time Books today while we read a bite of one of your favorite classics.

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.

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Chapter My.

Chapter one mine at a Time adventure the Mountains and Crime.