this better you must know that children were much neglected in those
days and received little attention from their parents, so that it
became to them a marvel that so goodly a man as Claus devoted his time
to making them happy. And those who knew him were, you may be sure,
very happy indeed. The sad faces of the poor and abused grew bright
for once; the cripple smiled despite his misfortune; the ailing ones
hushed their moans and the grieved ones their cries when their merry
friend came nigh to comfort them.

Only at the beautiful palace of the Lord of Lerd and at the frowning
castle of the Baron Braun was Claus refused admittance. There were
children at both places; but the servants at the palace shut the door
in the young stranger's face, and the fierce Baron threatened to hang
him from an iron hook on the castle walls. Whereupon Claus sighed and
went back to the poorer dwellings where he was welcome.

After a time the winter drew near.

The flowers lived out their lives and faded and disappeared; the
beetles burrowed far into the warm earth; the butterflies deserted the
meadows; and the voice of the brook grew hoarse, as if it had taken cold.

One day snowflakes filled all the air in the Laughing Valley, dancing
boisterously toward the earth and clothing in pure white raiment the
roof of Claus's dwelling.

At night Jack Frost rapped at the door.

"Come in!" cried Claus.