"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