immortals shuddered when the Awgwas were mentioned, and always avoided
them. So they flourished for many years unopposed and accomplished
much evil.

I am glad to assure you that these vile creatures have long since
perished and passed from earth; but in the days when Claus was making
his first toys they were a numerous and powerful tribe.

One of the principal sports of the Awgwas was to inspire angry
passions in the hearts of little children, so that they quarreled and
fought with one another. They would tempt boys to eat of unripe
fruit, and then delight in the pain they suffered; they urged little
girls to disobey their parents, and then would laugh when the children
were punished. I do not know what causes a child to be naughty in
these days, but when the Awgwas were on earth naughty children were
usually under their influence.

Now, when Claus began to make children happy he kept them out of the
power of the Awgwas; for children possessing such lovely playthings as
he gave them had no wish to obey the evil thoughts the Awgwas tried to
thrust into their minds.

Therefore, one year when the wicked tribe was to elect a new King,
they chose an Awgwa who proposed to destroy Claus and take him away
from the children.

"There are, as you know, fewer naughty children in the world since
Claus came to the Laughing Valley and began to make his toys," said
the new King, as he squatted upon a rock and looked around at the
scowling faces of his people. "Why, Bessie Blithesome has not stamped