12. The First Christmas Tree

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus

by L. Frank Baum

Claus had always kept his promise to the Knooks by returning to
the Laughing Valley by daybreak, but only the swiftness of his
reindeer has enabled him to do this, for he travels over all the
world.

He loved his work and he loved the brisk night ride on his
sledge and the gay tinkle of the sleigh-bells. On that first trip
with the ten reindeer only Glossie and Flossie wore bells; but each
year thereafter for eight years Claus carried presents to the
children of the Gnome King, and that good-natured monarch gave him in
return a string of bells at each visit, so that finally every one of
the ten deer was supplied, and you may imagine what a merry tune the
bells played as the sledge sped over the snow.

The children's stockings were so long that it required a great
many toys to fill them, and soon Claus found there were other things
besides toys that children love. So he sent some of the Fairies, who
were always his good friends, into the Tropics, from whence they
returned with great bags full of oranges and bananas which they had
plucked from the trees. And other Fairies flew to the wonderful
Valley of Phunnyland, where delicious candies and bonbons grow
thickly on the bushes, and returned laden with many boxes of
sweetmeats for the little ones. These things Santa Claus, on each
Christmas Eve, placed in the long stockings, together with his toys,
and the children were glad to get them, you may be sure.

There are also warm countries where there is no snow in winter,
but Claus and his reindeer visited them as well as the colder climes,
for there were little wheels inside the runners of his sledge which
permitted it to run as smoothly over bare ground as on the snow. And
the children who lived in the warm countries learned to know the name
of Santa Claus as well as those who lived nearer to the Laughing
Valley.

Once, just as the reindeer were ready to start on their yearly
trip, a Fairy came to Claus and told him of three little children who
lived beneath a rude tent of skins on a broad plain where there were
no trees whatever. These poor babies were miserable and unhappy, for
their parents were ignorant people who neglected them sadly. Claus
resolved to visit these children before he returned home, and during
his ride he picked up the bushy top of a pine tree which the wind had
broken off and placed it in his sledge.

It was nearly morning when the deer stopped before the lonely
tent of skins where the poor children lay asleep. Claus at once
planted the bit of pine tree in the sand and stuck many candles on
the branches. Then he hung some of his prettiest toys on the tree, as
well as several bags of candies. It did not take long to do all
this, for Santa Claus works quickly, and when all was ready he
lighted the candles and, thrusting his head in at the opening of the
tent, he shouted:

"Merry Christmas, little ones!"

With that he leaped into his sledge and was out of sight before
the children, rubbing the sleep from their eyes, could come out to
see who had called them.

You can imagine the wonder and joy of those little ones, who had
never in their lives known a real pleasure before, when they saw the
tree, sparkling with lights that shone brilliant in the gray dawn and
hung with toys enough to make them happy for years to come! They
joined hands and danced around the tree, shouting and laughing, until
they were obliged to pause for breath. And their parents, also, came
out to look and wonder, and thereafter had more respect and
consideration for their children, since Santa Claus had honored them
with such beautiful gifts.

The idea of the Christmas tree pleased Claus, and so the
following year he carried many of them in his sledge and set them up
in the homes of poor people who seldom saw trees, and placed candles
and toys on the branches. Of course he could not carry enough trees
in one load of all who wanted them, but in some homes the fathers
were able to get trees and have them all ready for Santa Claus when
he arrived; and these the good Claus always decorated as prettily as
possible and hung with toys enough for all the children who came to
see the tree lighted.

These novel ideas and the generous manner in which they were
carried out made the children long for that one night in the year
when their friend Santa Claus should visit them, and as such
anticipation is very pleasant and comforting the little ones gleaned
much happiness by wondering what would happen when Santa Claus next
arrived.

Perhaps you remember that stern Baron Braun who once drove Claus
from his castle and forbade him to visit his children? Well, many
years afterward, when the old Baron was dead and his son ruled in his
place, the new Baron Braun came to the house of Claus with his train
of knights and pages and henchmen and, dismounting from his charger,
bared his head humbly before the friend of children.

"My father did not know your goodness and worth," he said, "and
therefore threatened to hang you from the castle walls. But I have
children of my own, who long for a visit from Santa Claus, and I have
come to beg that you will favor them hereafter as you do other
children."

Claus was pleased with this speech, for Castle Braun was the
only place he had never visited, and he gladly promised to bring
presents to the Baron's children the next Christmas Eve.

The Baron went away contented, and Claus kept his promise
faithfully.

Thus did this man, through very goodness, conquer the hearts of
all; and it is no wonder he was ever merry and gay, for there was no
home in the wide world where he was not welcomed more royally than
any king.