版權(quán)說明:本文檔由用戶提供并上傳,收益歸屬內(nèi)容提供方,若內(nèi)容存在侵權(quán),請進(jìn)行舉報或認(rèn)領(lǐng)
文檔簡介
AKidnappedSantaClaus***L.FrankBaumepubBTableofContentsTitlePageepubBooksInformation{chapter-1)TableofContentsStrictlyNotforCommercialUse.ThisEPUBeBookisreleasedunderaCreativeCommons(BY-NC-ND/3.0)Licence,(http:〃/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/)SourcetextandimagestakenfromthePublicDomain.epubBooksThiseBookisprovidedforfreebywww.epubbooks,comSupportepubBooksandmakeadonationbyvisiting:www.epubbooks,com/donatioes.SantaClauslivesintheLaughingValley,wherestandsthebig,ramblingcastleinwhichhistoysaremanufactured.Uisworkmen,selectedfromtheryls,knocks,pixiesandfairies,livewithhim,andeveryoneisasbusyascanbefromoneyear'sendtoanother.ItiscalledtheLaughingValleybecauseeverythingthereishappyandgay.Thebrookchucklestoitselfasitleapsrollickingbetweenitsgreenbanks;thewindwhistlesmerrilyinthetrees;thesunbeamsdancelightlyoverthesoftgrass,andthevioletsandwildflowerslooksmilinglyupfromtheirgreennests.Tolaughoneneedstobehappy;tobehappyoneneedstobecontent.AndthroughouttheLaughingValleyofSantaClauscontentmentreignssupreme.OnonesideisthemightyForestofBurzee.AttheothersidestandsthehugemountainthatcontainstheCavesoftheDaemons.AndbetweenthemtheValleyliessmilingandpeaceful.Onewou1dthingthatourgoodoldSantaClaus,whodevoteshisdaystomakingchildrenhappy,wou1dhavenoenemiesonalltheearth;and,asamatteroffact,foralongperiodoftimeheencounterednothingbutlovewhereverhemightgo.ButtheDaemonswholiveinthemountaincavesgrewtohateSantaClausverymuch,andallforthesimplereasonthathemadechildrenhappy.TheCavesoftheDaemonsarefiveinnumber.Abroadpathwayleadsuptothefirstcave,whichisafinelyarchedcavernatthefootofthemountain,theentrancebeingbeautifullycarvedanddecorated.InitresidestheDaemonofSelfishness.BackofthisisanothercaverninhabitedbytheDaemonofEnvy.ThecaveoftheDaemonofHatredisnextinorder,andthroughthisonepassestothehomeoftheDaemonofMalice一situatedinadarkandfearfulcaveintheveryheartofthemountain.Idonotknowwhatliesbeyondthis.Somesaythereareterriblepitfallsleadingtodeathanddestruction,andthismayverywellbetrue.However,fromeachoneofthefourcavesmentionedthereisasmall,narrowtunnelleadingtothefifthcave—acozylittleroomoccupiedbytheDaemonofRepentance.Andastherockyfloorsofthesepassagesarewellwornbythetrackofpassingfeet,IjudgethatmanywanderersintheCavesoftheDaemonshaveescapedthroughthetunnelstotheabodeoftheDaemonofRepentance,whoissaidtobeapleasantsortoffellowwhogladlyopensforonealittledooradmittingyouintofreshairandsunshineagain.Well,theseDaemonsoftheCaves,thinkingtheyhadgreatcausetodislikeoldSantaClaus,heldameetingonedaytodiscussthematter."I'mreallygettinglonesome,,zsaidtheDaemonofSelfishness."ForSantaClausdistributessomanyprettyChristmasgiftstoallthechildrenthattheybecomehappyandgenerous,throughhisexample,andkeepawayfrommycave.〃"I'mhavingthesametrouble,“rejoinedtheDaemonofEnvy."The1ittleonesseemquitecontentwithSantaClaus,andtherearefew,indeed,thatIcancoaxtobe?〃comeenvious.“Andthatmakesitbadforme!”declaredtheDaemonofHatred."ForifnochildrenpassthroughtheCavesofSelfishnessandEnvy,nonecangettoMYcavern./z〃0rtomine,〃addedtheDaemonofMalice.“Formypart,“saidtheDaemonofRepentance,〃itiseasilyseenthatifchildrendonotvisityourcavestheyhavenoneedtovisitmine;sothatIamquiteasneglectedasyouare.〃“AndallbecauseofthispersontheycallSantaClaus!”exclaimedtheDaemonofEnvy.〃Heissimplyruiningourbusiness,andsomethingmustbedoneatonce.〃Tothistheyreadilyagreed;butwhattodowasanotherandmoredifficultmattertosettle.TheyknewthatSantaClausworkedallthroughtheyearathiscastleintheLaughingValley,preparingthegiftshewastodistributeonChristmasEve;andatfirsttheyresolvedtotrytotempthimintotheircaves,thattheymight1eadhimontotheterriblepitfallsthatendedindestruction.Sotheverynextday,whileSantaClauswasbusilyatwork,surroundedbyhislittlebandofassistants,theDaemonofSelfishnesscametohimandsaid:“Thesetoysarewonderfullybrightandpretty.Whydoyounotkeepthemforyourself?It'sapitytogivethemtothosenoisyboysandfretfulgirls,whobreakanddestroythemsoquickly.〃“Nonsense!”criedtheoldgraybeard,hisbrighteyestwinklingmerrilyasheturnedtowardthetemptingDaemon."Theboysandgirlsareneversonoisyandfretfulafterreceivingmypresents,andifIcanmakethemhappyforonedayintheyearIamquitecontent./zSotheDaemonwentbacktotheothers,whoawaitedhimintheircaves,andsaid:〃Ihavefailed,forSantaClausisnotatallselfish./zThefollowingdaytheDaemonofEnvyvisitedSantaClaus.Saidhe:"Thetoyshopsarefullofplaythingsquiteasprettyasthoseyouaremaking.Whatashameitisthattheyshouldinterferewithyourbusiness!Theymaketoysbymachinerymuchquickerthanyoucanmakethembyhand;andtheysellthemformoney,whileyougetnothingatallforyourwork.”ButSantaClausrefusedtobeenviousofthetoyshops.〃Icansupplythelittleonesbutonceayear一onChristmasEve,〃heanswered;〃forthechildrenaremany,andIambutone.AndasmyworkisoneofloveandkindnessIwouldbeashamedtoreceivemoneyformylittlegifts.Butthroughoutalltheyearthechildrenmustbeamusedinsomeway,andsothetoyshopsareabletobringmuchhappinesstomylittlefriends.Ilikethetoyshops,andamgladtoseethemprosper.z/Inspiteofthesecondrebuff,theDaemonofHatredthoughthewouldtrytoinfluenceSantaClaus.Sothenextdayheenteredthebusyworkshopandsaid:“Goodmorning,Santa!Ihavebadnewsforyou.〃“Thenrunaway,likeagoodfellow,answeredSantaClaus."Badnewsissomethingthatshouldbekeptsecretandnevertold.〃“Youcannotescapethis,however,/zdeclaredtheDaemon;"forintheworldareagoodmanywhodonotbelieveinSantaClaus,andtheseyouareboundtohatebitterly,sincetheyhavesowrongedyou.〃“Stuffandrubbish!z/criedSanta.“Andthereareotherswhoresentyourmakingchildrenhappyandwhosneeratyouandcallyouafoolisholdrattlepate!Youarequiterighttohatesuchbaseslanderers,andyououghttoberevengeduponthemfortheirevilwords.〃“ButIdon'thate'em!”exclaimedSantaClauspositively."Suchpeopledomenorealharm,butmerelyrenderthemselvesandtheirchildrenunhappy.Poorthings!I'dmuchratherhelpthemanydaythaninjurethem.〃Indeed,theDaemonscouldnottemptoldSantaClausinanyway.Onthecontrary,hewasshrewdenoughtoseethattheirobjectinvisitinghimwastomakemischiefandtrouble,andhischeerylaughterdisconcertedtheevilonesandshowedtothemthefollyofsuchanundertaking.Sotheyabandonedhoneyedwordsanddeterminedtouseforce.ItwaswellknownthatnoharmcancometoSantaClauswhileheisintheLaughingValley,forthefairies,andryls,andknocksallprotecthim.ButonChristmasEvehedriveshisreindeeroutintothebigworld,carryingasleighloadoftoysandprettygiftstothechildren;andthiswasthetimeandtheoccasionwhenhisenemieshadthebestchancetoinjurehim.SotheDaemonslaidtheirplansandawaitedthearrivalofChristmasEve.Themoonshonebigandwhiteinthesky,andthesnowlaycrispandsparklingonthegroundasSantaClauscrackedhiswhipandspedawayoutoftheValleyintothegreatworldbeyond.Theroomysleighwaspackedfullwithhugesacksoftoys,andasthereindeerdashedonwardourjollyoldSantalaughedandwhistledandsangforveryjoy.Forinallhismerrylifethiswastheonedayintheyearwhenhewashappiest一thedayhelovinglybestowedthetreasuresofhisworkshopuponthe1ittlechildren.Itwouldbeabusynightforhim,hewellknew.Ashewhistledandshoutedandcrackedhiswhipagain,hereviewedinmindallthetownsandcitiesandfarmhouseswherehewasexpected,andfiguredthathehadjustenoughpresentstogoaroundandmakeeverychildhappy.Thereindeerknewexactlywhatwasexpectedofthem,anddashedalongsoswiftlythattheirfeetscarcelyseemedtotouchthesnow-coveredground.Suddenlyastrangethinghappened:aropeshotthroughthemoonlightandabignoosethatwasintheendofitsettledoverthearmsandbodyofSantaClausanddrewtight.Beforehecouldresistorevencryouthewasjerkedfromtheseatofthesleighandtumbledheadforemostintoasnowbank,whilethereindeerrushedonwardwiththeloadoftoysandcarrieditquicklyoutofsightandsound.SuchasurprisingexperienceconfusedoldSantaforamoment,andwhenhehadcollectedhissenseshefoundthatthewickedDaemonshadpulledhimfromthesnowdriftandboundhimtightlywithmanycoilsofthestoutrope.AndthentheycarriedthekidnappedSantaCiausawaytotheirmountain,wheretheythrusttheprisonerintoasecretcaveandchainedhimtotherockywallsothathecouldnotescape.〃Ha,ha!〃laughedtheDaemons,rubbingtheirhandstogetherwithcruelglee.〃Whatwillthechildrendonow?HowtheywillcryandscoldandstormwhentheyfindtherearenotoysintheirstockingsandnogiftsontheirChristmastrees!Andwhatalotofpunishmenttheywillreceivefromtheirparents,andhowtheywillflocktoourCavesofSelfishness,andEnvy,andHatred,andMalice!Wehavedoneamightycleverthing,weDaemonsoftheCaves!”NowitsochancedthatonthisChristmasEvethegoodSantaClaushadtakenwithhiminhissleighNutertheRyl,PetertheKnook,KilterthePixie,andasmallfairynamedWisk一hisfourfavoriteassistants.Theselittlepeoplehehadoftenfoundveryusefulinhelpinghimtodistributehisgiftstothechildren,andwhentheirmasterwassosuddenlydraggedfromthesleightheywereallsnuglytuckedunderneaththeseat,wherethesharpwindcouldnotreachthem.ThetinyimmortalsknewnothingofthecaptureofSantaClausunti1sometimeafterhehaddisappeared.Butfinallytheymissedhischeeryvoice,andastheirmasteralwayssangorwhistledonhisjourneys,thesilencewarnedthemthatsomethingwaswrong.LittleWiskstuckouthisheadfromunderneaththeseatandfoundSantaClausgoneandnoonetodirecttheflightofthereindeer.〃Whoa!〃hecalledout,andthedeerobedientlyslackenedspeedandcametoahalt.PeterandNuterandKilteralljumpedupontheseatandlookedbackoverthetrackmadebythesleigh.ButSantaClaushadbeenleftmilesandmilesbehind.z,Whatshallwedo?〃askedWiskanxiously,allthemirthandmischiefbanishedfromhisweefacebythisgreatcalamity.〃Wemustgobackatonceandfindourmaster,zzsaidNutertheRyl,whothoughtandspokewithmuchdeliberation.〃No,no!〃exclaimedPetertheKnook,who,crossandcrabbedthoughhewas,mightalwaysbedependeduponinanemergency.wedelay,orgoback,therewillnotbetimetogetthetoystothechildrenbeforemorning;andthatwouldgrieveSantaClausmorethananythingelse.〃〃Itiscertainthatsomewickedcreatureshavecapturedhim,〃addedKilterthoughtfully,“andtheirobjectmustbetomakethechildrenunhappy.SoourfirstdutyistogetthetoysdistributedascarefullyasifSantaClauswerehimselfpresent.Afterwardwecansearchforourmasterandeasilysecurehisfreedom./zThisseemedsuchgoodandsensibleadvicethattheothersatonceresolvedtoadoptit.SoPetertheKnookcalledtothereindeer,andthefaithfulanimalsagainsprangforwardanddashedoverhillandvalley,throughforestandplain,untiltheycametothehouseswhereinchildrenlaysleepinganddreamingoftheprettygiftstheywouldfindonChristmasmorning.Thelittleimmortalshadsetthemselvesadifficulttask;foralthoughtheyhadassistedSantaClausonmanyofhisjourneys,theirmasterhadalwaysdirectedandguidedthemandtoldthemexactlywhathewishedthemtodo.Butnowtheyhadtodistributethetoysaccordingtotheirownjudgment,andtheydidnotunderstandchildrenaswellasdidoldSanta.Soitisnowondertheymadesomelaughableerrors.MamieBrown,whowantedadoll,gotadruminstead;andadrumisofnousetoagirlwholovesdolls.AndCharlieSmith,whodelightstorompandplayoutofdoors,andwhowantedsomenewrubberbootstokeephisfeetdry,receivedasewingboxfilledwithcoloredworstedsandthreadsandneedles,whichmadehimsoprovokedthathethoughtlesslycalledourdearSantaClausafraud.HadtherebeenmanysuchmistakestheDaemonswou1dhaveaccomplishedtheirevilpurposeandmadethechildrenunhappy.ButthelittlefriendsoftheabsentSantaClauslaboredfaithfullyandintelligentlytocarryouttheirmaster'sideas,andtheymadefewererrorsthanmightbeexpectedundersuchunusualcircumstances.And,althoughtheyworkedasswiftlyaspossible,dayhadbeguntobreakbeforethetoysandotherpresentswerealldistributed;soforthefirsttimeinmanyyearsthereindeertrottedintotheLaughingValley,ontheirreturn,inbroaddaylight,withthebrilliantsunpeepingovertheedgeoftheforesttoprovetheywerefarbehindtheiraccustomedhours.Havingputthedeerinthestable,thelittlefolkbegantowonderhowtheymightrescuetheirmaster;andtheyrealizedtheymustdiscover,firstofall,whathadhappenedtohimandwherehewas.SoWisktheFairytransportedhimselftotheboweroftheFairyQueen,whichwaslocateddeepintheheartoftheForestofBurzee;andoncethere,itdidnottakehimlongtofindoutallaboutthenaughtyDaemonsandhowtheyhadkidnappedthegoodSantaClaustopreventhismakingchildrenhappy.TheFairyQueenalsopromisedherassistance,andthen,fortifiedbythispowerfulsupport,WiskflewbacktowhereNuterandPeterandKilterawaitedhim,andthefourcounseledtogetherandlaidplanstorescuetheirmasterfromhisenemies.ItispossiblethatSantaClauswasnotasmerryasusualduringthenightthatsucceededhiscapture.Foralthoughhehadfaithinthejudgmentofhislittlefriendshecouldnotavoidacertainamountofworry,andananxiouslookwouldcreepattimesintohiskindoldeyesashethoughtofthedisappointmentthatmightawaithisdearlittlechildren.AndtheDaemons,whoguardedhimbyturns,oneafteranother,didnotneglecttotaunthimwithcontemptuouswordsinhishelplesscondition.WhenChristmasDaydawnedtheDaemonofMalicewasguardingtheprisoner,andhistonguewassharperthanthatofanyoftheothers.“Thechildrenarewakingup,Santa!,zhecried."Theyarewakinguptofindtheirstockingsempty!Ho,ho!Howtheywillquarrel,andwail,andstamptheirfeetinanger!Ourcaveswillbefulltoday,oldSanta!Ourcavesaresuretobefull!,zButtothis,astootherliketaunts,SantaClausanswerednothing.Hewasmuchgrievedbyhiscapture,itistrue;buthiscouragedidnotforsakehim.And,findingthattheprisonerwouldnotreplytohisjeers,theDaemonofMalicepresentlywentaway,andsenttheDaemonofRepentancetotakehisplace.Thislastpersonagewasnotsodisagreeableastheothers.Hehadgentleandrefinedfeatures,andhisvoicewassoftandpleasantintone.〃MybrotherDaemonsdonottrustmeovermuch,z/saidhe,asheenteredthecavern;“butitismorning,now,andthemischiefisdone.Youcannotvisitthechildrenagainforanotheryear.〃“Thatistrue,“answeredSantaClaus,almostcheerfully;“ChristmasEveispast,andforthefirsttimeincenturiesIhavenotvisitedmychildren./z“Thelittleoneswillbegreatlydisappointed,z/murmuredtheDaemonofRepentance,almostregretfully;"butthatcannotbehelpednow.Theirgriefislikelytomakethechildrenselfishandenviousandhateful,andiftheycometotheCavesoftheDaemonstodayIshallgetachancetoleadsomeofthemtomyCaveofRepentan〃ce.〃Doyouneverrepent,yourself?”askedSantaClaus,curiously.〃0h,yes,indeed,〃answeredtheDaemon.〃IamevennowrepentingthatIassistedinyourcapture.Ofcourseitistoolatetoremedytheevilthathasbeendone;butrepentance,youknow,cancomeonlyafteranevilthoughtordeed,forinthebeginningthereisnothingtorepentof.〃〃SoIunderstand,z/saidSantaClaus."Thosewhoavoidevilneednevervisityourcave.〃〃Asarule,thatistrue,“repliedtheDaemon;〃yetyou,whohavedonenoevil,areabouttovisitmycaveatonce;fortoprovethatIsincerelyregretmyshareinyourcaptureIamgoingtopermityoutoescape.〃Thisspeechgreatlysurprisedtheprisoner,untilhereflectedthatitwasjustwhatmightbeexpectedoftheDaemonofRepentance.ThefellowatoncebusiedhimselfuntyingtheknotsthatboundSantaClausandunlockingthechainsthatfastenedhimtothewall.ThenheledthewaythroughalongtunneluntiltheybothemergedintheCaveofRepentance.〃Ihopeyouwillforgiveme,〃saidtheDaemonpleadingly.〃Iamnotreallyabadperson,youknow;andIbelieveIaccomplishagreatdealofgoodintheworld.〃Withthisheopenedabackdoorthatletinafloodofsunshine,andSantaClaussniffedthefreshairgratefully.〃Ibearnomalice,z/saidhetotheDaemon,inagentlevoice;"andIamsuretheworldwouldbeadrearyplacewithoutyou.So,goodmorning,andaMerryChristmastoyou!”Withthesewordshesteppedouttogreetthebrightmorning,andamomentlaterhewastrudgingalong,whistlingsoftlytohimself,onhiswaytohishomeintheLaughingValley.Marchingoverthesnowtowardthemountainwasavastarmy,madeupofthemostcuriouscreaturesimaginable.Therewerenumberlessknocksfromtheforest,asroughandcrookedinappearanceasthegnarledbranchesofthetreestheyministeredto.Andthereweredaintyrylsfromthefields,eachonebearingtheemblemoftheflowerorplantitguarded.Behindtheseweremanyranksofpixies,gnomesandnymphs,andintherearathousandbeautifulfairiesfloatedalongingorgeousarray.ThiswonderfularmywasledbyWisk,Peter,Nuter,andKilter,whohadassembledittorescueSantaClausfromcaptivityandtopunishtheDaemonswhohaddaredtotakehimawayfromhisbelovedchildren.And,althoughtheylookedsobrightandpeaceful,thelittleimmortalswerearmedwithpowersthatwouldbeveryterribletothosewhohadincurredtheiranger.WoetotheDaemonsoftheCavesifth
溫馨提示
- 1. 本站所有資源如無特殊說明,都需要本地電腦安裝OFFICE2007和PDF閱讀器。圖紙軟件為CAD,CAXA,PROE,UG,SolidWorks等.壓縮文件請下載最新的WinRAR軟件解壓。
- 2. 本站的文檔不包含任何第三方提供的附件圖紙等,如果需要附件,請聯(lián)系上傳者。文件的所有權(quán)益歸上傳用戶所有。
- 3. 本站RAR壓縮包中若帶圖紙,網(wǎng)頁內(nèi)容里面會有圖紙預(yù)覽,若沒有圖紙預(yù)覽就沒有圖紙。
- 4. 未經(jīng)權(quán)益所有人同意不得將文件中的內(nèi)容挪作商業(yè)或盈利用途。
- 5. 人人文庫網(wǎng)僅提供信息存儲空間,僅對用戶上傳內(nèi)容的表現(xiàn)方式做保護(hù)處理,對用戶上傳分享的文檔內(nèi)容本身不做任何修改或編輯,并不能對任何下載內(nèi)容負(fù)責(zé)。
- 6. 下載文件中如有侵權(quán)或不適當(dāng)內(nèi)容,請與我們聯(lián)系,我們立即糾正。
- 7. 本站不保證下載資源的準(zhǔn)確性、安全性和完整性, 同時也不承擔(dān)用戶因使用這些下載資源對自己和他人造成任何形式的傷害或損失。
最新文檔
- 【新】2024年高考地理一輪復(fù)習(xí)-第1.2講-地球的宇宙環(huán)境和地球的圈層結(jié)構(gòu)(測)
- 新解讀《GB 51236-2017民用機場航站樓設(shè)計防火規(guī)范 》
- 24.1.4 圓周角 人教版數(shù)學(xué)九年級上冊同步練習(xí)(含答案)
- 2025屆山西省長治市高三上學(xué)期9月質(zhì)量監(jiān)測語文試題(解析版)
- 2024-2025學(xué)年廣東省東莞市虎門鎮(zhèn)二年級(上)第一次月考數(shù)學(xué)試卷
- 股權(quán)結(jié)構(gòu)對公司財務(wù)預(yù)測準(zhǔn)確性的影響
- 江蘇省南京市江寧區(qū)重點達(dá)標(biāo)名校2024屆中考數(shù)學(xué)最后沖刺模擬試卷含解析
- 心理健康專題課件25心理健康
- 2023年廣西工商技師學(xué)院招聘工作人員考試試題及答案
- 2023年都江堰市事業(yè)單位引進(jìn)筆試真題
- 碳酸鈉與碳酸氫鈉教案教學(xué)設(shè)計
- 高中研究性學(xué)習(xí)課題結(jié)題報告
- 學(xué)生宿舍管理系統(tǒng)設(shè)計說明書
- 管道安全檢查表
- 壞疽性膿皮病
- 綠色卡通風(fēng)學(xué)校心理健康委員培訓(xùn)PPT
- 一節(jié)失控的衛(wèi)生課教材
- 多鄰國單詞填空介詞連詞復(fù)習(xí)
- 項目管理學(xué)課件戚安邦全
- 關(guān)注心理健康主題班會
- 中國當(dāng)代文學(xué)七十年知到章節(jié)答案智慧樹2023年湘潭大學(xué)
評論
0/150
提交評論