e,--the same you wore when I
fetched you a bride from the East!"

"It is the same," said Faia, "yet see how my kisses and my prayers
have worn it away; for many, many times in these years, dear Norss,
have I pressed it to my lips and breathed your name upon it. See
now--see what a beauteous light its shadow makes upon your aged face!"

The sunbeams, indeed, streaming through the window at that moment,
cast the shadow of the symbol on old Norss's brow. Norss felt a
glorious warmth suffuse him, his heart leaped with joy, and he
stretched out his arms and fell about Faia's neck, and kissed the
symbol and acknowledged it. Then likewise did Faia; and suddenly the
place was filled with a wondrous brightness and with strange music,
and never thereafter were Norss and Faia beholden of men.

Until late that night Claus toiled at his forge; for it was a busy
season with him, and he had many, many curious and beauteous things to
make for the little children in the country round about. The colored
flames leaped singing from his forge, so that the Northern sky seemed
to be lighted by a thousand rainbows; but above all this voiceful
glory beamed the Star, bright, beautiful, serene.

Coming late to the cabin in the fir grove, Claus wondered that no sign
of his father or of his mother was to be seen. "Father--mother!" he
cried, but he received no answer. Just then the Star cast its golden
gleam through the latticed window, and this strange, holy light fell
and rested upon the symbol of the cross that lay upon the floor.
Seeing it, Claus stooped and picked it up, and kissing it reverently,
he cried: "Dear talisman, be thou my inspiration evermore; and
wheresoever thy blessed influence is felt, there also let my works be
known henceforth forever!"

No sooner had he said these words than Claus felt the gift of
immortality bestowed upon him; and in that moment, too, there came to
him a knowledge that his parents' prayer had been answered, and that
Norss and Faia would live in him through all time.

And lo! to that place and in that hour came all the people of
Mist-Land and of Dream-Land to declare allegiance to him: yes, the
elves, the fairies, the pixies,--all came to Claus, prepared to do his
bidding. Joyously they capered about him, and merrily they sang.

"Now haste ye all," cried Claus,--"haste ye all to your homes and
bring to my workshop the best ye have. Search, little hill-people,
deep in the bowels of the earth for finest