Thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10 thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood. Virginia missed Christmas that year and perhaps for the rest of her life. She died in 1971, but often told people the SUN editorial was a high point and inspiration in her life. To be sure, his message has been preached far and wide through the years. The SUN reran the editorial annually until it went out of business in 1949.
People treat it like gospel.
It has been reprinted by thousands of newspapers and magazines around the world. Not only that, but from 1897 to 1949 it was translated into at least 20 languages and after that, many more followed.