Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-20
CHAPTER II.
When the World Grew Old.

Inc next morning when Santa Claus oper-
ed his eyes and gazed around the familiar
room, which he had feared he might never
see again, he was astonished to find his old
strength renewed and to feel the red blood
Of perfect health coursing through his
veins He sprang from his bed and stood
where the bright sunshine came in through
his window and flooded him with its merry,
dancing rays. He did not then understand
what had happened to restore to him the
vigor Of youth. but in spite of the fact that
MS beard remained the color of snow and
that wrinkles still fingered in the cor
ners OF his bright eyes. old Santa Claus
felt as brisk and merry as a bow of six-
teen, and was soon whistling contentedIy
as he busted himself fashioning new TOYS.
IheE AK came to him and told of the
Mantle OF Immortality and how Claus had
won 1t through his love for little children
1t made old Santa look grave for mo-
ment to think he had been so favored. but
1t also made him glad to realize that now
he need never fear being parted from his
dear ones. At once he began preparations
for making remarkable assortment of
pretty and amusing playthings and In
larger quantities than ever before; for now
that he might always devote himself to this
work he decided that no child in the world
poor rich, should hereafter go without a
Christmas'gift If he could manage to sup
ply It.
The world was new in the days when dear
old Santa Claus first began toy-making and
won, by his loving deeds the Mantle of I'm
mortality. And the task of supplying, cheer
Ing words, sympathy and pretty playthings
TO all the young of his race did not seem a
difficult undertaking at all But every wear
more and more children were born into the
world, and these, when they grew up be-
gan spreading slowly over all the face Of
the earth, seeking new homes; so that
Santa Claus found each year that his iour-
neys must extend farther and farther from
the Laughing Valley, and that the packs of
toys must be made larger and ever larger
So at length he took counsel with his fell
low immortalS how his work might keen
pace with the increasing number of chill
dren that none might be neglected. And the
immortals were so greatly interested in his
labors that they gladly rendered him their
assistance. AK gave him his man Kilter
the silent and swift" And the KNOCK
Prince gave him Peter, who was more crook
ed and less surly than any of his brothers
And the Ryl PRINCE gave him Nuter. the
sweetest tempered Ryl ever known. And the
Fairy Queen gave him Wisk, that tiny,
mischievous but lovable fairy, who knows
today almost as many children as he does
Santa Claus himself.
With these people to HELM make the tovs
and to keep his house in order and to look
after the sledge and the harness, Santa
Claus found 1t much easier to prepare his
yearly load of gifts, and his days began to
| follow one another smoothly and pleas
| antly.
Yet after a few generations his worries
were renewed, for it was remarkable how
| the number of people continued to grow
| and how many more children there were
| every year to be served. When the peo-
| pie filled all the cities and lands of one
| country they wandered into another part
| OF the world; and the men cut down the
| trees In many Of the great forests that had
| been ruled by Ak, and with the wood thew
| built new cities, and where the forests had
| been were fields of grain and herds OF
| browsing cattle.
You might think the Master Woodsman
| would rebel at the loss of his forests; bu,
| not so. The wisdom Of Ak was mighty and
| far seeing.
| THE world was made for men," said he
| to Santa Claus. land 1 have but guarded
| the forests until men needed them for theil
| use. l am glad my strong trees can fur.
| nish shelter for mems weak bodies, and
| warm them through the cold winters. But
l hope they will not cut down all the trees
| for mankind needs the shelter of the wood.
| In summer as much as the warmth of blaz
| ing logs In winter And, however crowded
the world may grow, I do not think mer
| Will ever come to Burzee, nor to the Great
| Black Forest, nor to the wooded wilderness
| Of Braz; unless they seek their shades fol
pleasure and not to destroy their gian
| trees"
BY and by people made ships from thu
tree trunks and crossed over oceans ant
built cities in far lands; but the oceans
made little difference to the journeys o