The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-06

Herbert Kaufman Tn the WOlnau 5 Noiiu. TIE was almost 2o0O years old when he died-the merriest, kindiest X J old man that ever lived in the Land of Dreams. Up wonder finder the arch of the April rain- bow. just beyond the kingdom of the Gnomes, he used to make wax dolls and Noah's arks and shiny paper chains and Christmas tree angels with tinsei hair and robes of diamond dust.
 There was a nut grove in his backyard And a pepperment candy tree and an orange bush and a sugar plum plant in his garden.
 And he had eight reindeer that could outrun the north wind.
 For years and years he was your gen tlest and dearest friend. He danced into your dreams just about the time of the first snowflake. The north wind used to rattle your windows and, skipping branch against the glass, called down through the chimney to say that Santa Claus again was roaming the world, read ing hopes in the hearts of childhood You never really saw him or heard him like you could see father or hear voice that said things aloud, but even if you couldn't explain just why and how. you felt sure that his eyes twinkled and danced and that his beard was as soft as silk floss and that his hair glis- tened with the same silver that lights the moonshine.
 And there never was pppin in the orchard as ruddy or as fat as his cheeks. | His memory was always source or wonder to you-not that it was always accurate-that wasn't the point-but that he could keep you in mind among the | billions and billions of boys and girls | whom he knew always astounded you. | He never forgot anyone, and if he did once in a while bring you q present that some lasse 1000 miles away had selected you realized what tremendous respon- sibility he carried and made allowances. | Anyhow, after the first little frown or | disappointment. you were really as happy with the rocking chair as you thought l you would be with a tin kitchen.f 1 He was very fat-such roly-poly that the mystery of the chimney hole was never ceasing source of speculation.
 You must have measured it 1000 times without ever comprehending how he could come down such little pipe. until one night you reasoned that he was made of India rubber and then it was perfectly logical how he could squeeze through. | Mother and he were old acquaintances and he trusted her with his address and l so she knew where to send your letters once you begged the mail man to show vou where he lived. He was very polite and took great pains to explain that the government wouldn't let him divulge any of the confidential secrets of its custom CTS.
 All the grown ups were his friends hut not one of them ever tattled on him
 How you did want to meet him!
 oh, If you had only remembered about Pandora and what happened to her whef she opened the box of secrets!
 you didn't mean to harm him-you just
 vearned to talk to him once and let hin know how much you appreciated his love and to explain about next. years doll
 who should have the name of Mary Am
 Elizabeth and wear a pink taffeta basqu,
 and sky blue petticoat with panniel and four lace trimmed flounces.
 one year you forgot to remember ant
 fell asleep and you didn't even hear thu
 reindeer tramping on the roof.
 The next Christmas mother locked tn,
 narlor door and the crack wasn't wid,
 enough to see through.
 And then came the fatal eve-the nigh
 of the great crme-the night when yo,
 killed him.
 ! You didn't know that you killed him