2. When the World Grew Old
The next morning, when Santa Claus opened his eyes and gazed around thefamiliar room, which he had feared he might never see again, he wasastonished to find his old strength renewed and to feel the red bloodof perfect health coursing through his veins. He sprang from his bedand stood where the bright sunshine came in through his window andflooded him with its merry, dancing rays. He did not then understandwhat had happened to restore to him the vigor of youth, but in spite ofthe fact that his beard remained the color of snow and that wrinklesstill lingered in the corners of his bright eyes, old Santa Claus feltas brisk and merry as a boy of sixteen, and was soon whistlingcontentedly as he busied himself fashioning new toys.
Then Ak came to him and told of the Mantle of Immortality and how Claushad won it through his love for little children.
It made old Santa look grave for a moment to think he had been sofavored; but it also made him glad to realize that now he need neverfear being parted from his dear ones. At once he began preparationsfor making a remarkable assortment of pretty and amusing playthings,and in larger quantities than ever before; for now that he might alwaysdevote himself to this work he decided that no child in the world, pooror rich, should hereafter go without a Christmas gift if he couldmanage to supply it.
The world was new in the days when dear old Santa Claus first begantoy-making and won, by his loving deeds, the Mantle of Immortality.And the task of supplying cheering words, sympathy and prettyplaythings to all the young of his race did not seem a difficultundertaking at all. But every year more and more children were borninto the world, and these, when they grew up, began spreading slowlyover all the face of the earth, seeking new homes; so that Santa Clausfound each year that his journeys must extend farther and farther fromthe Laughing Valley, and that the packs of toys must be made larger andever larger.
So at length he took counsel with his fellow immortals how his workmight keep pace with the increasing number of children that none mightbe neglected. And the immortals were so greatly interested in hislabors that they gladly rendered him their assistance. Ak gave him hisman Kilter, "the silent and swift." And the Knook Prince gave himPeter, who was more crooked and less surly than any of his brothers.And the Ryl Prince gave him Nuter, the sweetest tempered Ryl everknown. And the Fairy Queen gave him Wisk, that tiny, mischievous butlovable Fairy who knows today almost as many children as does SantaClaus himself.
With these people to help make the toys and to keep his house in orderand to look after the sledge and the harness, Santa Claus found it mucheasier to prepare his yearly load of gifts, and his days began tofollow one another smoothly and pleasantly.
Yet after a few generations his worries were renewed, for it wasremarkable how the number of people continued to grow, and how manymore children there were every year to be served. When the peoplefilled all the cities and lands of one country they wandered intoanother part of the world; and the men cut down the trees in many ofthe great forests that had been ruled by Ak, and with the wood theybuilt new cities, and where the forests had been were fields of grainand herds of browsing cattle.
You might think the Master Woodsman would rebel at the loss of hisforests; but not so. The wisdom of Ak was mighty and farseeing.
"The world was made for men," said he to Santa Claus, "and I have butguarded the forests until men needed them for their use. I am glad mystrong trees can furnish shelter for men's weak bodies, and warm themthrough the cold winters. But I hope they will not cut down all thetrees, for mankind needs the shelter of the woods in summer as much asthe warmth of blazing logs in winter. And, however crowded the worldmay grow, I do not think men will ever come to Burzee, nor to the GreatBlack Forest, nor to the wooded wilderness of Braz; unless they seektheir shades for pleasure and not to destroy their giant trees."
By and by people made ships from the tree-trunks and crossed overoceans and built cities in far lands; but the oceans made littledifference to the journeys of Santa Claus. His reindeer sped over thewaters as swiftly as over land, and his sledge headed from east to westand followed in the wake of the sun. So that as the earth rolledslowly over Santa Claus had all of twenty-four hours to encircle iteach Christmas Eve, and the speedy reindeer enjoyed these wonderfuljourneys more and more.
So year after year, and generation after generation, and century aftercentury, the world grew older and the people became more numerous andthe labors of Santa Claus steadily increased. The fame of his gooddeeds spread to every household where children dwelt. And all thelittle ones loved him dearly; and the fathers and mothers honored himfor the happiness he had given them when they too were young; and theaged grandsires and granddames remembered him with tender gratitude andblessed his name.