2.  When the World Grew Old

  The next morning, when Santa Claus opened 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 his beard remained the color of snow and that
wrinkles still lingered in the corners of his bright eyes, old
Santa Claus felt as brisk and merry as a boy of sixteen, and
was soon whistling contentedly as he busied himself fashioning
new toys.

  Then Ak came to him and told of the Mantle of Immortality and
how Claus had won it through his love for little children.

  It made old Santa look grave for a moment to think he had been
so favored; but it 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 a 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 or rich,
should hereafter go without a Christmas gift if he could
manage to supply 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
Immortality. And the task of supplying cheering words,
sympathy and pretty playthings to all the young of his race
did not seem a difficult undertaking at all.  But every year
more and more children were born into the world, and these,
when they grew up, began spreading slowly over all the face of
the earth, seeking new homes; so that Santa Claus found each
year that his journeys 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 fellow immortals how his
work might keep pace with the increasing number of children
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 Knook Prince gave him Peter, who was more
crooked 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 does
Santa Claus himself.

  With these people to help make the toys and to keep his house
in order and to look after the sledge and the harness, Santa
Claus found it much easier to prepare his yearly load of
gifts, and his days began to follow one another smoothly and
pleasantly.

  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 people 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 they 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; 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 but guarded the forests until men needed them for their
use.  I am glad my strong trees can furnish shelter for men's
weak bodies, and warm them through the cold winters.  But I
hope they will not cut down all the trees, for mankind needs
the shelter of the woods in summer as much as the warmth of
blazing logs in winter.  And, however crowded the world may
grow, I do not think men will ever come to Burzee, nor to the
Great Black Forest, nor to the wooded wilderness of Braz;
unless they seek their shades for pleasure and not to destroy
their giant trees."

  By and by people made ships from the tree-trunks and crossed
over oceans and built cities in far lands; but the oceans made
little difference to the journeys of Santa Claus.  His
reindeer sped over the waters as swiftly as over land, and his
sledge headed from east to west and followed in the wake of
the sun.  So that as the earth rolled slowly over Santa Claus
had all of twenty-four hours to encircle it each Christmas
Eve, and the speedy reindeer enjoyed these wonderful journeys
more and more.

  So year after year, and generation after generation, and
century after century, the world grew older and the people
became more numerous and the labors of Santa Claus steadily
increased.  The fame of his good deeds spread to every
household where children dwelt.  And all the little ones loved
him dearly; and the fathers and mothers honored him for the
happiness he had given them when they too were young; and the
aged grandsires and granddames remembered him with tender
gratitude and blessed his name.