Comic Geekspeak Presents

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum.

Part 3, Old Age.

Chapter 1 The Mantle of Immortality.

And now we come to a turning point in the career of Santa Claus,

and it is my duty to relate the most remarkable circumstance that has happened since the world

began or mankind was created. We have followed the life of Clause from the time he was found a helpless infant by the wood nymphne seal and reared to manhood in the great forest of Burzzi.

And we know how he began to make toys for children, and how, with the assistance and goodwill of the immortals, he was able to distribute them to the little ones throughout the world. For many years he carried on this noble work,

for the simple, hard-working life he led gave him perfect health and strength.

And doubtless a man can live longer in the beautiful laughing valley,

where there are no cares and everything is peaceful and merry than in any other part of the world.

But when many years had rolled away, Santa Claus grew old. The long beard of golden brown that

once covered his cheeks and chin gradually became gray and finally turned to pure white. His hair was white too, and there were

wrinkles at the corners of his eyes which showed plainly when he laughed. He had never been a very

tall man, and now he became fat and waddled very much like a duck when he walked. But in spite of these things, he remained as

lively as ever and was just as jolly and gay, and his kind eyes sparkled as brightly as they did

that first day when he came to the Laughing Valley. Yet a time is sure to come when every mortal

who has grown old and lived his life is required to leave this world for another.

So it is no wonder that, after Santa Claus had driven his reindeer on many and many a Christmas Eve,

those staunch friends finally whispered among themselves that they had probably drawn his sledge for the last time.

Then all the forest of Burzee became sad, and all the laughing valley was hushed,

for every living thing that had known Claus had used to love him,

...