9. "Santa Claus!"

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus

by L. Frank Baum

Claus thought that none of the children would ever know where the
toys came from which they found by their bedsides when they wakened
the following morning. But kindly deeds are sure to bring fame, and
fame has many wings to carry its tidings into far lands; so for miles
and miles in every direction people were talking of Claus and his
wonderful gifts to children. The sweet generousness of his work
caused a few selfish folk to sneer, but even these were forced to
admit their respect for a man so gentle-natured that he loved to
devote his life to pleasing the helpless little ones of his race.

Therefore the inhabitants of every city and village had been
eagerly watching the coming of Claus, and remarkable stories of his
beautiful playthings were told the children to keep them patient and
contented.

When, on the morning following the first trip of Claus with his
deer, the little ones came running to their parents with the pretty
toys they had found, and asked from whence they came, they was but
one reply to the question.

"The good Claus must have been here, my darlings; for his are
the only toys in all the world!"

"But how did he get in?" asked the children.

At this the fathers shook their heads, being themselves unable
to understand how Claus had gained admittance to their homes; but the
mothers, watching the glad faces of their dear ones, whispered that
the good Claus was no mortal man but assuredly a Saint, and they
piously blessed his name for the happiness he had bestowed upon their
children.

"A Saint," said one, with bowed head, "has no need to unlock
doors if it pleases him to enter our homes."

And, afterward, when a child was naughty or disobedient, its
mother would say:

"You must pray to the good Santa Claus for forgiveness. He does
not like naughty children, and, unless you repent, he will bring you
no more pretty toys."

But Santa Claus himself would not have approved this speech. He
brought toys to the children because they were little and helpless,
and because he loved them. He knew that the best of children were
sometimes naughty, and that the naughty ones were often good. It is
the way with children, the world over, and he would not have changed
their natures had he possessed the power to do so.

And that is how our Claus became Santa Claus. It is possible
for any man, by good deeds, to enshrine himself as a Saint in the
hearts of the people.