The Journey Of Santa Claus

NZ Truth, Issue 943, 22 December 1923, Page 7

The Journey Of Santa Claus

DAYS THAT HAVE FLOWN.

It is rather sad to realise that one ia too old to hang up- a Chrlstmae stocking. The old secret of Santa Claus haa been lost with the passing of a few swift years. To wander about the shops, to finger the toys, to think of dolls, rapturous Christmas Eve when one slept, deliciously sure of finding something m the morning. And the delirious heart- thumping as one awakened nt dawn to rush and find a big, bulky stocking.

And then the proud boast to a household: "I saw him. He came down the chimney, and he had a big beard."

And now there Is no one to put anything m our stockings— -it is we who fill the children's. And our pleasures are nothing nt the thought of cold, formal gifts, posted or laid beßlde tho breakfast plate. We are worried weeks beforehand at exorbitant prices. Relatives and friends spring up like mushrooms, and we owe each of them something.

Christmas does not seem Christmas In the tropics. One wants snow, holly, mistletoe, and waits singing at the window. And stories of the great Yule logs burned m fireplaces make us long for many different things.

I like to think that the old story is true. The city ot Bethlehem, with its narrow streets, futt of people, In quaint, flowing costumes— -the romance and strangeness of an age long since dead. I like to think of Mary and her baby son ln the manger, and the lonely shepherds watching the great star In the clear skies, and the raystlo dreaming that fell upon them as they saw the angels and heard their glorious singing. It is always beautiful.

And I love to think of busy fairies taking notes of good and bad girls and boys during the year. The marvellous preparation of toys, and hundreds of sprites loading up the sledges. And then, through the clear, cool night, Santa Claus Is off, his reindeer prancing merrily through the clouds. Orie knows that thousands of Uttle hearts are tumultously beating on Christmas Eve. One knows that mahy children are dying of starvation through world hatred, and that far too many baby hands will hold no toy. or even bread, as a gift from Santa Claus.