Join Host Bree Carlile as she reads the twentieth chapter of The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus.

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Today we'll be continuing the life and Adventures of Santa Claus by El Frank Baum.

Old age One 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 that has happened since the world began or mankind was created.

We have followed the life of Claus from the time he was found a helpless infant by the wooden empty nestill and reared to manhood in the great forest of Burzi.

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, hardworking 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, though staunch friends finally whispered among themselves that they had probably drawn his sledge for the last time, then all the forest of Burzi became sad, and all the laughing valley was hushed.

For every living thing that had known Claus had used to love him, and brighten at the sound of his footsteps or the notes of his merry whistle.

No doubt the old man's strength was at last exhausted, for he made no more toys, but lay on his bed as in a dream.

The nymph in the SIL, she who had reared him and been his foster mother, was still youthful and strong and beautiful, and it seemed to her but a short time since this aged, grey bearded man had laid in her arms and smiled on her with his innocent baby lips.

And this has shown the difference between mortals and immortals.

It was fortunate that the great act came to the forest at this time, still sought him with troubled eyes and told him of the fate that threatened their friend claws.

At once the master became grave, and he leaned upon his axe and stoked his grizzled beard thoughtfully for many minutes.

Then suddenly he stood up straight and poised his powerful head with firm resolve and stretched out his great right arm as if determined on doing some mighty deed.

For a thought had come to him so grand in its conception that all the world might well bow before the master woodsman and honor his name forever.

It is well known that when the great AK once undertakes to do a thing, he never hesitates an instant.

Now he summoned his fleetest messengers and sent them in a flash to many parts of the earth.

And when they were gone, he turned to the anxiousness sill and comforted her, saying, be of good heart, my child.

Our friends still lives.

And now run to your queen and tell her that I have summoned a counsel of all the immortals of the world to meet with me here in Burzi this night.

If they obey and hearken unto my words, claus will drive his reindeer for countless ages yet to come.

At midnight there was a wondrous scene in the ancient forest of Burzi, where for the first time in many centuries the rulers of the immortals who inhabit the earth were gathered together.

There was the Queen of the Water Sprites, whose beautiful form was as clear as crystal, but continually dripped water on the bank of moss where she sat.

And beside her was the King of the Sleep Phase, who carried a wand from the end of which a fine dust fell all around so that no mortal could keep awake long enough to see him, as mortal eyes were sure to close in sleep as soon as the dust filled them.

And next to him sat the Gnome King, whose people inhabit all that region under the earth's surface where they guard the precious metals and the jewelstones that lie buried in rock and ore.

At his right hand stood the King of the Sound Imps, who had wings on his feet.

For his people are swift to carry all sounds that are made.

When they are busy.

They carry the sounds but short distances, for there are many of them.

But sometimes they speed with the sounds to places miles and miles away from where they are made.

The King of the Sound Imps had an anxious and careworn face, for most people have no consideration for his imps, and especially the boys and girls.

They could create many unnecessary sounds which the imps are obliged to carry when they might be better employed.

The next in the circle of immortals was the king of the wind demons.

Slender, Afraim, restless and uneasy at being confined to one place for even an hour.

Once in a while he would leave his place and circle around the glade.

And each time he did this the Fairy Queen was obliged to untangle the flowing locks of her golden hair and tuck them back of her pink ears.

But she did not complain, for it was not often that the King of the Wind Demons came into the heart of the forest.

After the Fairy Queen, whose home you know was an old Burzy, came the King of the Light Elves with his two princes, Flash and Twilight, at his back.

He never went anywhere without his princes, for they were so mischievous that he dared not let them wander alone.

Prince Flash bore a lightning bolt in his right hand and a horn of gunpowder in his left.

And his bright eyes roved constantly around as if he longed to use his blinding flashes.

Prince Twilight held a great snuffer in one hand and a big black cloak in the other.

And it is well known that unless Twilight is carefully watched, the snuffers or the cloak will throw everything into darkness.

And darkness is the greatest enemy.

The King of the Light Elves has in addition to the Immortals I have named, were the King of the Nooks, who had come from his home in the jungles of India and the King of the Reels, who lived among the gay flowers and luscious fruits of Valencia.

Sweet Queen Zerlin of the Woodnymphs completed the circle of immortals.

But in the center of the circle sat three others who possessed powers so great that all the kings and queens showed them reverence.

These were AK, the master woodsmen of the world who rules the forests and the orchards and the groves.

And Kern, the master husband men of the world who rules the grain fields and the meadows in the gardens and bow, the master mariner of the world who rules the seas and all the craft that float thereon.

And all other Immortals are more or less subject to these three.

When all had assembled, the Master Woodsman of the world stood up to address them, since he himself had summoned them to the council.

Very clearly he told them the story of Clause, beginning at the time when, as a babe he had been adopted a child of the forest, and telling of his noble and generous nature and his lifelong labors to make children happy.

And now, said ACK when he had won the love of the world, the spirit of Death is hovering over him.

Of all men who have inhabited the Earth, none other so well deserves immortality.

For such a life cannot be spared so long as there are children of mankind to miss him and to grieve over his loss.

We Immortals are the servants of the world, and to serve the world we were permitted in the beginning to exist.

But what one of us is more worthy of immortality than this man Claws, who so sweetly ministers to the little children?

He paused and glanced around the circle to find every Immortal listening to him eagerly and nodding approval.

Finally, the King of the Wind Demons, who had been whistling softly to himself, cried out what is your desire, oh AK?

To bestow upon Claws the mantle of immortality, said AAK boldly.

That this demand was wholly unexpected was proved by the immortal springing to their feet and looking into each other's face with dismay, and then upon act with wonder.

For it was a grave matter, this parting with the mantle of immortality.

The Queen of the Watersprite spoke in her low, clear voice and the words sounded like raindrops splashing upon a window pane.

In all the world there is but one mantle of immortality, she said.

The King of the Sound phase added it has existed since the beginning, and no mortal has ever dared to claim it.

And the Master Marina of the world arose and stretched his limb, saying only by the vote of every immortal can it be bestowed upon a mortal.

I know all this, answered AK quietly, but the mantle exists.

And if it was created, as you say, in the beginning, it was because the Supreme Master knew that some day it would be required.

Until now no mortal has deserved it.

But who among you dares denied the good Clause deserves it?

Will you not all vote to bestow it upon him?

They were silent, still looking upon one another questioningly.

Of what use is the mantle of immortality unless it is worn?

Demanded AK.

What will it profit any one of us to allow it to remain in its lonely shrine for all time to come?

Enough.

Cried the gnome King abruptly.

We will vote on the matter yes or no?

For my part, I say yes.

And I, said the Fairy Queen promptly, and AK rewarded her with a smile.

My people in Burzi tell me they have learned to love him.

Therefore I vote to give Claus the mantle, said the King of the Reels.

He is already a comrade of the nooks, announced the ancient King of that Band.

Let him have immortality.

Let him have it.

Let him have it.

Sighed the King of the Wind Demons.

Hay not?

Asked the king of the sleep phase.

He never disturbs the slumbers of my people.

Allow humanity.

Let the good Claws be immortal.

I do not object, said the King of the Sound EMPs.

Nor I, murmured the Queen of the water sprites.

If Claus does not receive the mantle, it is clear none others can ever claim it, remarked the King of the Light Elves.

So let us have done with the thing for all time.

The wooden emphs were first to adopt him, said Queens Erlyn of course I shall vote to make him immortal.

AC now turned to the master husband men of the world, who held up his right arm and said yes.

And the master Mariner of the world did likewise, after which AK, with sparkling eyes and smiling face, cried out I thank you, fellow immortals, for all have voted yes.

And so to our dear Claws shall fall the one mantle of immortality that is in our power to bestow.

Let us fetch it at once, said the fake king.

I'm in a hurry.

They bowed ascent, and instantly the forest glade was deserted.

But in a place midway between the earth and the sky, what suspended a gleaming crypt of gold and platinum, a glow with soft lights shed from the facets of countless gems.

Within a high dome hung the precious mantle of immortality.

And each immortal placed a hand on the hem of the splendid roben.

Said as with one voice we bestow this mantle upon Claws, who is called the patron Saint of Children.

At this the mantle came away from its lofty crypt and they carried it to the house in the laughing valley.

The Spirit of Death was crouching very near to the bedside of Claws, and as the immortals approached, she sprang up and motioned them back with an angry gesture.

But when her eyes fell upon the mantle they bore, she shrank away with a low moan of disappointment and quitted that house forever.

Softly and silently the immortal Band dropped upon Claws the precious mantle and it closed about him and sank into the outlines of his body and disappeared from view.

It became a part of his being, and neither mortal nor immortal might ever take it from him.

Then the kings and queens who had wrought this great deed dispersed to their various homes, and all were well contented that they had added another immortal to their band.

And Claus slept on.

The red blood of everlasting life coursing swiftly through his veins and on his brow was a tiny drop of water that had fallen from the evermelting gown of the Queen of the Water.

Sprites, and over his lips hovered a tender kiss that had been left by the sweet nymph knicill she had stolen in when the others were gone to gaze with rapture upon the immortal form of her foster son.

Thank you for joining Bite at a Time Books today while we read a bite of one of your favorite classics.

Again, my name is Brie Carlyle and I hope you come back tomorrow for the next bite of the life and adventures of Santa Claus.

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