,,OLD ,,AGE

#A4 ,! ,MANTLE ( ,IMMORTAL;Y

  ,& N[ WE -E 6A TURN+-PO9T 9 ! C>E] (
,SANTA ,CLAUS1 & X IS MY DUTY 6RELATE !
MO/ REM>KA# T HAS HAPP5$ S9CE ! _W 2GAN
OR MANK9D 0 CR1T$4
  ,WE H FOLL[$ ! LIFE ( ,CLAUS F ! "T HE
0 F.D A HELP.S 9FANT 0! ,WOOD-,NYMPH
,NECILE & RE>$ 6MANHOOD 9 ! GRT ,=E/ (
,BURZEE4 ,& WE "K H[ HE 2GAN 6MAKE TOYS
= *N & H[1 )! ASSI/.E & GDWILL (!
IMMORTALS1 HE 0 A# 64TRIBUTE !M 6! LL
"OS "?\T ! _W4
  ,= _M YE>S HE C>RI$ ON ? NO# "W2 =!
SIMPLE1 H>D-"W+ LIFE HE L$ GAVE HM
P]FECT H1L? & /R5G?4 ,& D\BT.S A MAN C
LIVE L;G] 9 ! B1UTI;L ,LAU<+ ,VALLEY1 ":
"! >E NO C>ES & "EY?+ IS P1CE;L & M]RY1
?AN 9 ANY O!R "P (! _W4
  ,B :5 _M YE>S _H ROLL$ AWAY ,SANTA
,CLAUS GREW OLD4 ,! L;G BE>D ( GOLD5
BR[N T ONCE COV]$ 8 *EEKS & *9 GRADU,Y
2CAME GRAY1 & F9,Y TURN$ 6PURE :ITE4 ,8
HAIR 0 :ITE1 TOO1 & "! 7 WR9KLES AT !
CORN]S ( 8 EYES1 : %[$ PLA9LY :5 HE
LAU<$4 ,HE _H N"E BE5 A V TALL MAN1 & N[
HE 2CAME FAT1 & WA4L$ V M* L A DUCK :5
HE WALK$4 ,B 9 SPITE ( ^! ?+S HE REMA9$
Z LIVELY Z "E1 & 0 J Z JOLLY & GAY1 & 8
K9D EYES SP>KL$ Z B"RLY Z !Y DID T F/ "D
:5 HE CAME 6! ,LAU<+ ,VALLEY4
  ,YET A "T IS SURE 6-E :5 E MORTAL :O
HAS GR[N OLD & LIV$ 8 LIFE IS REQUIR$
6L1VE ? _W = ANO!R2 S X IS NO WOND] T1
AF ,SANTA ,CLAUS _H DRIV5 8 RE9DE] ON _M
& _M A ,*RI/MAS ,EVE1 ^? /AN* FRS F9,Y
:ISP]$ AM;G !MVS T !Y _H PROBABLY DRAWN
8 SL$GE =! LA/ "T4
  ,!N ALL ! ,=E/ ( ,BURZEE 2CAME SAD &
ALL ! ,LAU<+ ,VALLEY 0 HU%$2 = E LIV+ ?+
T _H "KN ,CLAUS _H US$ 6LOVE HM & 6B"R5
AT ! S.D ( 8 FOOT/EPS OR ! NOTES ( 8
M]RY :I/LE4
  ,NO D\BT ! OLD MAN'S /R5G? 0 AT LA/
EXHAU/$1 = HE MADE NO M TOYS1 B LAY ON 8
B$ Z 9 A DR1M4
  ,! ,NYMPH ,NECILE1 %E :O _H RE>$ HM &
BE5 8 FO/]-"M1 0 / Y\?;L & /R;G &
B1UTI;L1 & X SEEM$ 6H] B A %ORT "T S9CE
? AG$1 GRAY-BE>D$ MAN _H LA9 9 H] >MS &
SMIL$ ON H] ) 8 9NOC5T1 BABY LIPS4
  ,9 ? IS %[N ! DI6];E 2T MORTALS &
IMMORTALS4
  ,X 0 =TUNATE T ! GRT ,AK CAME 6! ,=E/
AT ? "T4 ,NECILE S"\ HM ) TR\#D EYES &
TOLD HM (! FATE T ?R1T5$ _! FR ,CLAUS4
  ,AT ONCE ! ,MA/] 2CAME GRAVE1 & HE
L1N$ ^U 8 AX & /ROK$ 8 GRIZZL$ BE>D
?"\;LLY = _M M9UTES4 ,!N SU45LY HE /OOD
UP /RAI<T1 & POIS$ 8 P[];L H1D ) FIRM
RESOLVE1 & /RET*$ \ 8 GRT "R >M Z IF
DET]M9$ ON DO+ "S MI<TY DE$4 ,=A ?"\ _H
-E 6HM S GR& 9 XS 3CEP;N T ALL ! _W MI<T
WELL B[ 2F ! ,MA/] ,WOODSMAN & HONOR 8
"N ="E6
  ,X IS WELL "KN T :5 ! GRT ,AK ONCE
"UTAKES 6D A ?+ HE N"E HESITATES AN
9/ANT4 ,N[ HE SUMMON$ 8 FLEETE/
MESS5G]S1 & S5T !M 9 A FLA% 6_M "PS (!
E>?4 ,& :5 !Y 7 G"O HE TURN$ 6! ANXI\S
,NECILE & -=T$ H]1 SAY+3
  8,BE ( GD HE>T1 MY *2 \R FR / LIVES4
,& N[ RUN 6YR ,QUE5 & TELL H] T ,I H
SUMMON$ A C\NCIL ( ALL ! IMMORTALS (! _W
6MEET ) ME "H 9 ,BURZEE ? NI<T4 ,IF !Y
OBEY1 & H>K5 UNTO MY ^WS1 ,CLAUS W DRIVE
8 RE9DE] = C.T.S AGES YET 6-E40
  ,AT MIDNI<T "! 0 A WONDR\S SC5E 9 !
ANCI5T ,=E/ ( ,BURZEE1 ": =! F/ "T 9 _M
C5TURIES ! RUL]S (! IMMORTALS :O 9HABIT
! E>? 7 GA!R$ TGR4
  ,"! 0 ! ,QUE5 (! ,WAT] ,SPRITES1 ^:
B1UTI;L =M 0 Z CLE> Z CRY/AL B 3T9U,Y
DRIPP$ WAT] ON ! BANK ( MOSS ": %E SAT4
,& 2S H] 0 ! ,K+ (! ,SLEEP ,FAYS1 :O
C>RI$ A W& F ! 5D ( : A F9E DU/ FELL ALL
>.D1 S T NO MORTAL CD KEEP AWAKE L;G 5
6SEE HM1 Z MORTAL EYES 7 SURE 6CLOSE 9
SLEEP Z SOON Z ! DU/ FILL$ !M4 ,& NEXT
6HM SAT ! ,GNOME ,K+1 ^: P 9HABIT ALL T
REGION "U ! E>?'S SURFACE1 ": !Y GU>D !
PRECI\S METALS &! JEWEL /"OS T LIE BURI$
9 ROCK & ORE4 ,AT 8 "R H& /OOD ! ,K+ (!
,S.D ,IMPS1 :O _H W+S ON 8 FEET1 = 8 P
>E SWIFT 6C>RY ALL S.DS T >E MADE4 ,:5
!Y >E BUSY !Y C>RY ! S.DS B %ORT 4T.ES1
= "! >E _M ( !M2 B "S"TS !Y SPE$ )! S.DS
6PLACES MILES & MILES AWAY F ": !Y >E
MADE4 ,! ,K+ (! ,S.D ,IMPS _H AN ANXI\S
& C>EWORN FACE1 = MO/ P H NO 3SID],N = 8
,IMPS &1 ESPECI,Y ! BOYS & GIRLS1 MAKE A
GRT _M UNNEC S.DS : ! ,IMPS >E OBLIG$
6C>RY :5 !Y MI<T 2 BETT] EMPLOY$4
,! NEXT 9 ! CIRCLE ( IMMORTALS 0 ! ,K+
(! ,W9D ,DEMONS1 SL5D] ( FRAME1 RE/.S &
UNEASY AT 2+ 3F9$ 6"O PLACE = EV5 AN
H\R4 ,ONCE 9 A :ILE HE WD L1VE 8 PLACE &
CIRCLE >.D ! GLADE1 & EA* "T HE DID ? !
,FAIRY ,QUE5 0 OBLIG$ 6UNTANGLE ! FL[+
LOCKS ( H] GOLD5 HAIR & TUCK !M BACK (
H] P9K E>S4 ,B %E DID N -PLA91 = X 0 N
(T5 T ! ,K+ (! ,W9D ,DEMONS CAME 96!
HE>T (! ,=E/4 ,AF ! ,FAIRY ,QUE51 ^:
HOME Y "K 0 9 OLD ,BURZEE1 CAME ! ,K+ (!
,LI<T ,ELVES1 ) 8 TWO ,PR9CES1 ,FLA% &
,TWILI<T1 AT 8 BACK4 ,HE N"E W5T ANY":
)\T 8 ,PR9CES1 = !Y 7 S MIS*IEV\S T HE
D>$ N LET !M W&] AL"O4
  ,PR9CE ,FLA% BORE A LI<TN+-BOLT 9 8 "R
H& &A HORN ( GUNP[D] 9 8 LEFT1 & 8 B"R
EYES ROV$ 3/ANTLY >.D1 Z IF HE L;G$ 6USE
8 BL9D+ FLA%ES4 ,PR9CE ,TWILI<T HELD A
GRT SNU6] 9 "O H& &A BIG BLACK CLOAK 9 !
O!R1 & X IS WELL "KN T UN.S ,TWILI<T IS
C>E;LLY WAT*$ ! SNU6]S OR ! CLOAK W ?R[
"EY?+ 96D>K;S1 & ,D>K;S IS ! GRTE/ 5EMY
! ,K+ (! ,LI<T ,ELVES HAS4
  ,9 A4I;N 6! IMMORTALS ,I H "ND 7 ! ,K+
(! ,KNOOKS1 :O _H -E F 8 HOME 9 !
JUNGLES ( ,9DIA2 &! ,K+ (! ,RYLS1 :O
LIV$ AM;G ! GAY FL[]S & LUSCI\S FRUITS (
,VAL5CIA4 ,SWEET ,QUE5 ,ZURL9E (! ,WOOD-
,NYMPHS -PLET$ ! CIRCLE ( IMMORTALS4
  ,B 9 ! C5T] (! CIRCLE SAT ?REE O!RS :O
POSSESS$ P[]S S GRT T ALL ! ,K+S &
,QUE5S %[$ !M R"E;E4
  ,^! 7 ,AK1 ! ,MA/] ,WOODSMAN (! ,_W1
:O RULES ! =E/S &! OR*>DS &! GROVES2 &
,K]N1 ! ,MA/] ,HUSB&MAN (! ,_W1 :O RULES
! GRA9 FIELDS &! M1D[S &! G>D5S2 & ,BO1
! ,MA/] ,M>9] (! ,_W1 :O RULES ! S1S &
ALL ! CRAFT T FLOAT "!ON4 ,& ALL O!R
IMMORTALS >E M OR LESS SUBJECT 6^! ?REE4
  ,:5 ALL _H ASSEM#D ! ,MA/] ,WOODSMAN
(! ,_W /OOD UP 6A4RESS !M1 S9CE HE HMF
_H SUMMON$ !M 6! C\NCIL4
  ,V CLE>LY HE TOLD !M ! /ORY ( ,CLAUS1
2G9N+ AT ! "T :5 Z A BABE HE _H BE5
ADOPT$ A * (! ,=E/1 & TELL+ ( 8 NO# &
G5]\S NATURE & 8 LIFE-L;G LABORS 6MAKE
*N HAPPY4
  8,& N[10 SD ,AK1 8:5 HE _H WON ! LOVE
( ALL ! _W1 ! ,_S ( ,D1? IS HOV]+ OV]
HM4 ,( ALL M5 :O H 9HABIT$ ! E>? N"O O!R
S WELL DES]VES IMMORTAL;Y1 = S* A LIFE C
N 2 SP>$ S L;G Z "! >E *N ( MANK9D 6MISS
HM & 6GRIEVE OV] 8 LOSS4 ,WE IMMORTALS
>E ! S]VANTS (! _W1 & 6S]VE ! _W WE 7
P]MITT$ 9 ! ,2G9N+ 6EXI/4 ,B :AT "O ( U
IS M WOR?Y ( IMMORTAL;Y ?AN ? MAN
,CLAUS1 :O S SWEETLY M9I/]S 6! LL *N80
  ,HE PAUS$ & GL.ED >.D ! CIRCLE1 6F9D E
IMMORTAL LI/5+ 6HM EAG]LY & NO4+
APPROVAL4 ,F9,Y ! ,K+ (! ,W9D ,DEMONS1
:O _H BE5 :I/L+ S(TLY 6HMF1 CRI$ \3
  8,:AT IS YR DESIRE1 ,O ,AK80
  8,62/[ ^U ,CLAUS ! ,MANTLE (
,IMMORTAL;Y60 SD ,AK1 BOLDLY4
  ,T ? DEM& 0 :OLLY UNEXPECT$ 0 PROV$ 0!
IMMORTALS SPR++ 6_! FEET & LOOK+ 96EA*
O!R'S FACE ) 4MAY & !N ^U ,AK ) WOND]4
,= X 0 A GRAVE MATT]1 ? "P+ )! ,MANTLE (
,IMMORTAL;Y4
  ,! ,QUE5 (! ,WAT] ,SPRITES SPOKE 9 H]
L[1 CLE> VOICE1 &! ^WS S.D$ L RA9DROPS
SPLA%+ ^U A W9D[-PANE4
  8,IN ALL ! _W "! IS B "O ,MANTLE (
,IMMORTAL;Y10 %E SD4
  ,! ,K+ (! ,S.D ,FAYS A4$3
  8,X HAS EXI/$ S9CE ! ,2G9N+1 & NO
MORTAL HAS "E D>$ 6CLAIM X40
  ,&! ,MA/] ,M>9] (! ,_W >OSE & /RET*$ 8
LIMBS1 SAY+3
  8,ONLY 0! VOTE ( E IMMORTAL C X 2 2/[$
^U A MORTAL40
  8,I "K ALL ?10 ANSW]$ ,AK1 QUIETLY4
8,B ! ,MANTLE EXI/S1 & IF X 0 CR1T$1 Z Y
SAY1 9 ! ,2G9N+1 X 0 2C ! ,SUPREME ,MA/]
KNEW T "S "D X WD 2 REQUIR$4 ,UNTIL N[
NO MORTAL HAS DES]V$ X1 B :O AM;G Y D>ES
D5Y T ! GD ,CLAUS DES]VES X8 ,W Y N ALL
VOTE 62/[ X ^U HM80
  ,!Y 7 SIL5T1 / LOOK+ ^U "O ANO!R
"Q+LY4
  8,( :AT USE IS ! ,MANTLE ( ,IMMORTAL;Y
UN.S X IS WORN80 DEM&$ ,AK4 8,:AT W X
PR(IT ANY "O ( U 6ALL[ X 6REMA9 9 XS
L"OLY %R9E = ALL "T 6-E80

8,5\<60 CRI$ ! ,GNOME ,K+1 ABRUPTLY4
  8,WE W VOTE ON !
MATT]1 YES OR NO4 ,= MY "P1 ,I SAY YES60

  8,& ,I60 SD ! ,FAIRY ,QUE51 PROMPTLY1
& ,AK REW>D$ H] )A SMILE4
  8,MY P 9 ,BURZEE TELL ME !Y H LE>N$
6LOVE HM2 "!=E ,I VOTE 6GIVE ,CLAUS !
,MANTLE10 SD ! ,K+ (! ,RYLS4
  8,HE IS ALR A -RADE (! ,KNOOKS10
ANN\NC$ ! ANCI5T ,K+ (
T B&4 8,LET HM H IMMORTAL;Y60
  8,LET HM H X--LET HM H X60 SI<$ ! ,K+
(! ,W9D ,DEMONS4
  8,:Y N80 ASK$ ! ,K+ (! ,SLEEP ,FAYS4
8,HE N"E 4TURBS ! SLUMB]S MY P ALL[
HUMAN;Y4 ,LET ! GD ,CLAUS 2 IMMORTAL60
  8,I D N OBJECT10 SD ! ,K+ (! ,S.D
,IMPS4
  8,NOR ,I10 MURMUR$ ! ,QUE5 (! ,WAT]
,SPRITES4
  8,IF ,CLAUS DOES N RCV ! ,MANTLE X IS
CLE> N"O O!R C "E CLAIM X10 REM>K$ ! ,K+
(! ,LI<T ,ELVES1 8S LET U H D"O )! ?+ =
ALL "T40
  8,! ,WOOD-,NYMPHS 7 F/ 6ADOPT HM10 SD
,QUE5 ,ZURL9E4 8,( C\RSE ,I % VOTE 6MAKE
HM IMMORTAL40
  ,AK N[ TURN$ 6! ,MA/] ,HUSB&MAN (!
,_W1 :O HELD UP 8 "R >M & SD 8,YES60
  ,&! ,MA/] ,M>9] (! ,_W DID LIKEWISE1
AF : ,AK1 ) SP>KL+ EYES & SMIL+ FACE1
CRI$ \3
  8,I ?ANK Y1 FELL[ IMMORTALS6 ,= ALL H
VOT$ ,8YES10' & S 6\R DE> ,CLAUS % FALL
! "O ,MANTLE ( ,IMMORTAL;Y T X IS 9 \R
P[] 62/[60
  8,LET U FET* X AT ONCE10 SD ! ,FAY
,K+2 8,I'M 9 A HURRY40
  ,!Y B[$ ASS5T1 & 9/ANTLY ! ,=E/ GLADE
0 DES]T$4 ,B 9 A PLACE MIDWAY 2T ! E>?
&! SKY 0 SUSP5D$ A GL1M+ CRYPT ( GOLD &
PLAT9UM1 AGL[ ) S(T LI<TS %$ F ! FACETS
( C.T.S GEMS4 ,)9 A HI< DOME HUNG !
PRECI\S ,MANTLE ( ,IMMORTAL;Y1 & EA*
IMMORTAL PLAC$ A H& ON ! HEM (! SPL5DID
,ROBE & SD1 Z ) "O VOICE3

8,WE 2/[ ? ,MANTLE ^U ,CLAUS1 :O IS
  CALL$ ! ,PATRON
,SA9T ( ,*N60

  ,AT ? ! ,MANTLE CAME AWAY F XS L(TY
CRYPT1 & !Y C>RI$ X 6! H\SE 9 ! ,LAU<+
,VALLEY4
  ,! ,_S ( ,D1? 0 CR\*+ V NE> 6! B$SIDE
( ,CLAUS1 & Z ! IMMORTALS APPROA*$ %E
SPRANG UP & MO;N$ !M BACK ) AN ANGRY
GE/URE4 ,B :5 H] EYES FELL ^U ! ,MANTLE
!Y BORE %E %RANK AWAY )A L[ MOAN (
4APPO9T;T & QUITT$ T H\SE ="E4
  ,S(TLY & SIL5TLY ! IMMORTAL ,B& DROPP$
^U ,CLAUS ! PRECI\S ,MANTLE1 & X CLOS$
AB HM & SANK 96! \TL9ES ( 8 BODY &
4APPE>$ F VIEW4 ,X 2CAME A "P ( 8 2+1 &
NEI MORTAL NOR IMMORTAL MI<T "E TAKE X F
HM4
  ,!N ! ,K+S & ,QUE5S :O _H WR"\ ? GRT
DE$ 4P]S$ 6_! V>I\S HOMES1 & ALL 7 WELL
3T5T$ T !Y _H A4$ ANO!R IMMORTAL 6_!
,B&4
  ,& ,CLAUS SLEPT ON1 ! R$ BLOOD (
"ELA/+ LIFE C\RS+ SWIFTLY "? 8 VE9S2 &
ON 8 BR[ 0 A T9Y DROP ( WAT] T _H FALL5
F ! "E-MELT+ G[N (! ,QUE5 (! ,WAT]
,SPRITES1 & OV] 8 LIPS HOV]$ A T5D] KISS
T _H BE5 LEFT 0! SWEET ,NYMPH ,NECILE4
,= %E _H /OL5 9 :5 ! O!RS 7 G"O 6GAZE )
RAPTURE ^U ! IMMORTAL =M ( H] FO/] SON4