...would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginia. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We would have no enjoyment except in sense of sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the...

...There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. . . . The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished. —New York Sun, September 21, 1897 Church's response was most likely intended for his adult readership...

...would be the world if there were no Santa Glaus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginia. There would be no childlike faith, then, no poetry,...which childhood fills the world would be extinguished. . . . Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside [the veil covering the unseen] . . ....

...would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry,...which childhood fills the world would be extinguished. Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire...

...would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry,...which childhood fills the world would be extinguished. Not to believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to...

...glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. No Santa Claus! Thank God! He lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood....