Legend of the Rudolph
A true tale about how Rudolph, the reindeer came into origin have been narrated here. Robert May was a poor
copywriter in Chicago, living in a shabby two-room apartment. His wife Evelyn was suffering from cancer and
was bedridden for two years and all his earnings and savings went into her treatment. It was then, when on a
December night, his four year old daughter Barbara asked him, "Why isn't my mommy just like everybody
else's mommy?" The heart touched Bob's heart like a glass splinter. All his life, he had been 'different', weak
and delicate as a child and just a lowly copywriter for Montgomery Ward, the big Chicago mail order house, as
an adult. He was thirty-three years old at the time and was already deep in debt, depressed and sad. However, he
made up a story for her to placate the child and inspire her to be optimistic.
The story was that of Rudolph, the only reindeer in the world with a big shiny red nose. Everybody used to
tease and make fun of this poor creature and call him 'Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer', which embarrassed him
greatly. Even his mother, father and sister were mortified by his presence near them, which deepened Rudolph's
embarrassment and depression. He immersed himself in self-pity and felt quite lonely. However, on one
Christmas eve, when Santa got his sleigh ready for his annual trip around the world with his team of eight
handsomest and huskiest reindeers including Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, and Vixen and the entire reindeer
community assembled there to cheer them, thich mist and fog engulfed the earth.
Santa was wondering how could he distribute his toys now and how to find chimneys. Suddenly, his eyes fell on
the glowing bright red nose of Rudolph and found a solution for his problem. He requested Rudolph to lead his
sleigh, which he gladly did and was harnessed instantly. Rudolph guided Santa safely to every chimney that
night despite all the rain, fog, snow and sleet. This brave act made Rudolph the most famous and beloved of