The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1873-12-26
NO. %.

Aul. Pen; 'anything for peace
e Hereafter, Adsm, will never qaes-
q ton vour genius, but admire you
: p etry With al my heart, provided
T you do not ask me to listen TO it
81 have always thought Adam:
, poetry pre-Raphselite," observed
t Eva.
: "Prc-Adamite,'' - said Aunt Pen.
Sex machiua," suggested Mr
Blunt
"a second Mr.. Sum-" exclaimed
/ Miss Michon. "Indeed, / am moi
sure but that your sllusion to Darwin
, is base imitation of Slum's epic on
, Mrs Jarlel'S wsx work show"
"And that reminds me-" ssid
: Adam, "thst the genius OF Christ
, mas Is gone. Could we but collect
, together to day hose whose hearts
he has comIorted, whose gloom be
: has cheered, whose barden he hs:
iightened,w whose struggles he has en-.
couraged, what q mighty company,
of all ages and classes, would fill
these streets, crowding each other
: to psy q farewell tribute to the be-
loved author! The critics might
pipe their feeble strain on whatever
note they pleased, but the people
recognized and crowned their tsvo-
rite and on this ChristmAs-6ay there
will be many q sigh over the missing
Christmas story, many kindly mem
ory OF the man to whom Christmas
was real festival, full OF love, peace,
and good will toward men. Friends,
let Us drink to the genius Of Christ
mas-to the memory OF our dear lost
friend, Charles Dickens.'
Tony filed our glasses, and with
reverence VIC drank the toast. All
but little Jane, who asked, tImidly,
"Who is Charles Dickens p
"a writer, my dear, Sho loved
little children and wrote about them, 7"
said Aunt Pen. "One of these chill
dren, a little boy called Tiny Tim,
was something like you. At q
Christmas dinner this little boy said,
God bless US, every one"
"Amen - said little jane. She
thought it was a prayer. Perhaps it
was.
"What q pure essence OF Christ
mas fills that story - observed Eva.
'erhat is because there are chill
dren in it," answered Aunt Pen.
"Cnildren mako Christmas what it is.
1 remember my baby niece, little
Plum, cherishd firm belief that San
a Claus lived up the chimney and
as Christmas drew near, aud visions
of possible gifts filed her little heart,
she would 60 slowly and timidly to
to the fire, hesitate moment, snd
then deliver a loud sTes set ! up the
chimney, running away instantly as
fas. IS she could, with q vague fear
of pursuit from the unknown deity.
We used to hear her calling out
thesa abrupt messages at all hours oil
the dsy: dolls Nos yark, 'yittle
tart wild horses were fired up the
chimney like minute guns. Once,
VIXEN she was freiful, her mother en-
deavored 10 quiet her by the sugges'
ton ths, Santa Claus might hear her.
This seemed to have an effect. Miss
Plum sat demurely on her little stool
Tor some time, but finally the idea oi
an unseen sentinel became oppressive,
and going to the CRATE she called cut
Santa Claus, you needn't watch me
any more; my mamma can take care
of me.'
We al laughed.
ruaS 10 IIhO tho IiAtle boy ~h<
could not 90 to sleep because those
horrid angels watched his bed >" said
Miss Michon. "POor children, how
they are misunderstood ! AT Christ
mas time for instance, some persons
seem to think that an elaborate din
ner is all that is necussary TO make
the little folks happy, when ten min
utes gives them sll the food they
want, and the long hours become a
torture
ga Christmas diuner,' began Aunt
Pen, with didaotic solemuity, sis an
imuorlsnt event. Its component
parts should be as carefully selected
and mixed as those of a mince pie.
We ayI know that nine-tenths of the
m.nce pies are failures, and likewise
OF Christmas dinners. In the first
place. cbilaren shonld only come IN
With the dessert thus their little
souls will 10. be tortured by the end
less procession of dishes, and their
little bodis worn wish fatigue from
sitting three hours in the same chair
Then. as regards the adults, they may
he clsssed in two bro,d divisions
flirting people and eating people
For tue first class we must have
proper objects Tor admiration for
| the second perfectly cooked dinner
Who has not seen ladies yswning be
hind their fans, evidently thinking
, the dinner tasteless, because the
, spice of Irritation was lacking Z Who
f has not seen the gentlemen secretly
watching the clock with weary ennul
when one pair Of bright eyes would
have shed radiance over the scene
t Depend upon it, my friends, that a'
. long as we ignore the fitness ol
: things, as long as we refuse to fur
nish uroper attractions for tie three
D classes of guests, our Christmas din
, ners will be melancholy failures"
4 This one is a success, Aunt Pen,
, observed Adam, as he cracked TIT
, nuts. "AIl your three classes arr
G here"
D Eys drew herself up as she noticed
d the general smile, and turning to tn
, clerk beside her, asked, with vivaclty
: ssYou have been in the army, zee
b Mr.. Blunt p
fastening to The reliet cf my pro
! teoe- ans @ered for him "Eva, Mr
t Blunt is still very young, and besides
he nav have had other and weigh;ie
a duties to fulfill. Some Of our warm
}. est patriots could not give more thai
E their earnest hopes to the cause
r Bot pretty Eva persisted. l."
y know l am right" she continued. :"
e am sure Mr.. Blunt was a soldier. n
Q has that erect, martial bearing Whicl
Il civilians never acquire"
3 Here Adam Strengthened himsel
' involuntarily.
y "You are right, Miss Rose," re
piled the clerk, quietly. Il serve'
10 the Union army during the rebel
lion. and but moment ago l Wa
thinking Of the Christmas day spen
:, IN C-prisoh-'
"TeH US about it, please" aske'
!, Eva, eageriy.
"The war is over, Miss Rose, sn
. the public interest in its details
I already subsiding. l. is bes: that
: should be so let Us heal the wounds
II rather than reopen them"
"My interes, IS not subsiding," ex
/, claimed Eva sand as long as thi
a Generation lives the memory OF thos
n 5eToic deeds will be held sacred
r. and Thousands of unwTitten histories
p Told by returned soldiers, will kindl
a ain aud again the old srdor. WIS
!, exciting DAYS they were! Living q
g we did iar rom the border,We caugt
Il only the echoes Of the storm; some
II times a new regiment would pas
q. through the C ty with waving banner
:, and confident step (; sometimes
a rain OF cars filed with wounded an
living would hsl. in the depot, an