The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-12-24
Christmas Day,


How many little stockings will be hanging
in the corner Tonight; how many little heads
will toss Iestlessly OH their pillows; how many
little fancies will be toddling through the can
dy groves. and toy mountains of dreamland;
how many trtlant eyes will peep at the OHM
ney from under the covering and half mag
inc that Old Kriss is there; how many impa-
tient minds will wonder if morning will ever
come; how many Ii tie b1lins will be counting
the tagging moments and watching eagerly for
Che first streak OF dawn; and on the morrow,
how many tiny feet will creep noiselcssly
down the stairs how many tiny hands will
Fopcn softly the chamber door and how many
glad voices will ring out their joyous 'Chris.-
mas gift'' to wide awake papa and mama
And then will the little ones haul down the
stockings, eXult in their treasures, and run
| frantically from one to another to see what
Santa Claus has given each. After breakfast
they will gather in the paror and dance in
delight around the beautiful Christmas tree,
where the grand old gentleman has left pres
ent for all. Yes, tomorrow will be Christ
mas, the gayest, gladdest day of all the long
/
old folks; the sabbath Of slaves, and the season
of rest to the toilers. The ring of the hammer
and anvil will have ceased and the happy notes
of Christmas Carols will resound through the
land. School books will be tossed carelessly
aside, and the dainty contents of the well filled
stockings speak ont in gorgeous array before
the glittering eyes of their possessors. Merry,
| hapy h,;- CHI 81,
cry household, and the tolls OF yesterday or
trials Of tomorrow will throw no sombre shad-
ows across its bright p; thway, but all earth's
creatures will join in celebrating the holiday
festival. Plenty will unbind her golden sheaf
and scatter its fruits to the north to the south
to the east, and to the west. Pleasure will
sprinkle the choicest wines Of her OVERLOOKING
cup in every corner OF the globe. Peace will
| tune her harp and echo its harmonies in the
heart OF mankind, and jocund Mirth will sad
die Care and for one day in the year. be abso-
/ Lutte. master. Such is the Christmas we wish
for all. But alb how different will be the rec
ord written on the pages of tomorrow. To
how many cherries hearths will the cold,
grey streaks of the morning sun brig no rich
!
stead, the bleak, barren walls will mirror the
TIE picture of perjury, and the chill, ritiless
wind bear on its boisterous course the cry of
suffering and want. Poverty will chuckle
with delight as she views her comfortless realm
and her SETTLING cauldron will send forth its
poisonous fumes into the very heart of her
furnishing favorites. The last handful OF meal
opG tho oct 1roDc Of oil Jov in ,,o,u ;,cto ~,
ces, been given to appease the demands OF the
wolf, and while the greater part OF Gods peo-
pie will hail the advent of Christmas day with
songs of gladness and feasts of luxuries, there
will be some among us to whom crust of
bread, given with smile, would be welcomed
as a godsend.
Do you not imagine that the little street
arabs whom you pass every morning as you go
to and from your business, will look upon the
gifts Of your children with covetous eyes, and
perhaps will wonder to themselves why old
Ktiss has been so partial in the distribution
of his presents.
/ Bye-and-Bye the lesson which Fate is pre-
pairing for them will teach the wide difference
between the adjectivcs, rich and poor, and ur-,
til then they must content themselves with a
feast Of their eyes. 1t lies within the power of
each OF us to gladden. one day Of their lives
and show them that life has its brighter side,
and that /. is worth striving for.
! We do not mean to damper for a momelt
the enjoyment of the day to which so many ef
lis have been accustomed to look forward, nor
do we propose to disclose the skeleton without
offering some covering for Its hitleous defor-
nifty, and we therefore suggest that each one
Of us place small suln-say from 25 cents to
one doilar-n the hands Of the overseers of
the poor to be by them distributed to
the destitute OF the city, and i'll this
way we may throw a CLEAN of sun
shine across many q darkened pathway and
prove that we have not entirely forgotten the
i lessons taught by the great Master, and that
we are not altogether unworthy of the many
blessings which the Giver of gifts has be-
slowed upon u.s. 1t will not cost much, and
will make us feel in our heart of hearts that
sit is more blessed to give than to re-
ceive-' Try it, and our word for it, that the
consciousness of having poured IL balm on hui
manity's wound will be one of the sweetest
and most lasting memories of Christmas day
! To our patrons and all, we wish Emery
Christmas" but we hope that the day may be
spent becoming the event it is intended to
| commemorate