The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-12-27
ASWE GROW OLDER
BY CHARLEs DICKENS.

Christmas day euclrCung al! our Limited
world ike magic ring, left nothing out
for Us to miss or seek; bound together all
oar home enjoyments, affections, and
hopes: grouped everything and every
one around the Christmas fire; and made
the little picture shining in cur bright
young eyes complete.
Time came perhaps too soon! when
our thoughts oysrlcapcd that mario"
boundary; when there was some on"
very dear We thought then, very beau
tilul and absolutely perfect waiting to
the iullness of our happiness; when we
were waiting too Tor We thought so,
which did Just AS well) ut the Christmas
hearth by which that one sat! and when
We intcrtwincd with every wreath and
garland that some ones name.
That was the time for the bright vision
AIRY Christmases which have long arisen
from us to show family, after summer
rain, in the palcst edges of the rainbow.
/ That was the time for the beautiful en-
ioyment of the things that were TO be,
and never were, and vet the things that
were 50 real in our resoiute hope that 1t
would be hard to say, now, what realities
achieved since have been stronger.
What Did that Christmas never
really come when We and the priceless
pearl which was our choice WAS received,
after the happicst Of totally impossible
marriages, by the two united families,
previously at daggers drawn on our &C
count? When brothers and sisterin-
| law who had al Ways been rather cool to
Us before our relationship was effected,
! perfectly dotted on Us, and when father,
/ and mothers overwhelmed US with I'M
! limited incomes? Was that Christina,
dinner never really eaten, after
which We arose and gcncr-
ously and cIoquently rendered honor
to our late rival, present in the com
pany, and there exchanging friendship
and forgiveness, and founding an attach
ment not to be surpassed in Greek or
Roman story, which subslsted until
| death? Has that same rival long ccaS-
cd to care for that priceless pearl and
married fOrmoney and become usurlous?
Above all, do we really know now that
we should probably have been misera,
| BILE if he had won and worn the pearl and
| that We are better without her.
That Chri tmas when We had re-
emily achieved so much fame, when
we had been carried in triumph some
where fdt doing 50 ncthing great and
! good: when We had won an honored and
| cnnublcd name, and arrived and were re-
ccivcd at home in shower of tears OF
/ ioy; is it possible that TINT Christmas has
/ not come vet? And Is our lie here, at
| the best. - constituted that, pausing rs
We advance nj such notice, the mile
{ stone IN the track a. this great birthday,
we look back on the things that never
were, rs naturally and full "a gravcly n
on the things that have been and are
zone or have been and still are? If il
be So, and So 1t seems to be, must We
come To the conclusion that life Is little
better than dream, and little worth the
loves and Strjviug> that we crowd into 1t
Mol tar he such mlscalicd philosophy
from Us. dear reader, on Christmas day!
Nearer and closer To our hearts be the
Christmas spirit, which Is the spirit OF
active usefulness, perseverance, cheerful
discharge of duty, kindness and iOrbear-
aucr! 1t i in the last virtues especially
that are or should BE- strengthened by
/ the uunccompli,hed visions of our youth;
for who shall say that they are not our
teachers TO deal gently even with the i'm
/ paipahls nothiugs of the world.
| Therefore, IS we grow older, let Us be
more thankful that the circle of our Christ
/ mas associations aud of the lessons that
! they bring expands! Let us welcome
| every one Of them To take their places
bv the Christmas hearth.
Welcome, old aspirations glittcring
creatures Of an ardent fancy, to your
places underneath the holly. Ne know
Won. and have not outIivcd YOU vet.
Welcome old projects and old loves,
however haetiug, to your hooks among
the stcadier lights that burn around Us.
Welcome. all that was ever real to our
hearts. and for the earncstneSS that made
you real thanks to Heavenl Do We build
no Christmas castles in the clouds now?
I Let our thoughts. futterlns like butter
/ flies among the flowers, Of children bear
/ witness.
Before this boy there stretches ont a
/ future brighter than we ever looked on
in our romantic time, but bright with
honor aud with truth. Around this lit
tie mead, on which the sunny curls lie
hcaped, the graccs sport as prettily, as
airily, As when there was no scythe
within the reach Ct tins to shear away
the curls ofour first love. Upon another
girls face near it-placider but smiling
bright--a quiet and contented little face,
We see home fairly written.
Shining from the world as rays shine
from star, we see how, when our graves