Middletown transcript., 1876-12-23
Christmas as We Grow Older.
By CHARLES DICKENS.

Time was, with most Of Us, whel
Christmas day, encircling all our lin
tied world like magic ring. left moth
ing out for US to miss or seek; bount
together all our home enjoyment affec
tions. and hopes; grouped everything
and every one around the Christmas fire
and made the littls picture shining il
our bright yenng eyes complete.
Time came. perhaps, all too. soon
when our thoughts overleaped that mar.
row boundary; when there was some
one Every dear we thought then, very
beautiful and absolutely perfect, } want.
ing to the fullness Of our happiness
when We were wanting too (or We
thought SO. which did just as well) At
the Christmas hearth by which tha,
some one sat; and when we intertwined
with every wreath and garland of our
life that some ones name.
That was the time for the bright Wis.
ionary Christmasses which have long
arisen from US to show faintly, after
summer rain, in the palest edges Of the
rainbow. That was the time for the
bsautiied enjoyments Of the things that
were to be, and never were. and yet the
things that were so real in our resolute
hope that it 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 who was our young choice we're
received. after the happiest of totally i'm
possible marriages. by the two united
Families previously at daggers drawn on
BUR account? When brothers and sister,
n-law who bad always been rather cool
% us before our relationship Was effect
ID perfectly dotted on us. and when
athers and mothers overwhelmed Us
With unlimited incomes Was that
christmas dinner never really eaten,
'fter which We arose aud generously and
'loquently rendered honor to our late
ival, present in the. company. and there
exchanging friendship and forgiveness.
md founding an attachment not to be
in Greek and Romsu story,
Vhich subsisted until deaths Has that
anne rival long ceased to care for that
anne priceless pearl and married for
money, = and become usurious? Above
II. do we really know now that We
hould probably have been miserable If
re had won and worn the pearl, and
hat we are better without her?
That Christmas when we had recently
chieved 80 much fame; when we had
cen carried in triumph somewhere for
oing something great and good when
q had won an honored and ennobled
anne, and arrived and we're received at
ONE in q shower of tears Of Joy; il it
ossible that that Christmas has come
ct? And in our life here, at the best,
constituted that. pausing as We ad-
anee at such notice the milestone in
'e track as this great birthday, We look
ack on the things that never were, as
aturally and full as gravely as on the
'ings that have been and are gone, or
ave been and still are? If it be 80,
I'd so it seems to be. must We come to
e conclusion that life is little better
AN a dream, and little worth the loves
ID strivings we crowd into it!
No! Far be such miscalled philoso-
~ from Us, dear reader, on Christmas
y! Nearer and closer to our hearts
the Christmas spirit. which is the I
irit Of active usefulness. perseverance,
cheerful discharge of duty, kindness
d forbearance! 1t is in the last vir-
es especially that We are or should be {
rengthened by the unaccomplished |
sions Of our youth for who shall say
at they are not our teachers to deal !
en- with the impalpabls nothiugs Of /
Q earth !? :
Therefore. as We grow older, let us q
more thankful that the circle Of our
'ristmas associations and Of the les /
IS that they bring expands! Let us I
leone every one Of them. and summon q
I'm to take their places BY the Christ i
IS hearth. :
Welcome, old aspirations, glittering Le