The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-12-23
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What Christmas is as we Grow Older.
BY CHARLES DICKENS.

mas Day, encircling all our limited world
like a magic ring, left nothing out for US
to miss or seek bound together all our
home enjoyments, affections, aud hopes !;
grouped everything and every one around
the Christmas fire; and made the little
picture shining in our bright young eyes
complete.
Time came, perhaps, all too soon when
our thoughts overleaped that narrow boun-
dairy when there was some one Every dear
we thought then, very beautiful and abb
solutely perfect) wanting to the fulness Of
our happiness; when we were wanting too
Cor we thought 80, which did just as WELD
at the Christmas hearth by which that
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 vision
ary Christmasses which have long arisen
from us to show family, after summer rain,
in the palest edges of the rainbow. That
was the time for the beautifed enjoyment
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 were received, after
the happiest Of totally impossible maria
ges, by the two united families previously
at daggers drawn on our ACCOUNT When
brothers and sistsr-in-law who had always
been rather cool to us before our relation
ship was effected perfectly dotted on us,
and when fathers and mothers overwhelmed
us with unlimited incomes ? Was that
Christmas dinner never really eaten, after
which we arose, and generously and
eloquently rendered honor to our late
rival, present in the company, and there
exchanging friendship and forgiveness,
and founding an attachment not to be
surpassed in Greek or Roman story, which
subsisted until death? Has that same
rival long ceased to care for that same
priceless pearl, and married for money,
and become usrrous? Above all, do we
really know now that we should probably
have been miserable if We had won and
worn the pearl, and that we are better
without her? 6 e -
That Christmas when we had recently
achieved so much fame; when we had been
carried in triumph somewhere, for doing
something great and good when we had
won an honored and ennobled name, and
arrived and were received at home in
shower Of tears Of joy is it possible that
that Christmas has not come yet?
And is our life here, at the best, SO
constituted that, pausing as we advance at
such noticeable milestone in the track
as this great birthday, we look back on
the things that never were, as naturally
and full as gravely as on the things that
have been and are gone, or have been and
still are . If it be 50, and 50 it seems to
be, must We come to the conclusion that
life is little better than dream, and little
worth the loves and strivings that we
crowd into it, f78 ssk -
Nol Far be such miscalled philosophy |
from us, dear reader, on Christmas Day i |
Nearer and closer to our hearts be the
Christmas spirit, which is the spirit of
active usefulness, perseverance, cheerful |
discharge Of duty, kindness, and forbear-
ancel 1t is in the last virtues especially,
that we are, or should be, strengthened BY
the unaccomplished visions Of our youth;
for, who shall say that they are not our
teachers to deal gently even with the i'm
palpable nothings Of the earth.l