Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-12-22

1t is pleasant 10 think, this week, how,
in every land which is blessed with
Christian civilization, the hearts of young
and old are filed with bright auticipations
of the joyous Christmas time which the
light of another week will usher in. AL
ready loads of Christmas greens fit to and
fro through the streets, the shop windows
are becoming brilliant and attractive, and
the vanguard Of an eager throng of shop
pers are seen slowing away those myster-
GUS parcels and packages which tell us that
the ''lime of gins" has come again, and that
Santa Claus is even now issuing forth, un-
daunted by the ''hard times" on his annn-
al pilgrimage.
Alter season of unusual solicitude in
public affairs, and with the adverse times
not yet quite ready to give place to pos
lively good ones, the relaxation from care
and he indulgence in innocent joys and
pleas ures which Christmas-tide ought to
bring, will be unusually welcome. Nor
should any sin against themselves by al
lowing the thought of their own sorrows
and anxieties OF whatever kind to cloud
and over-shadow what should be the
Bld hhSsl llIllt VI all llG year. W L IluN ne
certain that in due time we shall see a
peaceful solution of our political compiled.
tons, and equally sure that patience, and a
hopef al trust in the future will dispel the
gloom ofthe hard times and of every bust
ness anxiety. The amusemenls and relax
al ions of the Christmas season need not,
ought not, 10 be expensive and sho \ Y, but
they should be hearty, wholesome, univer-
sal. If any person says within himself, az
have no part nor lot in Christmas time"
he should at once turn 10 Dickens's beauti-
full and Incompatible Christmas Carol and
read it altentively through, and he will be
su re TO 60 forth filled anew with The milk
of human kindness and the genuine spirit
of NJ cry Christmas. This year, as always,
the first duty and privilege of the wealthy
and well-to-do is to see that none of the
"children Of the poor within their reach
suffer or have need, and, this done, it is
the duty and pleasure ofeverybody to see to
it that 10 all the little people Christmas is
season CT unalloyed happiness. Older folks
may do without special gins and special
pleas ures, but the boys and girls should
have their few days OF perfect enjoyment
in happy commemoration of the Divine
chill dhood. The gifts which gladden. them
may be simple and inexpensive, but if they
be given in the true spirit of Merry Christ
mas they will surely bring their blessing
of love and gadness. The glamour OF
childhood lasts none too long, all TOO soon
the stern realities OF life relentlessly olsen
chant its legends and fables, and the truest
wisdom is, so long as may be, to keep its
pleasures fresh and undimmed.
If tho coming week sees less general
interchange of expensive gifts than some
former holiday times have done, it need be
none the less a season of such good wishes
and kindly sentiments as shall send us all
forth with renewed hope and buoyant
spirit to meet the duties and receive the
blessings of another year. The PHGNIx,
therefore, begs every household which it
enters to accept from it hearty and sin
cere "MERRY CHRISTMAS"