The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-12-23
CHRISTMAS.

10 ID
comingr' is heard at this season from
all the children. The little ones gather
together and tell each other bright
stories of last Christmas-how they
had hung up their stockings for Santa
Claus to fill, and as they had been good
little children, Santa Claus-otherwise
papa and mama-gave them.
Not only do the papas and mammas Of
those who can afford it begin TO prepare
now for the distribution Of gifts, but the
children as well enjoy the holiday
season. They may be seen on all sides
clustering together, whispering for fear
they should be overheard, consulting
what they had best give papa and
mamma, and their sisters and brothers.
Such running about, and scampering
and stealing away to make up presents
where no one will see them; such i'm
ploring their parents to hang up their
stockings. What plotting and chatter
ing, what emptying Of penny banks to
see how much they have--to see if the
treasured hoard is sufficient to pur-
chase q coveted gift. 1t has been said
we could not do without Sundays
much less we could not do without
Christmas, when all selfish desires fall
away from us-when our hearts are
opened, and our souls prepared for the
celebration of Christ's advent on earth
as little child.
Little children should remember any,
thing they MAKE is much more appre-
ciated by their friends. If they are too
small to make anything themselves,
they can at least be good children, that
Santa Claus, or Kriss Kringle, or st.
Nicholas, in the shape of their papas
and mammas, will feel they deserve the
presents they have for them.
When at loss what to give where
means are limited, the pretty Christmas
cards, which are so handsome, are
bright souvenirs to friends far or near.
OF course, Christmas presents are regu-
lated by ones means, but greater dis
cretion should be used in selecting them
than is done at present. II possible,
ascertain the tastes of the individual
for whom a gift is intended. Some
persents consider anything useful by no
means present, while to others some
thing useful is the very thing they de-
sire most. While children are very
busy preparing Christmas presents for
papa or mamma, they should recollect
how many children have no Christmas
no one to prepare anything for them,
storing away presents till Christmas
Eve. Then the stockings are filed,
and oh, what Joy to come in the dining
room and find FULL stocking.
What difficulties the children labor
under toputT THEIR presentsin mammals
stocking. Papa's is much easier to fill
it is not quite so long. The children,
as they fill them, see theiro own stockings
still empty. Santa Claus, perhaps, viii
forget to come to their house. How
dreadful! Then they reflect it is not
Santa Claus, but their parents and
friends who remember them, and they
60 to sleep contentedly waiting for the
morning light. But those little children
who have no bright anticipations, how
hard it Is for them to see others made
happy, and think they have no share in
all this joyful merry-making. If hap
pier, more fortunate little ones, would
only remember this and try to find out
some one to relieve and make happy on
that day, they would be blessed them
selves. For this purpose, Christmas
trees in Sunday-schools are designed,
and make great many children happy
who otherwise would not know what
Christmas meant. Still, there are
children less fortunate than many of
these, who are prevented from joining
in two or three hours gayety. These
should be looked after and made to for
get their sad fate or surroundings.