The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-27
Some Christmas Thoughts by the
Rector of st Dayid'S.

Christian festivals in all their phases
abound in human interest. Every
festival associated with Him WHO is
divine Lord of humanity must neceS-
SaTlly 50 abound. In iiDslds.riug the
festivals in their secular aSp"cts, it
must be remembered that their human
interest is not exhausted in such con-
sideration. Attention to the lower
secular aspects serves 10 impart Ii
healthy tone TO the conts mplation of
the higher aspects and to enlarge the
mental vision of the applicable
ity of the religion of Christ to human
needs and aspirat ons. What are the
aspects OF the Christmas fes-
tival which offer themselves
for most widespread recogni-
tion? Are they not such as are as
sociated with childrenp Is no. in
deed, Christmas, as it is kept in manv
homes, emphatically chlldren's fes-
tival. AS its various social customs
are observed by elders, is not it neces-
sary for them to be animated by
childlike thoughts and feelings 1 Or
der to observe the customs in the
most genial way? Even the familiar
salutation as to "a merry Christmas"
cannot be taken on the lips of the Sc
date unless they have given welcome
for awhile TO thoughts which bring
them into closer sympathy with child
rem. The word merry" is one that is
applied almost exclusively to children.
Little ones are expected ever to be
merry with laugh and speech. But
not so with older folk. They are not
looked upon as ever likely to be spoken
of us habitually merry. And yet as
Christmas is to so large an extent a
festival for children, the world of
grown-up men and women places it.
self in sympathy with them and in
dulgeS IN wishes for mutual merri-
ness. The merrineSS wished for is
that of little children. 1t is adopted
for their sake. 1t is in order to make
home interiors bright and cheerful in
children'S eyes that rooms are decora-
ted with evergreens and InistletOe. It
is well that by the link OF such merri-
ness the world of little children and
the world OF their elders shoulI be
brought into sympathetic alliance.
The real rulers OF the world during
Christmas days are its children. For
their amusement and feasting, houses
throw open their doors. The brief
period of triumph for children over
their sedate elders is marked by its
tribute. That trinute of Christmas
ghtS is one that is cheerfully paid,
tenoing as it does to call forth the
lively gratitude OF the little ones. 1t
is well that it should be recognized
that the sway exerted by little chill
dren at Christmas time is both enliv-
| ening and Salutary. Their triumph
soon comes to an end. Their mer-i-
ness has ere long to be restra ned.
Holidays glide away and schoolroom
| thoughtfulness displaces some of the
| abundant hveliness. But during the
days when bookwork is put aside, and
! playfulness is indulged in. the chill
| dren have a mission intrusted to
4 them. That mission is to those,
4 whose childhood and youth belong to
4 the past. 1t is to fathers and
A mothers, and uncles and aunts, and
\ grandfathers and grandmothers, and
l keith and kin of still more ancient de-
4 gree, if each survive. Little children
and their periodical outbursts of mer-
U riment exercise beneficial influence
upon their elders of all degrees. They
help to keep alive within them child.
I like thoughts. Children's sunny
brightness of countenance helps tC
prevent the brews of of their seniors
being cloudy with brooding care. In
every way the influence of children
so prominently exerted at Christmas
time is softenIng and soothing. The
message upraised for their elders il
the merry and even boistrous voices
of the young ones is one that encour
ages an increase of kindlint SIS, gen
tleness, and courtesy. Towards child
rem elders are soon induced to be gen
tie in speech and pleasant in manner
and gentleness practiced toward.
children renders it easy to persever'
IN gentle ways towards associates O
ripper years. If the beneficence of tn,
sway exercised by children during tn,
fleeting days when they find them
selves free from the rule of teacher
be thus recognized, it will be an eas7
thing to give utterance TO words O
loyaf submission to the Christina
rules of households; it will be an eas,
thing to wish that-they may at ever,
Christmas time be the Kings AM
Queens of the world.