Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-12-19

blessed to give than receive, and, like
wise. that in the economy Of events,
nothing 10 lost. wonder that Santa
Claus heart doesn't break when be
sees the smooth pillows that once were
diInpled with curly heads looks into
mothers ork-basket holding the last
misunderstanding threads-aDd the
ger, the pen laid aside, aud the accounts
unbalanced finds the broken links
severing brother, sister, friend-some
lost love, yes, lost, for We cannot find
them-call a. we may-look aud listen
no tones come back-tbey are gone!
After all, how like n travesty Merry
Christmas" sounds. / wonder how
many firesides have no vacant chairs
how many hearts no sorro wk-fraught
memories /; how many hands laid come
thing aside they would have given
years to bold? Ah II none Of these
things be, then it will be well to wish a
Merry Christmas" and the words
may not rush back cruel, hollow
mockery.
As We oftimes wilfnily take steps to
make ourselves more desolate, open a
casket, unlock a cabinet, enter hal.
lowed spot to make assurance dOubly
sure that we are smitten, indeed, and
viii meet living reality of sorrows,
30 Mrs. Hallet, on this Christmas eve.
| spread out before her the belongings of
her dead idol, her beautiful Roy, with
Gods sunlight in his tresses, and whose
little grave the snow flakes were fold.
| ing as gently as did robins the babes in
the wood" Oh house all out of tune
no patter of little feet, whose music Is
sweeter than falling rain-drops ; no
chubby palms pressed against the win
dow panes an empty home, an empty
heart. aud the burning tears fall thick
and fast for the darling son the mother
left out in the chill OF the Brandywine.
"What right had to even dream, one
year ago, that it was my Roy's last
Christmas why, oh, why, was he
takeu ?" No response comes to the
stricken watcher az the unanswered
why rolls back and reverberates from
the hillsides growing thick with graves.
Here are the jaunty boots, the SCARED
soles, bespeaking that the pathway,
even at the outset, held rough places |;
the Raudy sled that brought 30 much
10y, and the coat he had last worn, with
his pockets filed with the insignia of
boyhood, the bits of broken glass, the
dancing top, the winning marble, and
the matted thread, types OF later things,
the brittle brightness, the illusive turn
! |
No esnes. Looking at LIES happenings
| under the light OF the heavens, only
one wonders why it 10 counted blessed
, to toll on under far westering sun,
why II would not be better to lay down
ones burden before the way grows
wearisone, while the shadows yet
pointed toward the afternoon.
Helen Haliet called In vain for som'
> token from the unseen, and the waxel
, hands that grew so cold one day tina
NO warm kisses could flush seemed Il
! | be clinging around his neck and OF
/ the mellow evening air came In tn
/ children's voices as they practiced 10
4 the morrow in the church below. Tit
| Christmascar0ls pealed outthe wondrou
J. story OF that glad morning, when thu
!. stars sang together, aud Helen though
t Of Mary's Babe, the manger cradlo ant
4 the heritage of sorrow. With pityinI
II fondness she looks at the dainty robes
o following with time-that held to
II many loving stitches, were oil to dell
:. cate and pure for any other bah
,s touches. AS she waits, falls som
d whisper from the faraway, keep theI
>, no longer give them all away to som
d mother, poor, may be, like Mary and Il
Il giving your treasure to brighten som
B. heart, yours will not be unblessed."
d She needs the words, and the arm
about her throat are warm; yes, warmt
..ar than sealskin, as the hoarde
3 store Is sent down the sask stFeet,,
re- Christmas morning, 40 the chime
TO ring out and the steeple lofts seem nea
~ or heaven, and the diamond dust
st s!fted down in q thousand sparkles, II
it MS peep in and see what Santa Clar
I'd has done for Hannah's rosy flock. ls
10 the same room where, yesterday, "
ID looked for patch of red Why 1t
u brilliant now and glowing everywher
t To be sure, there is Roy's drum, re.
ls bird sled, gum boots and crimson mi
ut tens, in all more than enough to mai
th l'Ned's heart bubble over with glee.
a Santa Claus has not forgotten the
" this time. Eppie has baby that wi
W 40 to sleep on time-a model for a
other babies-and our wise Lucy hi
I'd frills and ruffles. the like OF whiG
70 never was seen before. Even grandn
OF has a soft shawl, and is 80 glowing th
40 one looking at her bright eyes can b,
ID think of witch. hazel blossoms on Il
es leafless branches of late autumn.
III So, then, last year wasn't Roy's Ia
or Christmas, for this must be his Chrit
Is, mas, too. Will this he the last y
co no. Do you think the shaft Of celesti
re- sunlight that Is shining on Hams
or Merles' home will be dimmed by al
&c cycle of years ? Do you think the ben
he diction that lowered over Helen Ha
Of. lett's heart, as she sent her dead boy
ct. playthings on mission Of love, W
ne lose its consolation in one years Gale
ed dar =?
he The tendrils of love are far-reachin
.al and they entwine the memories OF t
dead children with the hearts of :
nd living children, and bind them sweet
nd together, and above all runs the scro
mt "For of such is the kingdom Of heaven
ke Thank God, love is older than deaf
is his footballs made music in Eden Defc
,en any teardrops fell, or ever sigh trel
int bled on the still air. aud just so sure
20 shall he again ramble over this
~ earth of ours, when every wrinkle ma
bly, by the graves shall be'smo0thed avs
her All, me I! the ebb and flow Of time,
ne- high beaked bouts Of treasure-trov
ner that went out on the returnlesB Il
of some starless midnight the sorro
ear freiRh crafts that anchored on
aw sands the bright illusions that drift
'ou into the blue mystery beyond
ny hopes that stranded on the beach,
I'VE vanished behind the breakers. A
40 1 sh altered things All, wrecks of tin
ill Again, thank God, some day the q
hes cord Of the waters shall be attuned
Ids sweetest measure; all the blessed thiI
cy, we have lost will come floating ba'
on and it must be that among the ma
are mansions there will be room to gatl
ne our found around MS and rejoice, 9