The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-12-25
CHRISTMAS.

which The HERALD sends 10 all its
readers, and 10 everybody else this
morning. We greet the old childrep
and the young, and the middle-aged,
and 10 al We wish a Merry Christmas
There Is no doubt as 10 what the boys
aud girls will do. They Will laugh and
be merry, and enjoy themselves TO the
utmost. They wouldn't be the boys
aud girls of Christian fathers and
mothers II they didn't. So deeply i'm
pressed in child nature has become the
Christmas, that not 70 be merry on
this anniversary is not to be human.
The child who doesn't know how TO
rollick and be joyful to-day, has lost
something in his training and inspira-
ton which can never be recovered.
One of the sweetest features of modern
life has been denied him, and he will
90 through the world q gloomy
and sorrowful creature, showing
in his countenance and conduct
the lack of that which makes life most
enjoyable. Nor is there reason why
those who are children no longer should
not brush aside score or more of years
and bring themselves nearer TO the
place occupied by the little ones; no
reason why the grown up children
should not be juvenile again in action
and thought, at least TO a moderate ex-
tent. Gray wisdom and educating ex-
perience can be forgotten for the time,
while beautiful lessons are being
learned from the little ones-lessons of
faith, Of love, of kindness and of the
merriment which smoothes the wrin-
kles and Tears the film from the eye Of
age. II the children of larger growth
refuse to enjoy such occasions,
they soon loose their hold on
the generous, tender and hopeful
side of life; if they decline to enjoy the
enjoyment of children they cast shad-
ows athwart sweet little countenances,
and bring clouds where sunshine should
pervade. Children ought not to think
that age is all WEAKNESS and that ex-
perience is full of bitterness; but rather
70 be impressed with the idea that to
grow old is to grow in happiness, in
purity. in the power to enjoy ard the
desire and. ability to please; they should
feel that old hearts stain their sweetness
and that love is forever young. 1t is q
fact that all that is good and worthy in
life leads us back TO the simplicity and
purity of childhood.
There are two degrees of pleasure for
the grown up children in connection
with the merry-making of the little
ones on Christmas day; one, and the
lesser d'gree, comes from be-
ing interested spectators of the
innocent enjoyment Of the Juyen-
lies, and the other and far brighter de-
gree, is to become participants in the
general hilarity. There may be a gro
tesqueness about our cspers and a
clumsiness in our movements, but then
it is Christmas and our awkwardness
only makes the noisy merriment the
more enjoy able.
Who cannot recall Christmas,s of.lcng
ago? Who cannot sit by the fire and
run through his mind q long train of
Christmases with their joys and pleas
ures, their mad frolics and wild jollihca-
tons, their purest loves and innocent
condolences; their surprises and salts
factions7 Who when he brings up the
pale procession, and regilds the car
riages as they pass along, filed with
loving companions and child friends Of
the dim past, does not feel happier
and better for the vision which his
memory has spread before him7 Sor-
rows and sadness may be recalled, but
if they have brought their gentle in
Huence, they Will not be unpleasant re-
membranes.
Christmas has come, and will 60 as
Others have come and gone, but let it
pass With its enjoyments so fashioned
and lite pleasures so impressed that the
children of to-day, when they shall
have become groEn-up children, and
shall sit by the fire and coniure up tie
christmas procession, will be able to
distinguish this one as the troop goes
by as a most precious remembrance.