Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1888-12-26
CHRISTMAS EVE rHoUeHTs.

Merry Christmas to all and to all q rood
night" They are the words Of the tinkling
verses which are az familiar and as likely to
be enduring as any lines In our literature.
The man who wrote them 10 not counted
among our poets, and whileeverybody knows
the visit from st. Nicholas" nobody prob
ably can recall any other poem Of the author.
It was his good fortune to put into brisk and
melodious form the universal Christmas feel.
ing, and to describe Santa Claus a. the fancy
ofchildhood sees him. Tho good giver OF
gifts is the true genius Of the season. 1t is a
giving which does not invite nor permit the
refinements Of philosophy and speculation
upon their spiritual fitness, but with gen.
erous hand showers them upon old and
young as the rain descends upon the just and
the unjust. 1t In the great and aflluent Civ
ing Of food and drink and dolls and toys and
all that rejoices the heart OF man or boy.
Yet it il undeniable that this tradition of
Santa Claus has become almost a. oppressive
as IL 10 delightful. Santa Claus himself, In
deed, has the cap Of Fortunatue. His baskets
and stores are selfrcplenishing, and when he
arrives upon the roof the very gifts for every
age and taste peer out Of his pockets and
push themselves into his hands, and he has
only to slide down the chimney, and there are
the capacious stockings eagerly awaiting him
and ready to stretch to the utmost to re-
ceive his gracious largess. Santa Claus is a
happy fellow, rs indeed how could the foun-
tain Of snch universal happiness help beingf
The Pied Piper ID only one of hia disguises,
and II we could once catch that dancing der
wish We should ind that the merry music to
which all the children caper 10 morsiy the be.
witching tale Of the coming gifts at Christi
mas.
The disciples Of Santa Claus, his viceroys
saint himself. To sally FORTH to at yourself
ont as Santa Claus is one Of the most be-
wildering Of delightful undertakings. A poor
book-loYer whom We knew used to say that
the only way to save his money was to 60
Into all the book stores. and in seeing that be
could not buy everything that he wanted be
was reconciled 10 buying nothing. 10 at
Christmas the embarrassment Of riches mod.
crates expense and the gaping stocking IL in
danger Of going unfed from the very fullness
Of the possible supply. The fascinated and
confused loiterer, Us willing to buy one thing
ms another and unable to buy all, stares and
admires and universally desires and buys
nothing In the happy enchantment Of the
spectacle everything seems to him fairsr and
more attractive than anything else, and he
rcturns, how often! jaded. delighted, dared,
with his head full Of fanci~s and his heart q
emotions but with his hands empty.
The empty -handesl, however, are not al.
The full handed, indeed, are themselves ons OF
the pleasantest Christmas spectaclss. The
satisfaction Of the disciple who hastens home
ward conscious that he has secured what
every stocking at his chimney desires is = -
rene ~ that Of the parent bird wingine neat
ward with the plumpest Of worms Ia his hin.
That sweet smile Il the forecast Of childish
happiness. The besming parental faces glow
With the light Of happy homes. The strsst
seems to Be full OF hurryins bsnedictiops-
Merry Christmas to an. and 10 all . good
night"