The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-25
WHEN ALL ARE AS CHILDREN.
This Is the Season of softening Influence
and fnnocency.
Selected for THE TINES

t~cittACt TOT titI LINES
Nearly nineteen centuries ago wise men
and simple shepherds celebrated. at an
humble inn az Bethlehem, the first Christ
mas. and united in alteration Of little
child. Iudea + distant country, and
nineteen hundred wears are long time, but
the song which was heard by awe-stricken
shepherds in the fields still echoes over the
world. and rs long as children are on the
earth the great festival Of the Chrisf-child
will be observed. Al It's mention the heart
0f ;hristeudom gives great. glad throb,
suffering aud sadness are assuagod,
elders remember that they once were
may never grow old. man IT.
collects that he has fellows, and strifes and
enmitios are forgotten for the time In the
general gladncss and goodwill.
People may Try to shut out its influence.
but they cannot. IL pervades with equal
force the luxurious home Of the millionaire
and the sgualid garnet Of the paupcr; the
newsboy feels il as he calls his wares. and
wonders why the merchant who usually
gives him a scowl has given him quarter;
| the poor woman who hurrcs home with
real turkey and fresh vegetables has IL in
her heart, though her happiness is equalled
/ hy that of the richly dressed women whose
! kind hearts and abundant means have re-
suited in tightening, IL only for day, the
| lives OF their care-worn sisters; and employ
ers and employees exchange genuine we'll
wishngs.
Money comes down from its high pedes-
tai a. the god of grecdiness aud becomes
one Of the humble attendants at the shrine
of love; the man with the small pocket
book wishes that il was larger that hc
might use its contents 10 please larger
number. and the tramp with only dime I'm
the world feel. Ike sharing IL with the next
unfortunate devil hc meets. Christmas
untles the purse strings. warns the heart,
and draws the corners OF the mouth up
wards.
Modern refinement and the rush and crush
Of American civilization have robbed its
observance OF many Of the Dois'erous. though
hearty and honest, features. which pre-
vailed before people were laced up in law
or restrained by the conquest of urbanity
over rural simplicity. But the mind inyol-
unfairly follows it, many pleasant customs
back % ,heir birth in Darhlrsm and pagan
ism. and 10 is not shocked nj finding behind
the dr3pery Of Christmas the gay toggsry
of the >aturnaiia. The waNen berries OF
ihe m.stietoe recall the time, half
iiluminod 10y the aurora OF Scandi-
naNian mythology. when the bOugh had
a more fatal power over man than that re-
sutiug in the easement OF wounded heart,
the garlands Of evergreen and holly frame "A
picture. the dark lines OF which are softened
by they ale logs smoke, OF British Druids
busy with the rites attending the winter
s0l-t.co. and the Christmas tree has faint
scent which IN lost ia the deep rccesses OF
Ieutonc forests.
Turning from The hay pictures OF anti
quity. here are scenes OF lofty oaken halls
of armed retalnors, curious ycomen
thrOngng the windows and Railways, OF
wassall bowls ana tagons OF hOme-hrcwcd
passed rapidly around the board. which has
borne the weight of pastry, Drawn, sirloin.
smoking pOrrid-c. the grlnning bOar's head
and the peacock pie. ihe Lord Of Misrule
has fun sway, the mummers tickle the ris-
Utilities OF the old folks and nearly scare To
death the Youngsters; the waits stroll from
door 20 door singing God rest you, merry
Gentlemen, and various other carols, and
having light hearts and heavy purses. You
can almost hear their voices uniting in the
sounds Of reyelry from the banquet hall and
the glad anthems In the parish church.
Though you cannot Ina reality get back 10
those times, You may approximate your
Christmas rejoicing o. them. Though you
mas not care 10 initiate Sir Roger de Cover
ly in ali things. it viii not harm YOU b fol-
low his example in aiding to rejoice the
hearts of the poor town people or villagers.
II yOu cannot have peacock pie YOU may find
a clew toa substitute in the contemplation of
sir. jracehridge's pheasant pie. Hundreds
OF Tiny Tim. are pning for a rightly Christ
mas dinner and thousands Of little waits
though they may not be match siris-arc
evolving from tho.r dsOrdcred imagina.
tons mIragcs Of warm rooms, and sayly
bedecked frees. which YOU might make re-
alties by embodying the mythical st. Nicho-
las IN Yourself.
Do some liille by word or action. 10 make
others have happy Christmas, and yours
will Doe so much the happier, whether YOU
call IL N0cl, lule-tde or Christmas.