The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-12-20

They Have a Charm for Which q Christmas
Tree Offers Poor Substitute.


Tree Offers Poor Substitute. la
NewYork Ledger.
The Christmas tree is all very well: it is
splendid" In fact. and how beautiful ie
looks with the candles lighted and the
bright-tinted balls and bells. and eggs and
hearts. and stars shining all over It. bnt jt
10 nothing to the stocking in the chimney
place on Christmas eve. Have the tree by
all means. But If you want to make tho
children happy don't omit the stockings
1t Is English and fashionable to have the
tree. with all the annts. and uncies and
cousins asked, and gifts for every body. and
music. and dancing, and games. and cakes,
and oranges. and candies, aud lemonade. and
funny recitations, and all sorts of things
But oh, the stockings. When every one
has brought pair of the longest aud big
gest. and papa has taken pains TO hang
them so that they are strong, and all Is
quite still in the street and it is bedtime.
what wonderful ideas come into the little
minds, and what pleasant memories into
those of the grown-ups. What mvthcr
would like to miss the little exhibition ~<
hope and faithf The child who trusts
most ardently In the benevolent Santa
heavens mercies in his after life; for Santa
Claus always comes when he Is expected.
and when mother and father hang the
stockings up he is sure to put something
IN them.
How swiftly the little feet fly upstairs
when mamma calls: bedtime. darlings."
How little frocks and aprons slip from the
pretty shoulders: and when the prayers are
said the heads are ready for the white pill
lows, and every little eye shuts MP at once.
The children are going to sleep right OFF,
to bring morning nearer But when the
lights are out 1t is not so easy. surely,
that was the tlnklo OF eleigh-bells. Surely
that is sound in the chimney. Suppose
poor Santa Claus should get stuck there
come night and be smothered before he was
gotten ont" Bessie suggests that. But
DAISY says: "He couldn't. He isn't like
folks" And they are glad 10 think In.
Tom, with a troubled consclence-he did
nip that piece out of the mInce PIE on the
pantry shelf-asks Willie IL he believes
that Santa Claus ever puts rods in bad
boys stockings to whip them with. And
Willie replies, with q thrill in his voice. for
he feels that the very idea is an insult to
his old saint:
NO, of course not lie is roo nice. He Is
like grandpa"
Then iom says that he has min to 60
downstairs and take a psci. nd how
jolly it would be to see Santa Claus's legs
coming down. He says this every Christ
mas eve; but he never does it, and he never
will:
is on the roof. Some one is moving in the
dining room. Tom covers his head with
the quilt, and he does not say what he was
going to say about asking Santa Claus to
take HIM out with him some night, as the
IUllkmh0 ulQ one mOIuluR III us eIcJku.
Tom feels that this is a solemn moment.
and that he had better 60 to sleep. I.l'i
And suddenly il IS morning. They have
all been sound asleep. How funny nff ose
hours have gonei Ii seems such waste OF
time to wash. and dress. and lave curls
brushed, but it must be done. Then down
CHATTER the little feet. and there sit mamma
and papa, and their opinion 10 that the
stockings are very full, as indeed they are.
The old saint has had TO put come of his
gifts on the mantel-piece or on chairs. And
oh, the dolls. Oh. the tea-set. Oh, the
carts and horses and steam-engines, oh.
the wonderful beautiful gifts.
How did Santa Claus know that /
wanted my doll To have parasolW cries
Bessie.
And there is nothing but JOY in Toms
heart. for he has little Photographic out
fit.
Santa Clans" he says, lis the kindest
person ever heard Of"
Oh. il is out of the stockings that the
great Christmas fun comes for the chill
dren. Let MS have them always by our
fresides while there are children in our
homes.