Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-12-24

CnllQ e n. ne
words are familiar to all Christendom.
For eighteen centuries they have been
warming their way into the popular heart,
and are as significant and as full of gra-
cious assurance now as when uttered by
the Man of Nazareth. When He spoke
them it was probably more as remark
intended to recall fact well understood
| by His auditors than as an admonition
only. Except ye become as little chill
dren." The words are license for that
perfect untending that brings older peo-
pie down to (up to1) the perfect inno-
cence and artless joy of babyhood and
early childhood. 1t is precious indorse-
ment of all the cooling and soft nonsense
lifted into pink ears of pudgy, bundled
babes by indulgent and pardonably proud
mothers. 1t were apology enough-if
apology were needed-for all the bolster
Gus boy-play vouchsafed byloving fathers
to their children. Except ye become as
little children" What does it mean
What but to take the laurels and bays
from the brows Of earth's greatest and
place them on the head of the king OF
the cradle? General Grant, tottering
under the honors that were showered
upon him; Kaiser Wilhelm, with the
crown of mighty empire encircling his
head, might look with hopeless envy upon
the bright-eyed, rosy-cheeked boy who as
yet knows nothing of fame, of war, and
of civic glory. There is more true hap
piness, more genuine contentment and
joy, in the laugh of lad or lassie than all
the smiles and inclinations of the head
in response to the plaudits of grateful
people. 1t is grand thing to be Wei
lington, a Napoleon, Washington. There
is something peculiarly fascinating in the
accomplishment of great and glorious
deeds; but, after all, while the deeds live
the man dies, and all self-gratulationp per-
ishes with him. The march from the
cradle to the grave is generally down hill
all the way. Some make plunge, SOON
er or later, into depths that cannot be
sounded, while others, more conserva-
tive, descend by easier gradations.
Except ye become as little children"
is fraught with precious meaning. The
kinghood of innocence is above all earth
ly dignities. The crown it wears brings
no anguish, entails no fear. Clear-eyed
and clean-hearted, the little children Of
the world stand on the heights nearest
heaven. The condescension that brings
older persons on the same plane with
them is no condescension at all, but
rather coming back to ones own best
estate. Of all the days of the year,
Christmas is the best on which to "turn
back the leaves Of life" and lay aside the
"wrinkled spoils of age" This day
marks the anniversary of the birth of the
Prince of babes, the great lover of little
children. So, let every parent let go
of care for one day and go to the little
folks, enter into their sports and claim an
interest in all their affairs, of which they
have so many of magnitude to-day. Let
the store and the office, the courtroom
and counting-room run themselves, or
not run at all-what's the difference.
Christmas is eminently the children's
day. From the gray Of early dawn-it is
the only day in winter when their eyes
open at that hour-to the latest hour at
night, let everything give way to the lit
tie autocrats whose tyranny is courted by
every man and woman who has any Of the
essence of love in his breast. Romp and
tumble and shout with them. When an
other Christmas comes, some of them
will not be here, and those that are will
by one year be that much further from
the royalty that doth so fttingly become
them. Christmas is for the children-let
everything bend to their enjoyment.