Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-12-25
Childhood's Christmas,

The ideal Christmas is not the Christ
mas Of the books or Of the painters, but Is
| O beautiful leaf out of ones own early ex-
| perience. The scene was the home-circle,
and the time long ago, but the imprint
stands inefaceable on n memory that re-
fuses to record subsequent events which
we're considered of far greater conse-
ouence.
You are q child again. At your mothers
knees you listen TO the wondrous story OF
the Babe of Bethlehem: OF the angel
choir proclaiming peace on earth; Of the
Magi guided across the plains by the star
in the East, and of the salvation promised
through Him to oil the children OF men.
SANTA CLAUS is an incomprenensible and
undiscoverable reality. Already you have
heard older children throw doubts upon
his existence; but your faith in him is as
vet mistaken. He has never failed you !;
no has filed your stockings always; he
has ever OWNED what you most wished
for. and with longing desire for his coming
you complain of the almost immeasursole
distance Of time between Christmas and
Christmas.
For YOU Christmas morning meant the
qualification of every desire. It was day
of happiness. No Christmas chimes were
merrier than your art-beats, and the
angels themselves could scarcely have had
sweeter songs in their mouths than the
words of JOY that were in yours.
1t was period Of innocence and faith.
That is what makes it now such Delicious
morsel of memory. Other very precious
Christmases doubtless there were. but
their sweetness must have lessened in pro-
portion as you grew wise in the ways of
the world.
Ohappy, unquestIoning. trustful child
hood What pity it is that your attrl-
butes are so largely lost as we advance in
years. What pity it is that we must
question everything and cross-examlne
everybody, until we destroy all dear IL
lusons and sacrifice for knowledge so
many of the blessings OF ignorance
But happy is the child who. having dis
covered the identity Of SANTA CLAUS
aud spent his grief; who, having waxed in
years and developed in intelligence, finds
q secure place for the Judgment OF loftier
faith; who becomes Believer, who fixes
his trust upon the Prince of Peace, and
finds in each anniversary of his Masters
birth newborn JOY. In this there Is
compensation. and more. for all lost illu-
sions-for all OF youths delights charmed
away by increase of years and contact with
q sordd world.
He was dear lover OF children. He it
was who likened unto them the chosen of
Heaven. Their faith and Supplemented
ness always charmed Him.
Christmas il, therefore, the appropriate
festival of childhood-the season above all
others when we should do our best to
make the young ones Joyful, and when
we should seek TO plant in the virgin soil
of their minds memories which will grow
and blossom in sweetness with coming
years. As far rs parental ingenuity and
affection can make them SO, the scenes
and incidents OF the homo circle at Christ
mas should be such as NAV ever after
wards be recalled with delight.
This aim is far worthier one than that
which merely aspires to provide for the
children of the household rich presents
or sumptuous entertainments. Tho toys
will break, the JonJo1s will be eaten, the
noiso Of the fre-crackers will die out,
rockets will ascend skyward to burst in
brilhsncy and fade into nothingness,
but the freslde circle at Christmas can be
made into a tableau which IN distant years
will bring back the light Of other days
The smiles tho tears,
OF boyhoOd's years,
Tho words Of loyo then spoken;
The eyes that shone,
Now dimmel and gone,
The cheerful hearts now broken.