The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-12-20
rcoyYp,onr 1872, ny cnElnIsE TrRauvE HER.

LCoPYRIdHF 1892, by CHRISTINE TERHuSE HER
RtcE.l
Christmas is par enhance the chill
drcn's feast. If any one doubts it, he
has only to compare the holiday in .
home where there are no children with
tho celebration where there is even one
olive branch. The more OF these the
msrrier. Ono OF the times when there
can hardly be too big quivertul is at
holiday time-that is to say. so far as
enjoyment is concerned. On tho finan-
clal sido Of the question opinions may
differ.
Yet, properly trained children are us.
ually unexacting little creatures, who
have as keen enjoyment in cheap play
things and inexpensive gifts as in the
costly productions Of the French or
German toy-maker.
MANY WONDERFUL TALES.
The wise parents. knowing wquickly
the time Of beautiful child-faith must
pass, cherish all the sweet baby beliefs
"a long as they can. They tell wonder
fultales OF Santa Claus, or Kriss Krlngle,
or ST Nicholas-the benefcent Christ
mas saint is the same under any alias
thew repeat and teach the blessed ballad
Of "The Night before Christmas" they
rise to the dignity OF a state ceremony
the business Of banging up stockings.
and in general way make the most OF
the sweet, merry mystery surrounding
the great holiday.
There aresome people W no depreciate
the teachings concerning dear old Santa
Claus. and say that when a child learns
that the saint Is q myth he loses O por-
tion Of his faith in his parents truth
fulness and in their instructions con-
corning other and more sacred myster-
ies. The objection seems OF little force.
II the story of the Christmas saint Is
told, as are the tales OF fairies, gnomes,
ana other sprites, the child's serious
faith is seldom shaken by the gradual
awakening to, the perception that the
beloved Santa Claus is only another
myth, parable, like that of Jack Frost,
who paints the colored leaves Of autumn
with a touch OF his chilly finger, and
locks the lakes and streams by blast OF
his icy breath.
Il is not wise for the father and moth
er who tell the Santa Claus fiction to
insist upon its truthfulness as they do
upon that OF the Babe in the manger,
but they will readily learn to grade tho
emphasis they place upon either story.
TEACH CHILDREN BENEvoLENcE.
Children are defrauded of their ahare
in the best lesson Of Christmas if they
are not encouraged in making gifts.
The end in view is not gained whom the
elders purchase gifts to be made in the
name Of the little ones. The childish
piyers have then none OF the Joy OF
planning their presents, the pleasure OF
winning appreciation by their thought
for others. 3
be suggested to the children that they
lay aside part OF their weekly pocket
money toward the purchase OF gifts;
This plan should not be enforced
against child's own wishes, but its ad-
yantages should be pointed out, and
stress laid upon the blessedness OF Civ
inc. The children arc usually the
souls Of generosity, bless theml and
willing to impoverish themselves for
the sake of others.
But saving Is not all that should be
taught. Even very young fingers may
be trained to shape gifts, and the
mother or father will cherish the tiny
book.mark or pin-cushion or mat, work
ed in curious stitches unknown In
. South Kensington, more tenderly than
the costly gifts that do not represent
the labor Of small hands.
Do not deprive the children Of the
delight Of being your almoners in your
gifts 10 the poor. They will never for
get the lessons of benevolence they
learn at this age, and for the rest OF
their lives they will be unwilling to
deny themselves the bessedness OF CIV
SWEET LOVE RRcoLLEcTloNs.
The Joy of Christmas should never be
clouded by any bitter associations in
the minds Of the children. Never let q
switch find its way into the Christmas
stocking. The punishment OF such a
modification aud disappointment may
seem merited in the eyes Of the mother.
Il would not could she for moment
enter into the feelings in the depth of
the childish heart wounded by the
cruel rebuke. There is no fault say
it advisedly-worthy of SO bitter pen.
On Christmas, "the sweet o the
wear" to the little ones, let there be no
shadow of pain, Of rebuke, Of sorrow
that the elders can by any effort spare