The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-18

used 20 be; that each succeeding IhIlSl-
mas has found some cherished nope or
happy prospect of the year before dlh-
MOI or paescd away: that the present
only serves 20 remind them OF reduced
circumstance and sttattened lncones-oI
the fcasts they once bestowed on hollow
friends and of the cold looks that meet
Them now. I'm adversely and misfortune.
Never heed such dismal "reminiscences
There are few men who have lived long
enough in the world who cannot CAL up
such thoughts any day in the year. Iheh
do not select the mcrrlcst or the thIee
hundred and siXty-dve for your doleiW
recollocti0ns. but draw your chalr nearer
the blazing hre-tll the glass ana seHu
round the song and if your room De
smaller than IL was q dozen years ago,
or If your glass be filled with reeklhs
punch instead Of sparkling wine. put a
good face on The matter and empty IL on
hand and I'm another, and troll OIL the
old dittv you used TO sing and thank
God it's no worse. Look on the merry
faces Of your children Qf you have any
as fncv SIT around the fire. one little
seat may De empty; one slight form mat
fladdened the fathers heart and roused
the mothers pride 10 look upon may not
be there Dwell not upon the past Inllk
not that one short year ago the Iair chllu
now resolving into dust sat before you
with the bloom of health upon its cheeK
and Tire eayety Of infancy in its Joyous
eve. Reflect upon your present blessings
OF which every man has many-hot on
your past misl0rtunes, Of which all men
have some. Fiji your glass again, with
a merry face and contented heart our
life on H. but your Christmas snall De
merry and your new year happy one!
Tncsa were the words Of Charles
Dickens. who more than any other man
has warned the human heart toward this
most beautiful festival Of the year
Those OK us who belong to an older
generation remember with what eager
ness and impotence We awaited me an
nual Christmas story from the pen OF
fhis master THE Christmas Carol,
''The Chimes" "The Cricket on the
hearth" the three immor,als, we're first
published before some Of us haI learned
10 read but "Augby Junction, Mrs.
Lirriper's Lodgings" Mrs. Iirrirer's
Legacy" somebody's Luggage and all
that came after the sixties we've ha'led
BY YOU ana me as the others had Teen
hailed by our parents. a dickens Chtlst-
mas story was as much It part oil cur
Christmas celebration as the tHrKoY tnd
cranberry sauce. What, then, more IL
ting than to serve some of those n"Vei-
to-be-equalled dinners 10 q -ew Geaela a.
ton Of readers
Christmas Day was TO Dickens SAYS
Edwin D. Whipple, both 4 holiday and
Il holy DAY; q day given over ID l,stiWly
end sat the same time conservation TO bene-
ficence; n day i'm which joy was asso-
clated with the diffusion and rlu TT lea
ton Of joy, so that the pleasure OF each
person was increased u proportion TO ne
number OF persons that participated IN 1T;
q day, in short. in which the jolhties or
life Joined hands with the charities and
universal good cheer stood forth rs an
expression of the spirit OF universal love.
There is a great deal Of eating and drink
ing in these stories, but then, as has been
said, Dickens "Christianizes eating and
drinking and contrives to make the
stomach in some odd way an organ Of
the soul" There is SAVIOR and flavor
about Dickens Christmas dinner that
10 white capped chef can give. Delmonico
could NOT have cooked Bob Cratchits
goose or Toby Weeks tripe
Al of Dickens Christmas dinners are
not in his Christmas stories. Shall you
ever forget the Christmas dinner in
Great Expectations" There was dear
Joe Gargcry and Mrs. joe" just hold
ing back a rampage that fat Old hypo-
critic, Uncle Pumblechook; Wopsle and
the HubDl"S, 10 say nOUnaB OF ZIP, All
waiting for the pork pie that never
came, and for reasons best known to the
latter. And the Christmas in "Pick-
wick" DO you remember that inimita-
bic chapter and how it opens
We write these words now, many miles
distant from the spot at which. year after
year We met on that day, a merry and
Joyous circle. Many of the hearts that
throbbed so gayly then have ceased to
beat; many of the looks that shone so
brightly then have ceased 10 glow; the