Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-24
Santa Claus's Ambassador.

The authoe of the acute observation
! that Christmas comes but once a year"
was doubtless one Of those philosophers
whose name and fame are enveioped in
the mist OF ages, while his discovery has
become re PERPETUAL lament Of infancy.
The year that to adults slips by as a
watch In tho night, crawls with less than
snails pace to eager, impatient childhood.
40. it's so long before Christmas" has
been an exclamation of regret in every
household where there were little ones
who were permitted TO hope that Santa
Claus would soon be there" Many a little
one has rebelled against waiting many a
sob and sigh there have been as the
months. weeks, days. hours. went slowly
by. Many dear one, too, guessing
and wondering how far off the happy day
was, has fallen into that dreamless sleep
which is so full Of peace for the sleeper
and leaves such helrt-aches for those left
TO mourn.
To childhood Santa Claus stands for
fortune distributing his favors." and he
knows what no other fancy-born Fortune
ever knew-what each child wants and
what is good for II. Marvellous is his
memory; wonderful his information, as to
each prattler's expectation. And what IS
better still he brings none but good gifts;
he comes not with JOY in one hand and
sorrow in the other Where he goes, no
traces of tears are left, but sounds OF Joy
and gladness follow him ON his travels as
ne circles the globe. Alasl We cannot but
pity the child that has not experienced this
deluslon. There have been mothers and
f. theirs who have set their faces as flints
against the deceit, and they were we'll
meaning people, too but they were wise
above what is written. No statistics that
we know Of. none in the musty tones Of
the Census Bureau, none treasured in
family archives, none preserved in neigh
icrhood tradition. record that their chill
dren grew up to happier or better man.
hood or womanhood than the sons and
daughters OF the households where Santa
Claus was believed in.
In the preparation for Santa Claus's
coming, the mother rooted her love deep
in her children's hearts. She was his
ambassador. She it was who held out the
expectation of Santa Clauss rewards.
She It was who curbed the children's i'm
patience at the slow-coming Of Christ
mas and guided their expectations to such
gifts as her modest purse could afford.
Childhood could not understand. but ma
tire age can, how often she must have
shaved and stinted to make good for
Santa Claus every promise that she had
given In his name. Santa Claus is q fic-
ticn; It panied US to discover this, but we
have Known 1t these many years. Wa
lave pullec off his srow-hecXed Eur cap:
we have stripped Tim of his patriarchal
Tea rd we have -altn off MS great coat
end eased him Of his boots, AMI in his
stead we nEd-the little mother Fiction
gives place TO fa,;; illusion disappears IN
The light of happl,- reality.
The sane lips pour into chidhood's'
es ger ear the story OF Santa Claus. aol
that of the Babe of Bethlehem. What diff
fculties there are in the way maternal
instinct finds and removes.
lhus Christmas becomes douhly pre-
cious. Thas is implanted the seed OF re-
lrion. Which finds rs best soil in families
which have had the most caressing moth
ers And so childhood drifts away upon
the stream Of time. carrying memories 10
beauty ord illumine age. And such aga
IcipeuaJy renews its youth thinking OF
the days lang syne.