The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-12-28
CHRISTMAS TIME.

said that it is an inheritance of many
| ancestors, an exotic treasure trans
ferred from many and different lands.
| And in sense it is, and because of
this it is rich in beautiful legends and
sweet stories such as is the inheri-
lance of no other day. In fact none
of the other days observed as holidays
have that inspiration for that wealth
of legend and tender memories which
cluster around this day of days.
1t is prominently child's day, and
yet no less belongs to those of mature
years, though the SHOWS of winter
have sprinkled their silver threads
upon the brow, and takes them back
to childhood days again. But it is a
day of childish delight and happiness,
and who is there who would raise a
| hand to interfere Herewith. For all
too soon the hard and rugged cares OF
| the world will rest upon their Shout
ders, and the solace coming to their
tired souls, may be the brightness of
Christmas time of long ago.
TO the child Santa Claus is real
living parsonage, blest with an in
exhaustable supply of all that is
dear to the childish heart, and when
he first realizes that it is all a myth,
the first feeling is that the dearest
friend OF his little life had departed.
but he soon overcomes this, and the
Santa Claus myth becomes the pleas
ATTEST recollection of his life, and as
in after years little ones gather about
his fireside and he listens to their
childish prattle of good St. Nick, he
can close his eyes and almost believe
that the old myth is a true living
story.
And what does Christmas really
mean? There may be some with an
IngersOllian tinge to their makeup,
who scott at the observance of the
day and declare that it is mere mat
ter of sentiment. Is it? Down deep
in their hearts, do they really believe
it? Would a mere matter of senti-
ment based upon nothing have lived
down through the adversities of
nearly nineteen centuries, and
burn brighter, clearer, purer,
and with more noble inspiration to-
day if there were not something
stronger behind it? Hardly. Only
such beautiful and sublime character
as that of the Christ child could sur
vive the centuries and exert a greater
power upon mankind today than ever
before in all history. And it's kindly
influence goes on broadening men and
making them better, more charitable,
more thoughtful of the welfare of
others. There is something more
than mere sentiment here, for senti-
ment alone, built out of nothingness
could not accomplish such deeds. Only
ly that sentiment generated from the
living Christ could so change the
world.
The lessons drawn from Christmas
time then are many, and the influence
widespread. There is a softening of
mems hearts at that time which is not
as noticeable at any other period of
the year. And it is to be regretted, las
one of our d;vines remarked in his SER
mon yesterday, that the same kindly
feeling does not more thoroughly per-
meate the whole year. And yet, to a
certain extent, it is growing more and
more to do so. Man, as we have said,
is more charitable and more thought
full today of his fellowmen than ever
before. The pessimist, with his eyes
turned upon the past, who can see
nothing but inky blackness in the fu-
ture, longs for the 'good old times"
but they were not to be compared to
the times of today, and he who longs
for them would be the first to object
if they were restored and the present
order swept entirely away. And who
can tell if the spirit of Christmas
time with each recurring year does
not sink deeper and deeper into mems
hearts and influence them more and
more to kindlier things through the
months to come.
And so as the Christmas time of
1894 settles down upon us, let it be an
era of good feeling. Let the past,
with the harsh lines it may have cast
upon us, be shut out for the time, and
let it ever be remembered that it is
more blessed to give than to receive,
and that in carrying out this injunc-
tiOn many heart may be warmed
and strengthened to a new purpose
which has been on the verge of
despair.