Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1897-12-08
A LETTER FROM THE
CITY BY THE SEA.
"A Little Christmas Sermon
Previous to the Day.
ARGUS BREACHES OF SANTA CLAUS GIFTS.
ALL ABOUT THE LITTLE BABIES. AND THE
BIG BABIES, THE NEEDS OF THE POOR
AND THE DUTIES OF THE RICH, AND SOME
TIMELY PHILOSOPHY UPON YOUTH AND
OLD AGE.

AND THE DUTIES OF THE RICH, AND SOME
TIMELY PHILOSOPHY UPON YOUTH AND
OLD AGE.
Business is still improving as Christ
mas draws near and the store windows
begin to be dressed up to attract the
attention of the little ones, and the big
ones, too, as for that matter, for whereas
the man or the woman who has grown
so old or SO big that they have lost all in
terest in the mythical "Old Chris and his
wonderful outfit. Show me such a one
and / will show you q person whose
usefulness in the world is limited to a
selfish consideration of themselves, and
was glad to notice in the last number
of the Press thoughtful editorial sug-
gestiOn that the people of your Borough
get together and help the poor children
to sMerry Christmas"
How big Christmas looks to the
children, and what an event it is in
their lives! Think Of the dear little ex-
pectant hearts and bright eyes who are
happy in the belief that Kris Kringle
comes to them especially, as of old, laden
with toys and sweets and q thousand
other pretty things that nobody but
himself keeps in stock for them!
And think, too, of the older babies,
with hair turning gray and eyes grow
ing dim, butNkhose memory of former
cherished holidays brings a smile to their
faded cheeks, and perhaps tear to their
eyes as these Christmas times remind
them of their loved and lost who have
"gone before" to a better landl But
when they look around them there
is still enough to be thankful for, and to
remind them that they are not yet
beyond the loving care of the Great
Master. They live again in their
children and their grandchildren, and
when they look into their eager, ex-
pectant, innocent little faces they can
still realize that the world is not all
darkness and sorrow. Busy hands are
at work making pretty things for the
big ones, so that all may partake of the
Christmas gifts that flood thu land at
this season of the year. repeat, what |
said before, that when one has become
so narrow-minded and selfish that he no
longer takes an interest in children and
childish plans he is the sort of chap that
can well be spared, and when he goes he
won't leave much of hole in the COM
munity.
Remember the poor-of whom the
Great Master said Eye have always with
you" What a day Christmas is to
them What gratitude they feel to
those who help them How they must
while they have nothing Do we not
I -
acquaintance, whose heart we can
gladden. with some token of good cheer
And the children Of the poor. often
think that they, more than all Others,
are to be pitied. They do not under
stand why they are reared in poverty
and clad in rags while Others Of their
age are Graded in luxury and loaded
with expensive gifts and goodies.
We old fellows, who have banged
our heads up against the troublesome
of life, and had the conceit
thumped out of us in the course of cur
rentaevents, may be able to coDjure up
some plausible explanation but the
children have not learned to reason of
cause and effect, of birth, heredity, or
and they only see things as
they are and lament their condition. 1t
seems to me that gift to the poor is
double gift, and Cike the mercy that
fair Portia invoked, lit blesses him who
gives and him who receives" 1t seems
to me that the memory of joyful thanks,
and sparkling eyes and smiling faces
ought to be sufficient compensation for
q few Christmas gifts from out the
abundant store of those who are bless
ed with more than their share OF this
worlds goods. Again say with Him
for whom the day is named, Remember
the poor" for such charity returns a
thousand fold to those who give willing
ly, wisely and well. do not mean by
this that it will return thousand fold
in money, for you cannot measure good
deeds in money, but it will come back in
the broader measure of q clearer con-
science, higher manhood and a more
sympathetic heart. W Now Mr.. Editor, I
expect you are about ready to declare
that am not expected to write ser
mons, and that you are able to write
them yourself if any are needed. Quite
true but can't help remembering that
was once child myself, and my heart
warns toward the little fellows | see
peeping into the store windows and
wondering what Old Santa Claus is GO
ing to bring them. am old, now, and
getting barefooted on top of my cram
ium, but the thought of rocking horses,
and tin-rattles for the baby, and new
boots and sIeds for the boys, and doll
babies and candies for the girls sets the
blood coursing through the veins, and
feel as young Hs some of those
who foot up score or more years
less than do. What q mistake we
sometimes make when we measure age
by years. Some Of the youngest people
ever knew had white hair, or no hair
at all, but they had passed, long since,
the bounds that mark the allotted days
of man. What visions of dear, sweet
old faces can recall when | remember
some who have "passed on" and others
who are still with us. cannot think of
them as old people, for their hearts are
ever young, and will be till they die.
They are perpetual benediction, and
their presence makes gladness and sun
shine all around. Contrast them with
the selfish, morose, cold calculating
young people, of either sex, whose
smiles are seldom seen, whose hearts are
closed to every human impulse, and
whose very existence in q happy circle
seems like an apology. One makes you
feel that the clouds are being brushed
away to invite the radiance of the sun,
while the other makes you feel as if
night was prematurely coming on.
For myself, / cannot tolerate the
peevish, the heartless, the sanctimon-
ious, that hates all the merriment, the
vivacity and hilarity of youth. Give me
the shouting boy happy with his Christ
mas gifts, and the rosy checked girl sing
ing sweetly to her dolls, and Satan may
sieze, for aught / care, all the melan-
choly brood of whining old women, Of
either SEX, and all ages, who don't want
to take any comfort themselves and
don't want anybody else to Amen