The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1898-12-15

Auckeu away In their Deds, they
dream Of the morrow, while "vision,
Of sugar plums dance in their heads,
or else they toss about, vainly striv
ing to WOO that sweet sleep which re
fuses to close the wakeful eyes, sc
full is their brain OF the joys in store
for them.
Yes. Christmas means much to in.
nocent childhood, and as long as the
day is fraught with such JOY to those
young folks then happy, indeed, are
they, for when the glad season loses
is charm to them, then have they
passed the last milestone which
separates them from that period OIL
life when all is joy, and care is a
thing unknown. Let them enjoy the
Christmas tide, with all its Innocent
pleasures, as best they may, and let
the excuse that christmas comes
but once a year" answer for any
petty fault which may be found with
them on this day, for there never was
a more truthful saying, and moreover,
though the anniversary may come to
them for many, many years, yet only
the first few of these happy occasions
that mark their early life will bring
to them that genuine delight which,
once lost, never returns again.
THE CHRISTMAS KING.
With the children the King Of
Christmas is Santa Claus, and no
ruler Of any land, however powerful
he may be, numbers more subjects
than does this merry, jolly elf. His
vast dominion covers more territory
than does that Of tire most potent
monarch of the land. His is reign
of peace, and to his throne come no
rumors of war or rebellion. No cares
of state perplex his mind. and never
a thought of fear enters the head of
that merry old soul because lie wears
a crown. He reigns supreme in the
hearts of his millions Of loyal subjects,
and needs no standing army or pow
erful navy to insure peace over his
realm. How many ruler of to-day
might well envy this mighty mon
archl Throughout the year he sits
in state in his royal court in Green
land, happy and content, and on the
eve of Christmas he lays aside his
pipe, orders his attendants to harness
up those wonderful reindeer, ard then,
his furs about him, he seats
himself in his coach, cracks his whip, |
and to the merry tinkle of sleigh bells
is off to visit the millions of homes
throughout the Christian land.
What a wonderful undertaking it is
this great journey-but to king
whose reign has ever been one of
peace, and whose subjects have ever
been loyal, is there, after all, any
hing so very strange about it?
What would Christmas be without
he visit of this hoary old fellow.
whose eye wrinkles as merrily now as
t did when, years and years ago, he
nadehis first journey? What child
an even imagine the anniversary to
which he looks forward with such
ager anticipation each year, without
he presence of the genial saint. who
caves behind him so generously of
is pack? It's wonderful pack,
hat is, and surely must have been
lade for the old elf by some mighty
lizard. Within it are to be found
he treasures which make glad the
carts of his young friends the world )
yer. From out of the great work
hop which Santa Claus has at his
ommand come toys of every descrip-
ion imaginable, from the wax doll to
lease the little tot of 5 to the big
rum that is to be claimed by the Z
ear-old hopeful, and they all find
heir way into the pack, which the
Id fellow shoulders when he starts
ut from his Greenland home on the Y
We of Christmas.-ErUhange. i