Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-12-27

THE ROSARY OF A RAMBLER



associations pertain to the little peo-
pie. They appreciate it's spirit, often
times as we Older people can not do.
The hurry of the preparation that pre-
cedes and the disappointment that fol-
lows the giving and receiving of gifts
they do not know. For the average
child wants everything and viii be
pleased With next to nothing. Does the
little boy or girl stop to reckon the cost
Of his gifts and compare them with
others? OF course not Why. a dear lit
lie girl whose stocking could not have
held one-tenth OF the presents she re-
ceived liked best of all a toy rabbit
bought at 10-cent counter, and when
she trudged off to bed at dark a tired
but happy little girl. Funny was
taken along and in the morning he was
Tightly clasped in the little arms.
$50.
1t is a discussion. revived every holt
day time. yet one which seems to never
grow old shall or shall not the chill
dren be taught the legend of Santa
Claus? The evils OF prevarication and
1.-The dire effects OF a lost confidence are
portrayed in livid hyperbole by those
who would abolish the custom. The
l.first premise of their argument is
wrong. There is all the difference in
1.-the world between a lie and a fable
ard child is discerning enough to app
lspraciate that difference. Very gradual
Ily one leaves behind The details of the
story. but ii is a good thing when one
lneXer outgrows the story altogether.
flor 1t is ore filed To overhowing
with love ard cheer and generosity.
There are many beautiful fairy stories
| in the worls. and as psychology has;
been studied in connection With
Ichild DEVELOPMENT their ethical value
1has been recognized. A more beauti-
lful fairy story than that of ne jolly
little man With his pack and his rein
deer--who. of us. could originate one
Hit has gained the dignity of years, ye1
| its charm never grows less. Nor VIE
it 50 long as there are happy children
land loving fathers and mothers in the
land. We learn many things as we
grow from childhood to maturity We
1know we can never find the magical pot
I1f gold at the end of the rainbow; we
know that the fairies do not dance at
might upon the lawn: we know there is
i no man in the moon; we may ever
i come to know that father is not the
greatest man in the world. and with it
! AN. we will come to know that there is
not one Santa Claus. I:ut the pretty
4 beliefs will not have hurt US or 81
faith and as we grow into the old
4 generation i, shall be as much our de-
i Hight 10 play the part Of the jolly SAINT
las It once was to wait and watch fo,'
j him.
i The law OF compensation is Learned
i early in life. One does not receive
/ something for nothing. yet there are
various forms of payment. An unique
| one MAS that proposed Christmas day
4 by little negro boy. Nothing excites
the Ire of this tiny 3-year-old more
than 10 have the color OF his skin mem
i toned IN derisive way. but when he
j saw he coveted cart which a fair
skinned playmate had received desire
j overcame pride and in pleading tones
he said: Say, Henry let me- ride in
yeuail cart and Ill let you call me Mig
gah for half an houis.'' Needless SAY
he had his ride.
She is one Of the dearest Attic girls
in all the world. and for days before
EChrstmas she was busy preparing gifts
a for her little friends IS name after
name was mentioned her moths, Of
fered a slight lemonstranee. Why,
Mamma, / haven't very many-enly
thirty" she said That number seems
quite large for the friends accumulated
in the eight short years of her life, but
friends are the reward of thought and
Hone. and she was lavish with both II
was a sight to do even cynic good e
see her elesfully CARRYING her little
gifts TO her friends. II takes some OF
us many times eight years 10 really fee
jldeep down IN our hearts that II is
more blessed to give than TO receive
So much depends upon the taste Of
the Individual. This fact we all know
but as we know our friends and care
for them more after We have seen then
in all phases OF existence. so varying
occurrences illustrate principles ant
make US see their meaning. 4 youns
; liady of the city Who was the recipien
of elegant Christmas gifts almost too
i | numerous TO mention as the would
! be writer's say. received by mail {
r Christmas card which can be called
"A nothing but atrocious. 1t was of cellu
Hold ana lace paper and ribbon and in
4 scribed With fervent notices. 1t VA!
: the gift OF 4 man. for years a servan
: in her fathers farEily from the time h.
+ came LITTLE lad in a strange land alon,
. and frienciess to that home. until j
Was broken up by death and loss. Sh,
: was a little girl then. as ne was littl'
{ boy aud Inc friendship of the itti
: lady and the devotion of the little SER
Want were sucn that time and distance
are OF no avail 70 dissolve them. Blu
. touched as she was by the reinem
: brance, The young lady could not bu
) smile as she looked at 1t, so incongru
! Gus an object among the dainty gifts
q Yet ii was almost envied by one be
q liolaer. An old, hard working woman
;. into whose life has come 80 little o
= anything but work and poverty, wa
looking at the gifts a dainty waite
/, color, an elegant piece of cut glass,
!, rare old bit of jewery and Roycrofte
: book received a modicum of prais
: until she caught sight of the gay care
;. With a cry of delight she picked it vi
ard holding il off at arms length as
to enhance its charm. she said: Nov
i there's a present what is a present.
The young lady could have tainted, bu
. she is wondering why she should fe.
Il that her own taste is SO superior. AT
ter all, ii is well that everyone does nc
long for cut glass.