Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-25
TELEPHONES.
cHnrsTyAs AND MOTHERHOOD.

We doubt ii the general reader is this
morning hungerins and thirsting for his
newspaper, yet neither custom nor
the promptings of our own heart would
excuse us If We failed to come forth and
lift a cheerful voice and extend TO him
the greetings Of the season, a season
sanctified by the greatest gift of GOD 10
,nsn. cndearcd by observance through the
rolling centuries and hallowcd by i'm
pertshable memories Of the home circle.
The young people are in the majority
IN the world. and they arc having ..4e!r
FUN, as we have had ours. To-day they
eearch into the mysterious depths OF
stockings that Santa Claus has filed, or
fire bon crockers. or blow horns, or
court or firt. dance or jest, or tempt the
flowing bowl. Later on, in serious mood.
as mothers and fathers. they will have
10 make readys for the Christmas OF
a new generation. Later still. as grand
Parents their places VIII be by the CHM
ney corner. there to indulge IN more or
less pessimistic "reminiscences and COM
mare. more or less accurately, the pres
ent with the pasl-usually to the dlscred-
/. OF the former. So time passes on
slowly enough TO children waiting from
one Christmas 10 another; much, too
swiftly /, their elders, stumbling under
their several burdens.
But through all the ages the goodness
81 God appears: richer and richer. more
and moro precious seem His gift and
His promise. Through the seed Of wo-
man all the world is blessed.
And it is woman who continues to slo-
rify Christmas. What would Christmas
he without the mother?-withcut that
patient, planning. saving, soul who mas
,educed herself to a. shred almost to make
holiday for her offspring; who has
spent herself (and her money! in the
markets and shops, who has schemed
and skiniped TO make her little means so
far: who has cooked the cake, tilled the
sticking. or worn herself 10 a fragile in
aoeerating the Christmas tree,
Santa Claus is represented as a man.
IN the long ago even the angels were
iictured as men; a mistake now correct
ID With justice Sanly might be repre-
vented as a woman, though her work in
rading through the snow and descending
ing down chimneys would require her to
Fear trousers.
Yes, apart from the religious obserV-
tnce Of Christmas, II is the mother who
IS the genius OF the day. Although near
~ exhausted by the worry ard labor OF
che season, she finds all the corlpcnsa-
ton she asks in the bcaning faces Of
her children who know little OF their
indebtedness to her But in years TO
come they will be wiser. Light Will
dawn on their minds and each returning
Christmas will bring back to them her
face reillunined with the pleasure that
ehcne therein when she turned them
Moose to look upon the Christmas tree
or into the Christmas stocking.
The theme tempts US to further pro-
lixfty, but We forbear. Our first thought
io-day, after gratitude to the Almighty.
Is for the mothers who mako Christmas
what It is when it is seen at its best; who
seep alive the tenderest traditions of the
esson; and whose work and sacrl1ces
Illustrate the nobiest phases Of woman
hood To them. and to all good people,
Young aud old, within or without our
gates. ws extend the greetings of the
teason a Merry Christmas 70 all