Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1903-12-12


own they are more willing to blame the
parent for the estrangement than they
are 70 blame the child. Have you, par
ents ever tried to win back the affec-
tions of your children? Did you ever
try TO recall that cruel remark you once
made TO your obstinate boy? That re-
mark cut into his heart as q surgeons
knife burIes itself in the flesh quiyering
upon the operating table. Have you,
o parent, since that second marriage,
which so trampled upon the love or
your children, gone regularly to visit
your children, as you used to do before
their mothers death? Do you send to
them the warm, cordial invitations to
come home and insist that they come
with their families? Do you, the par
ents, try to instill into your children the
thought that their father and their
mother are absolutely dependent for
happiness upon their boys and girls
affections?
Parents, let me ask you one blunt
question. Supposing your children have
done wrong-and in all probability they
have-who ought to forgive first? Who
ought to be continually forgiving until
the old sweet relationships are re-
stored? Ought not the first forgiven, the
chief forgiven, be you, o father, o
mother, you who have been worshiplng
at Christ's feet for forty years? Ought
it not to be you rather than your child
who has not been a member OF the
church more than five years? Ought
not the father and the mother try to
show to their children forgiving ma
| lures, no matter what those children
have said or done? Remember the
prayer you have been saying ever since
you learned it at your mothers knee
Forgive us our trespasses as we for
| give those that trespass against u.s.
That means, "Forgiye us, o God, as We
are willing to forgive our children"
Peace on Earth.
Cannot the parents who are estrang
ed from their children realize that the
years are very few in which 1t Is pos
sible for them to have Christmas rec
onciliations? When a child despises
parent, living or dead, that child mus
suffer the most awful agonies that cal
ever come to a human being this sid'
Of the grave. Bear, forbear, forgive
and be forgiven are the teachings, "oI
earth peace, good will toward men,
Before the next Christmas come
around it will be impossible for SOM
to forgive or to be forgiven. I'M
easket maker is even now manufactur
ing a coffin. The gravedigger is evei
now sharpening his pick and spade
The quarryman is even now cutting
tombstone. The bellringer is even nov
ready to toll knell. Brothers and sis
ters. fathers and mothers, kith ant
kin, stop and attune your family rec
onclliations to the notes Of the Christ
mas song.
Christmas days have not Away
heard the angels sing the song, VI
earth peace, good will to men," L
1869 William the Conqueror, to CON
! plete his triumph over England, de
creed that all the country should b
devastated between York and Durham
In all that region every city, town o
village was razed to the ground, an
so literally was the order executed tina
q famine ensued in which 100000 mer
women and children perished. So man
Christmases since 1869 have witnesse
their slaughters Of thousands upo
thousands. Not the slaughter OF III
alone, but the slaughter Of heart love
and heart affections between brother
and sisters and parents and childreI
May the Christmas Of 1903 not De
Christmas Of domestic tragedy. but c
family reunions. May it be the tim
when the very angels In heaven sha
again be compelled to sing for Joy tha
; all relatives at the manger have D'
come reconciled.
copyright. 1908. by Louis Klopsch.I