The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-12-25
OID CHIRIS I MASSES.
NV ARIES WAGNER, Autho II The Simple Iife, ec.
tcopyrlght iec4, by M Qlnre, phillips Z Coz

VIM AIA3Et
days the aniablo white lady, bearer pf the twnklns
frtree never frightened us more than was Ser-
@difable and well Just ed we thought I'll and 9 Il
good sort Ut fellow spite stern face io had
byS dny; watched and account OF our boy
and nlsdeeds he offered bundles
rods to our mothers BY help Of which TO subdue
was NE not fulfilling Indispensable funetion?
therefore. had tor Hans Drabb respectful, scnc-
what tirnorousslking BeHides did not the rattlng
of chains In the lobbies the the door,,
tho gruff and threatening sound ct his voice Ell an
nounce the approach divine evening Zach one
us, he could expressed his soul would have
3 said with the apoet:
'.1 walk and live IN my starry dream.
The long-for evening arrived After the short De-
cemberl daytoo long for our mpa shade
#decpened, the STARS came forth In the room which
grew Aarel4and darker the Oh lid rem were
together Papa Used to- hold me on HIS knees can
st#feelhis chin brushing the TOP Of my head Ind
pricking aslittle. And we would ask Is mamma
not Iii the room2 Has she gone, like the last year
on the same occasion, to Call Upon that old lad In
the nelghborhood? Will she miss the Christ
mas lddy again? \. u. What N pity 3
Suddenly the ringing OF 10 bell resonnde LED IN
corridor drawing nearer and nearer The door opened
with an effect f5n,ystery Yelled, silent the celestial
lady entered carrying, like torch, the dimnutive
y fir tree.a8E S s$5 SEs 4Ss3ggs
zach us said his pr Oh, those little artless.
8smpe-minded prayers! have begun once more gto
hay them II / become old shall end by saying no
@othors The good lady listened them At their close
ryoice was heard, gentle, With echoes In
B other world S ga "a ~
And .mrysteriousy as II Had come her white form
Withdrew, leaving In our souls weeks to follow
5a.luminoIs wake. Sssss5S
Later upon such IA having grown bigger and
become a narrow observer Of all things, q looked
closely and long at the lady her veil She had
lost a5tooth. in exactly the same place as mamma
light flashed upon mo. Mammals absence at every
visit OF the gracious lady completed Illumination
Without disturbing the faith OF tho ch ldren,
y L was from that day forth fixed In conyi
VI Christmas lad was mamma!
The years have passed Aim st all OF the guests OF
those far-away Chrstmases have entered the eternal
hahitations.s When the fir trees lighted to-day,
and my thought follows each beloved member Of my
family It flies toward absent in the land of the
consolng mystery feel their souls surrounding
ours. And tho thrice happy hours OF childhood,
heaven and earth seem to draw near to- each other
and ming Sic WY in the heart OF the mature man
IS union has been effected between
everybody and well-founded faith of little children
and the discovery OF the keen-eyed old
Christmas LADY, believe In her. There was truth IN
what happened. The reddened evening skies verify
are indications OF her OF are reIneIn5s
bered s,lp therel Further reach an
invisible loving Kindness over us and pre-
pairing what shall gadden our hea The eyes of8
the children saw truly They penetrate farther than
the astronomical glasses which pretend that there
nothing in the Infinite ForWhat aweeter PROOF OF
what goes on up there, what better Of
Intentions what richer dispenser Of His gifts, has the
Father In heaven sent us; RS ut Isl
therefore true 1.-THE Christmas lady8is mamma. sister
Of tho angels, beloved enger 81 the good God.
we are told that plummet has ever fathomed
the depth OF The reason lis perhaps that
the line was not sufficieIt But this Is sure
one deep there Is which - athomng line howeyer
perfected lcan sound the natern and it
is filled with love. s#
Ny God, deyoutly wish that all the children should
have beautiful Chrstmeses, and that In this cold
world, gloomysas certain December nights, those We
call the groWn-up should be able to find back the
depth OF their childhood soul. luminous
warm, radiant with love and viii hope, a. 8
81 81 ,lrda . .dsrepute sort