The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-12-27
THE PERSONALITY OF TOYS.
An Address Delivered by Mr.. S. H.
EdmunGs at the Mass Meeting of
the Sunday Schools.

One of the saddest pictures that 1
ever saw was in the New York World |
several years ago. 1t represented a |
little child in a poorly furnished attic |
room who having heard that some one
whose name was Santa Claus was go
| ing to visit the earth to give presents
to children, hung her little stocking
and went to bed early that the night
might the more quickly pass. She
could not sleep; for bright visions of
the beautiful things she was going to
}see in the morning would come before
her closed eyes and. she could
hardly wait for the peep of day. She
imagined that she could hear in her
room noises that were unusual and
through the darkness she coul1 al
most see some one take her stocking
down and put it back again. AS soon
as it was light enough for her to
make her way in her room she jump
ed up and in her eagerness ran with
outstretched arms to seize her stock
ing with all the good things that she
heard it would contain; but the stock
was empty. Some how Santa Claus
had passed this little one by. We
have met this afternoon to see to it
that Santa Claus will know the way
to the home of every little boy and
girl in Sumter We have determined
that no little child in our town shall
suffer that keen disappointment that
an empty stocking would surely give.
Christmas is a time of joy and glad
ness. Death is at ali times sad; but
never so sad as when it's ruthless hand
breaks the family circle at Christmas.
Sorrow always saps the vigor of life;
but there seems to be no surcease
when sorrow comes at Christmas.
Fever since the heralding angels
sang. Peace on earth, good will to
n3ers. Z lack Of harmony at Christmas
;ars tie soul as at no other time.
Es2ecially at this joyous season,
wi,ic: 20 us typifes the taking away
from heaven of the chiefest among
zen thousand and the one altogether
lovely that the world might be eter-
ual:y .ich, it is our duty and should
be OF! pleasure to do all the good
:re can, to scatter only seeds Of kind
ness. 70 bring sunshine and gladness
+, IS in gloom; to see to it that
the cola are made warm, the hungry
Gel. ana the naked clad; but not to
Sfo2 aere. Christmas seems to have
,.,.... en- especially as a blessing to
chtichood and children siloQic &c
iraade aaogy-rnade happy with the
things th3,t - sd 50 ta, :. - ral:r little
!ives-titeir .oys. With children toys
have a personality. There is more "a
that little rag doll than cotton or
sawdust; to the child there is a soul.
The little toyhorse has life and he
must needs eat and sleep, for he will
get hungry and tired. And the eyes
of these toys seem to grow fonder
when their little master or mistress
draws near There is between the toy
and the child psychic sympathy
which philosophy scorns and love
adores.
The whole idea has been beautiful
ly expressed in one of Eugene Fields
delightful little poems
.'The little toy dog is covered with
dust,
But sturdy and staunch he stands;
And the little toy soldier is red with
And his musket molds in his hands.
Time was when the little toy dog was
And the soldier was passing fair,
And that was the time when our Lit
tie Boy Blue
Kissed them and put them there.
''Now, don't you go till I come" he
said,
And don't you make any noise.
So toddling off to his trundle bed
He dreams of pretty toys,
And as he was dreaming, an angels
song
Awakened our Little Boy Blue,
o, the years are many and the years
are long.
But the little toy friends are true!:
cay, faithful to Little Boy Blue they
stand,
Each in the same old place.
Awaiting the touch Of little hand,
And the smile OF a little face.