The New era-leader. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1911-1912, 1911-12-22
AND SANTA CLAUS.

aSSOStdtS IL Will pled0aub tuU0 80
and food remembrances. Christmas
to the child is the brightest star in the
years armament. It is the beacon
hight on which their little eyes and
thoughts are ever fastened. Christ
mas for the aged seems to have been
set near the door of the departing year
as fountain Of youth, from which
they might draw fresh supply Of
health and vigor for the coming year.
Christmas and Santa Claus 60 hand ia
hsnd. They are links in one cha1n.
Witout Santa Claus there could be -
Christmas anc certainly at no other
time of the year would oil Santa be
allowed admittsnce by way Of the
chimney innstead of the door.
Christmas is the same this year,
last year and all the years before. II
Is old, yet 'tis new. 1t is thing Of
the past, of the present and will be ol
the future until time immemorial.
Who 10 there among rs too old to re-
member the Cnritmas of big child
hood? u there one who does not Iook
bsck upon it ss the happiest day Of biz
life7 Even now in our maturer years
We cannot help but enthuse at the ap-
proach of this merry day. We find On
joyment in watching the happiness ol
the little ones aDout as ard though ~
may have passed the three score yeaFn
and ten, yet the merry Christms md
its fullnness of joy seems to kindle
anew the flames of life, and carry ~
back to the day of our childhood.
We are hack again at the old s.home;
we once more hang our little stocking
-or larger one borrowed for the ocea-
sion conveniently near the fire place.
We reluctantly retire to our bed
where sleep has hard fight to master
the excitement attending our expecta-
tions. Again it is morning the
happy Christmas and all sgiow
swith excitement and almost Wild with
deligM, we rush, aIf dressed. to gaze
upon the borntiful feast which old
Santa Claus has left behind. Let us
try to make this day the brigest page
in childhood's hook Of memories. Let
Us fill it full of happiness thar the
little ones will ever delight in associa-
ing happy thoughts with Christmas of
1911.
Male the Christmas q glad time for
the aged Let each child, even the
baby, have its little tribute to bring.
Let the dear old heart know that its
own gift, however simle. Is priced and
expected by every one of the household
band. Help the trembling hands that
may have grown slor to fashion the
dainty miracles of needlework. Keep
all the secrets of what she 10 going tc
give to this. that, or the otner friend
Go patiently on the shopping Jaunt
even if the feet are slow and the eyes
take . great zeal Of time in searching
for 'siust the right thing" Alas fei
the day when grandmother 10 no longel
here to do" for as or to bs ''dose'
for! Let as reremher how surel,
that das IL coming nearer, and that, 4
make ner thoroughly happy ani con
scious of how dear and necessary ss
u, II our only way of heguliing IA,
a~gel to linger in the home. A. th
trues joy come always from the con
sciousness Of powefto bless. so tn
more fully We can convince the aged o
the blessing they are to Us, thIoug
their experience and their presence
and through the Il sngelhood. that hs
% often been born in their sorrowi
the more We shall minister to then
They are often afraid Of Becoming us'
less, conscious Of failing powers. fea'
fLl Of being in the way, or casting
shadow on the household mirth. 81
to II, dear young friends, that on th
Of I'll days Of the year they be nsc
70 know how much we love and nes
the light Of the faded faces, and .
surs them ~ every gentls sttsntio
that ChRistmss would not be Cnristml
withoe the ''sngsi II the house. 2
END WINTER'S TROUBLES.
70 many, winter Il : seasoa 81 tro