Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1912-12-25
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Why Christmas Should
Be Spent at Home
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TT is the faehion nowadays. alas, to
cry down Christmas. and il is fast
becoming a "cant be bothered
a with it, sort OF day. 1t is looked
upon as a naisa2ee because Christmas
tide brings with it a necessary increase
of expenditure in the form of tips and
presents.
It is becoming more and more the
fashion fashion TO be bothered-to
take less notice Of Christmas and spend
it away from home where there will
be plenty Of fun"
In the good old days spending Christ
mas anywhere at home was never
for one IuOmeL, canned OF. Prepara-
tons were made months beforehand.
Geese and turkeys were fattened. plum
buildings were made. prospective
guests were borne in mind and the
girls of the home fell to thinking OF
new schemes for decorations Now.
could anything be more delightful than
making Christmas plans at least two
months beforehand so as to keep the
festive season right royalty? All this
sort of thing kept the family together,
for when the winter evenings brought
them nearer and nearer TO Christmas
day 1t made them see how necessary
each one was to the other in the way
of helping and suggesting as regards
presents for So-and-so. holly for this
room and mistletoe for that Grad
ually it dawned on every one how dear
the home was to all and how still more
precious We're the parents and children
to one another
When Christmas day did come it
was time of perfect happiness. har-
mony and satisfaction TO every guest
aud every member of the family. If
Christmas is not spent at home what
becomes of the family gathering. the
delight of decorating, the care and
thought the happy mother has expend
ed on the cooking Of the dinner ana.
to crown all. the praise of the Christ
mas pudding which by the consent
Of one and all invariably Is the finest
pudding have ever eaten?' No
praise of a Christmas pudding ever
comes amiss to 4 housewives heart
and If Christmas is not spent at home
the dinner will fall fiat. There is no
family gathering, no noisy, good hui
mored chat. and there is not that sub
tie, ndehnable something at work
which binds the family closer together,
heals up old sores. opens up new
friendships and wipes away all bitter
ness. that Is so marked a feature in
good, homely Christmas gathering.
There have been more reconcilia-
tons, more divided houses" brought
together again. more eyes made dim
thpough@l mist of happy tears at some
difference or misunderstanding made
clear By Christmas gathering at home
than at any other season or place.
ClfarIes Dickens. the novelist of
Christmas. who did more for Christ
mas than any one can ever guess. had
had a slight difference with Thack-
cray. He met him on the steps of his
club on Christmas morning. hesitated.
then held out his hand. which Thack-
cray grasped with all the warmth of
his great heart. Both men returned to
their family gathering at home. feeling
better and happier men
Without a doubt family gathering
at this festive and joyful season knits
the bond of love and good fellowship
closer than at any other time. Old
sights and hurts are forgotten: hard
men of business relax and soften at
the sight Of the children who many
time have drawn ont all that is best
in them after 1t has lain dormant for
years until they have forgotten they
had a tender side to their nature at
all. Yes, without a doubt home is the
place fpr Chr,e.mas. ''Qh, it will be
so dull and uninterestlng at home! is
often the cry. Il I'll! only be dull to-
those VINO make 1t SO.
And If there is vacant chair or two
which. alas. can never be retilled dash
away the silent tear and be thankful
that you are spared to taste the joys
of still another homely Christmas
Your example OF spending the festive
season viii most assuredIy instill the
love Of the yearly family gathering
into the younger generation, who will
emulate your ideas in future years
Posterity will be indebted to you for
showing how 10 keep up good old
Christmas which WAS suffering from
a slump In the twentieth century.
BY all means. then spepd Christmas
at home. decorate your house. remem
Der the p0stman- the bttclIer. the sefV
ants and even your pife's or husband