The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-24

Rare and rarely happy arc tbose families the
members q which live 70 maturity near together
There il deep pathos s., this time Of the year
esnee,a]gy. In the death notices u fathers and
rno4hers and n the little stories o. reunions
some Of the children, We are told. live in the
Far West. others In the South. sorae across the
seas We scatter far. The girls marry and
follow their husbands and the boys go out into
tne world. Brothers and sisters who grew up
together under the same roof tree, who peopled
together the same Iittle world OF home. who were
erst and most intimate IN each others thought
and closest IN association through childhood and
youth. drift apart with the passing OF years
and the differences in conditions those who slept
together. whose young dreams and hopes were
snterwoven and whose companionsht3 was con
slant become almost strangers. Tdose born Of
the game mother. nurtured at the same breasts
rearad amid the Same surroundings. are separ
rated nv hundreds and thousands Of miles in
life and in death and sleep, at last, perhaps, at
opposite ends Of the world.
As f~om evil we may gather good from ugly
th9nxs make the beautiful. so from sorrowful
tbaneht aud mournful truth may make our
toys the brighter and happiness the more
complete We are born to die; so let US make
-7 7zr u t774-7 ~ q zra D0ru ~ part; fet
make compan}orshp. kinship and love the
sweeter Today and tonight, Christmas eve.
and tomorrow. Christmas day, are ours The
,irb green Of the holly will fade, the sparkling
red berries will be dtmmed and will drop. the
mistetoe will fade and ne thrown aside Yet
let ns exult IN them all while we have them
The children win grow TO manhood ana woman
hooA aud 90 away. the birds do from their
nests. but let us make that they shall
enjoy ell the mystery the affecttonate plotting,
the whtaporings and hints and hopes and reali'
cations of the time. We are planting seeds 30
grow hereafter. we cannot know where how.
in what chimes. near or remote, In what varying
scenes and circumstances We are planting in
the hearts of children and Of boys and gtrla
memories TO live IN the hearts of men and
women We cannot control the future. The
wisost and richest OF ua cannot assure wealth
or station for those who are to come after lis.
We can make this Christmas stand living and
green as the holly is today, comforting and
1oyous 50 rhat the glistening OF the leaves and
tbs scarlet Of the berries will return IN any
IVTSAAA~fNAA $4,000
s,fudes. hailowed. glorined and beautitied with
fond and tender reminiscence
Let those Of us who have children and families
dedicate 10 them these days and the time and
orr thought and earnest purpose to make this
Christmas memorable to them Living. thinking.
loving doing for this time. we are preparing for
al the time to come for those nearest and
dearest 20 Us. All of must disappear and
60 from where we are. after q while. Families
prominent aud proud in communities vanish by
ecattaring and death so that nothing Is left OF
them save in fading local annals and crumbns
etones fri the cemeteries. Therefore. while we
have life let Us live, reyerendy but pleasantly
alive to the meaning and purpose Of the season
No gloom. 10 Quarrels., no disappointments. no
s0rdid comparisons or calculations should dis
figure or aebase the glory Of the time. The birth
we commemorate was the beginning Of brief
abiding, ending in a crucihxion-~and ascension
through the clouds, accompanied by legons
resting on tte air chanting welcome home
Ter al we know the same legions that chanted
promises forever 10 he fdlfl'ed when the white
star s'one above the silent meadows where the
shepherds watched their sleeping focks, Our
ovn children may be going to crucinxions. We
snoW from our knowledge Of our own lives that
ibey are going TO troubles and cares 1t is
fsr as to give them now ard always while We
c..u tAe spirit and hope and undying recollections
81 tEig ChristsAas. 1t is the spirit OF love and
devotion, Of eslf sacrifice and hope and faith, and
loys aaaJe ali Love viii live when evidences
If u are given; and viii blossom somewhere and
aansAog surely as the resurrection and ascen
sion came after the annunciation and the birth
Tou ~ho can, gather around you your chill
egen and coaaocra'e these days to making them
Aappy ana putting in their hearts holy and
Aesatlf9l memories al these days and this year
va3eh will i've with them and be parts of their
iLses, hoaefer shejr fortunes may be; however