Daily Kennebec journal., 1913-12-25
SANTA CLAUS IS!-OLD SAINT A MATCH
FOR ALL THE WORLDS PHYSICISTS.
Jnging of His Bells Is Louder with the Passing Years
Despite Sour Students--Yet Time for His Deputies
In Every Community to Do Good Work.

pocket or woman's purse? 1t all
amounts to the same thing in the end
and, besides, the dollars make the
sweeter music, if it comes to that. Let
the sleigh bells go. for the sake OF
argument We don't always have
snow at Christmas time, anyhow
The Saint Grows Careful.
And Santa Claus is growing more
careful as he grows older. he is not
nearly so forgetful as he used to be-
He must have an "awfully good
memory, for he doesn't overlook half
so many boys and girls as he USED 10.
He comes to lots of homes he did not
have on his list before. Somebody
must have sent him some addresses,
though he is supposed to have Dig
book in which he keeps the names OF
every boy and girl who deserves
visit from him. In this matter OF de-
serving visits, though, it is noticed
that he is not nearly so particular as
in the old days; he isn't so hard on
the boys and girls and he pays ever
so much more attention to their real
needs than to their department,
though he likes to see everybody be
good, too.
AS he grows older, however, he is
learning that it is extremely difficult
to be good all the time and that per-
haps a naughty little boy or girl gets
lust as hungry and cold as any other
kind. Santa Claus is pretty APT 10
have some such notation as TINS alt-
er every little boys and girls name IN
his wonderful big book: He really
needs something" or Here is STOCK
ing that mustn't go empty, rather
than something like this: These chill,
dren have been good, at least Tor the
past four or five weeks.
That is a sight which Santa Claus
cannot hear-an empty stocking Some
times he has to behold it, for reasons
which neither Virginia nor Vlrginlus
could give satisfying explanation
Sdafar as they are concerned, there
wouldn't be an empty stocking IN al
the world on Christmas morning, II
they had their way about IT. Ana
Santa Claus is coming more and more
to look at the matter through the eyes
of Virginia and Virginius. That is an
other cruel lie that has darkened the
life of childhood-that Santa Claus
COMES blly ~ tiloSS eiiNNN
angels" and have rich parents; that he
| loves only the little boys and girls III
| the big fine houses and that ne Jus'
gives other folks a few things because
he thinks he should as matter OF po-
| liteness. The new Santa Claus taxes
it as a personal reflection upon his
Justice and generosity if there are any
empty stockings, and he is doing ev,
e-ytning in his power-at least, very
great deal-to keep up his reputation
He dislikes tragedies and knows thai
| all the tragedies that ever made
a morning sad an empty stocking or
Christmas is the greatest. He has dep
Asized every person in each community
TO whom God has been good and whe
| feels that he ewes it to God to be seoe
TO Him and to His little ones, to hell
IN this noble work, consecrated by the
| holy festival of Childhood, of peace or
sssrth and good will to men. Recrean'
indeed is he who fails to respond tc
| this delegation of the power to do good
to be the vicar of Santa Claus during
the Christmas rush. when Santa Claus
has so many things to look after.
Heed the Summons!
Have you forgotten the summons
Did you lay it aside in the press ol
business or because you thought yot
! couldn't do enough? Surely it wasn't
because you didn't feel you should dc
all you could, no matter how little. But
whatever the fact, If you really die
pass by this golden opportunity to be
vicarious parents of Gods waiting lit
! e. h.,
il in your power yet to lessen by ont
or two or q dozen or hundred the
empty stockings that will be hung VI
next Wednesday night. There is still
time, but oh. how short. Christmas
Gay is, according to the calendar, al
most the shortest day in the year
Don't help to make it the longest day
in some little life-the day when San
ia Claus forgot to come!-Kansas City
| Journal.