Norwich bulletin., 1917-12-19
LETTERS TO THE fOI. .0l
Keep the Christmas Fires Burning.

Mir. Editor: It would be melancholy and unpardo1able mistake fer us to stifie the Christmas spirit and turn our back upon the Christmas sunshine this year because the world is suffering from a great calamity. In the broader outlook. the coming festival is Gedt-- cated to Christianity. In a special sense, and by popular usage, it sym our fidelity to friendship. Why sheisi.l the war interrupt our practical recog- n.tiorl of these three noble sentiments. or of any one of them: Christmas is tine only holiday of the year that brings the whole human family into common communion. It is one of the bitter ironies of life that the roses one would have appreciated in life. often waste their fragrance upon ones grave. Christmas crowns humanity with her laurel wreath, and the heart is drained of it's sorrow ard flied with joy. and golden words of appreciat tion still many a pang in bitter and lone ly-- hour. To those who have passe q beyond the happy days Of childhood year seems but day 2 swiftly does 1t glide in passing. To children the years seem long from one Christmas to another and they o~.= forward for months to the celebration of this hap 1ty season Have you eN-a- looked a company of children assembled round a Christmas tree without your thought being drawn by fascination to your own childhood which you do not care l., resist? And while you do your best to make the children in your home happy at this time, to you it is possibly the saddest of the year. Mem
 ories come crowding round you of the loved ones who used to share with you the pleasures of the home, on Christ mas day. Their voices hushed. their soul has fitted peacefully into 1.-the valleys of the waiting, leaving va carlcy in your heart and home that
 t,4 Al md watch the happy children now we hide cur own l1cartache as best we may and nefp them celebrate. We must cast no shadow upon their happiness, for. as the past, and sorrows and trials incl dent to life have crowded fast upon Us this. in turn. will be the experience Of these happy children when they shall have passed into middle age and that "hingeless door of eternity has closed upon us." So, rememberins your own childhood as you witness the pleasure of the little ones gazing at the tree. looking up into the bright uess of it's top. you will look into your youngest Christmas recouections. when we look about us and find others who are in the shadow of distress. light of the spirit of Christmas by 2 kind word and dend, if needed. we shall get the sure reward that love
 kjndles in other hearts. With war raging, We may at least give ioVlnS sympathy to the struggling masses who are listening to the roar of the cannon and sacrificing life for coun- try. Or crawling over the fields in de- Iiriun1. while those at home think of them with fear and trembling for their safety. To make Christmas one of glad tidings.' remember that the key
 note of the life the day comm en1orates was love. and if we are irnbued with that thought there will be- good cheer lfl our greetings "A Merry Christmas 10 you' which is the pa assword Of good fellowship of mature mankind the world over. as Santa Claus is the spirit of faith and gladness to the childish mind. s.e
 l J. H. CUMMINGS. Norwich. Dec 1s. 1917.