St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1961-12-15

can 90 TO make Christmas bright
for someone inside that house.
Later, you learn the occupants
of the quiet looking house were in
their living room sitting by the
fire recalling the happy days when
they were young. They tried to
win back the decisions of their
childhood>da Their children were
all married and had homes of their
own, and their children were the
ones who had the trees all Lit up
in their homes expecting a visit
from Grandmother and Grandfath-
er on THE big day.
Listening, you hear Grandmoth-
er saying, "oh, the joy of going to
bed the night before Santa's ar
rival! You went up the stairs,
lingering on every step, hoping
Santa might come earlier than
Nom and Pop said he would. You
finally get in bed, then call down
to Nom and Pop that you want a
drink of water before you can get
to sleep. That request is granted
but it fails the next time.
You are remembering Nom told
you, IF you don't go to sleep in a
big hurry, Santa will drive his
reindeer right over our house and
won't stop because he only stops
where the children are fast asleep.
Sometime later, you wake up be-
cause you are sure you hear Santa
downstairs! You had asked for
doll, sled, a doll buggy and a
few other things and you asked
Nom If Santa had come yet.
She said, mot YETI. So, very I'M
willingly, you get back in bed but
you can't sleep. You thought you
didn't sleep but when you heard
your younger brother call out,
Santa has been here, you fairly
fly downstairs and fall under the
tree, in your haste to see what
Santa left for you. How happy
you were to unwrap the gifts and
everyone was a complete surprise
to you. How you Rugged your
mother and father because they
mailed your letters to Santa, and
here were some of the gifts you
had asked for!
Then you remembered your
grandchildren Christmas. They,
too, were very happy with their
gifts. But there was no surprise in
any of it. Doris, about ten years
old told her parents the night be-
fore they might just as well give
them their gifts right now because
then they could all sleep late
Christmas morning! Doris said,
I'VE know you bought what we
asked for and we would like to
see them, now!" They knew every
thing their parents had bought for
them.
They had even gone with their
mother to do most of the shopping
because she, the mother, knew the
children wanted 1t that way. These
parents loved their children dearly
but somewhere along the way they
had lost some of the Christmas
spirit.
BY late afternoon you had seen
all Of your children and grandchil-
dren gathered at the youngest
daughters home and what a time
the family was having. Her chill
dren were still wondering If Santa
got out Of the chimney all right
and they were so thrilled with all
of their surprise packages. The
Christmas spirit reigned here and
gladdened our hearts. This is real
ly the day for children and their
dreams. For months they have
been talking about Santa and tell
ing anyone who would listen what
they wanted him to bring them.
When the happy day finally came,
they were overjoyed and so ex-
cited they hardly ate any Of their
dinner. They would sit and look
up at the tree and play with their
dolls and trains and whatever they
had received from Santa.
Truly your heart was made
happy to watch all of the children,
from your oldest children down to
your youngest grandchildren. This
is the time of year that appeals
to everyone, young and old. You
realize how happy you are but you
do not stop to think you are hap
py because you have had a share
in making others happy.
Every gift that Is given, even
though it be small, is in reality
great, II it be given with affec-
tiOn.-Pindar.
A Very Merry Christmas to you
all!