isa-normaladvance-1913-00067

Description:	THE NORMAL ADVANCE67ages, which they request mother and the girlsto wrap up, please. Of course, in thesechanged conditions, mother is not consulted inregard to Christmas lists as she formerly was.Everyone is so absorbed in last minute papers that very little attention is paid the various bundles, which. are smuggled into thehouse. Then, there are the many holiday entertainments to attract ones attention theChristmas tree at the school a sorority Christmas tree for the girls a fraternity Christmastree for the boys, and so many other thingsthat when Christmas Eve finally arrives, verylittle enthusiasm is experienced regarding thereal tree. Now, instead of going to bed earlythe children help trim the tree, and so, oneafter the other, the old ornaments are broughtout, each person rouses himself and almost trie*to believe that Christmas is the same as it usedto be. Filled with the spirit of the old days,the sentimental one slips out into the quiet ofthe night, and sings the beautiful Christinascarols before the homes of some of her friends.She feels a pang of disappointment, however,for nearly everyone has gone to the city, andis not at home on Christinas Eve. At last,worn out with the days labor, the family fallasleep, and do not rouse until the efforts ofthe youngest member are successful in makingsomeone examine the contents of the stockings.Yes, the stockings are still hung up on Christmas Eve, for auld lang syne, just as theparlor door always remains closed until afterbreakfast, but the contents of the stockingsare no more a mystery now than the tree inthe parlor or even the mystery of Santa Claushimself. It seems almost pitiful to have onlyone child march into the parlor on Christmasmorning, when there used to be so many, butthe older ones have at last given up the habit.The little tremor of excitement and the buzzof conversation is nothing compared with thedelighted shouts of former years, but as giftafter gift is opened, and one realizes that reallove is bound up in many of the packages thespirit of Christmas returns, clothed in a moresober garment to be sure, but present, nevertheless. Indeed the times have changed andthe Christmas of maturity will never be likethat of childhood, but we love the new Christmas for what the word has meant and forwhat it may yet mean.RESOLUTION.The Past is gone, the Now and Future ours,Lets rid our plots of all obnoxious weeds Lets cultivate alone perennial flowers,By planting only pure and wholesome seeds.—Joseph Samuel Reed.
Source:	http://indstate.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/isuarchive/id/34512
Collection:	Indiana State University Archives

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