“[T]he Christmas spirit… is the spirit of active
usefulness, perseverance, cheerful discharge of duty, kindness and forbearance!
It is in the last virtues especially, that we are, or should be, strengthened
by the unaccomplished visions of our youth; for, who shall say that they are
not our teachers to deal gently even with the impalpable nothings of the earth!
“Therefore, as we grow older, let us be more thankful
that the circle of our Christmas associations and of the lessons that they
bring, expands! Let us welcome every one of them, and summon them to take their
places by the Christmas hearth.”—English novelist Charles Dickens (1812-1870),
“What Christmas Is As We Get Older,” in Christmas Stories (1871)
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