A HANDFUL OF HOLLY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 305, 24 December 1891, Page 1 (Supplement)

A HANDFUL OF HOLLY.

Jlx ancient times, the old chroniclers tell us, ib was a pretty custom, on Christinas morning, with the moat courtly of tho Eng. lish gentry, to lay ab the feet of the fairest maid in all the parish roundabout a hand. ful of holly. A happy maid, indeed, was she who on the morn of the birth of Christ received this token of respect to her pure womanhood. Presents were nob then so freely given as in our day ; but who will say that Christmas Day had less of a joyful significance to the rosy-cheeked and brighteyed maid 3of ' merrie England ?' Because Dame Fashion decrees ib. we are returning more and more in these days to the customs of our grandmothers in many things, and I am just old-fashioned enough sometimes to think that we are not so very far from wrong when we turn the kaleidoscope a little backwards. And my wish upon this Christmas of 1891, to each of the mothers who read my words, is an old-fashioned ene. We are I getting so progressive in these days of ours that we are crowding all too rapidly oub of the lives of our children those little beliefs and • supposings' that, years ago. made happy the hearts of the young. Why is ib that so many mothers of to-day seek bo shatter the fairy-bales of childhood before the child has inhaled their fragrance and enjoyed their wondrous charm ? We want to go ahead in this world, my friend, but let us nob go too fast. Wβ want tho little ones in this century to. believe, just as they did years ago, that something of the supernatural transpires on each great holy day of the world. That if the sleepy little eyes will wake parly enough on Easter morning, for example, they will see the sun dance in the heavens. We wanb them still to believe that tiie wish made on the hotnross bun on Good Friday will come true before the year is out. Wo want still that laith in the pretty belief thab the new bit of ribbon worn on Whitsunday will bring . upon its wearer an attendant good spirit tor the year. ' And then, when Christmas morning comes, let all the wise horsss, all the softeyed cowa and everything that lives in a stab.'c still get down on their knees early Christmas morning, just as they did cenburies ago, in honour of bhe little Child that was born at that time in a stable. We lose nothing, my friend, by letting this faith remain in the little minds in our homes. Soon enough will the world shatter the pretty story, bub don't let ib be your hand that tears aside tho gauzy curtain. The children who early lose belief in these things are the ones who make unhappy men and women ; and, please God, we don't want our children to be anything bub faith-loving men and pure-minded women. So, on this Christmas morning, let your Editor come to each of you, wherever be your home, in this land or across the se t iB, and place at your feet a handful of holly ; and may the fragrant aroma of the shining greon leaves bring to your memory ihc beliefs of your childhood, and thab of your mothers before you, and in their remembrance may you determine that they shall rest in the mind of your children and in their children's children. Be old-fashioned in this idea ; let tho resb of the world pass you if hi will, but let us each seek to perpetuate bhe Christmas of the olden time. Edward W. Bok.