The Christmas Stocking

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 141, 18 December 1928, Page 27

The Christmas Stocking

A happy Christmas is the birthright of every child, because it is above all a children's festival, and many kindly actions in later lifo will have their origin in the "Christmas memory," which' is born of carols and. holly, of shining Christmas trees, and bulging Christmas stockings. To a small child there is no thrill like -waking in the early hours of: 25th December, and seeing that knobby, shapeless stocking at the foot of tho bed. Whether" Father Christmas really popped down the chimney or good Saint Nicholas crept m by the open door, or whether father and mother stuffed the stubby toea that dangle so enticingly_it is immatonal on Christmas morning—someone, sum tor human has kept the Chistmas ni»H ltl0°>«"i h<»ourea the Christmas pledge. What shall we hid© in the stocking this year for eager hands to find! The gifts must not be costly, and they cannot bo very large, even though it is a "grown-up" stocking that replaces the nursery size. Thero are gay little muslin bags of "boiled sweets for the toes, or perhaps the owner is old enough to like almonds and raisins, or a bag of crackly nuts.' Then a sweet orange for the heol, as it gives such a joyful, bulging shape. All manner of quaint rubber sponges, imita(<ng toys and fruit, can be got, and are a great joy to" tho nursery world, while gay celluloid ducks and swans to swim, in tho bath tub, celluloid animals— either wild or tarne —black composition cats, with scarlet neckbows, fascinating money-boxes, liko miniature Post Offices, tiny gilt bedsteads for a min< uto doll, gay celluloid rattles, and little musical boxes, spades, and buckets, trumpets, and glittering fish to swim in. a pail of water, each help to make glad the heart of a child. There are ..magic painting and storybooks to roll...tip and slip down spare Comers; whilo toy trains, engines, and motqr-cars. make tho contents of the stocking quite up to date. ... * -v,. ' '