MEMORIES QF LONG AGO

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7589, 24 December 1902, Page 2

MEMORIES QF LONG AGO

» A CHRISTMAS DIALOGUE. (Specially written for the " Star.") Old Colonist: " Oh Christinas; Father Christmas, once- more •we cry. ' Waeß Hael ' . Tp the spirit th*at i«r us that grand ini-mortal tale '" Qf Love Divine -and Sacrifice lefrned'.at our ' mother's kn-ae, Wihidh: only keeps oni Empire gTeat — a nation ■truly free*. . r '" ' V' 1 "JWe greet yop. with- tno Yule logs. Here tin* I glad : sunnner : i-ijn ''-.'' Ripens r the kindly fruits of Earth; the *_.ars vest is begun. ' T1 " ~ : ' But 'neatjh* t-£e $outh§n-- Cross the same old kindly fes-inge"' glow A ."'■ ' To the memories of Christm** ye lea??* eo long ago." Father Christmas: "Greefaitg, old Pfi'eids! To leach, you all _hi_ Jay iny cou-rsels run. i Around rthe world from freezing north to bkz- ! ing sdtithWtt-sufl*;"*' • • ' .* ■> ' Alike* to. nie are l roaring fixes pr piledhup fruit " and fibw_fs, ' '"" : '"'•''' ~ ' ••"-■•'••■* *■■"-; It is the Kindly Heart that makes this Festival p| ours. ■ ; ■• " Alike to me are Ri<dhi &1$ ?P°?— n*y, more, j .' i 'mike it ilea? ■>" \ 'Tis to the Suffering and distressed! my . Master send*a m^'here;- '■ ':' : " Aiki i'nj ipfferiugsi flaoc v and! -toi, 'hol-^y or ■ -. ■ mistlet^p, '"'•' A I cheer ihh wck and'eorrqwful, 'ae in. the Long Qld Colonist: "P'h, j^istnias, , | l at'h*?!r Ghiisinias, 'tis many ■wetLCT- yejirs— yy - -.. Y^r¥"©f'aniied toil- a-ncj! (hiardsjhip, of hrigijrt- ' ' * "ness abd_ of tears^- "" "' Since'* f Steve seen" t-hat dear Old Home, the *'" b|r|hplace of <jur Race,' '■-"--. •--.-• deepest recbJlVctions cinder round your ' -htm-ry faoe. ' ' ' "' : " ' -'.*"*' ' "■Kia vjllagip <c!buxpji» .-the iyie4't<?rceir, xopkipg 'with ChmtßJis bells, ' : ; ■ .- And ell the wealth of tjhjristmaa lore whidh • Britain's 9tb_j tells. '' They say that she }s -mightier mow— richer in '■■'•' etejjl -a-Scfc" gold— 1 ' ■'■*"*' - 1 •' " ' • > ■" "- •" r ? BuV ia -rather Christmas honoured as in tihe v days qf olid?" '"=■ : - •--•••• '!--:, •?■■••;'•■■ father GJmstmaa: "My son, "the mighty Empire o'er -wihich 1 „ pat? this 'day, Ilaa 1 njany flows >ndi failings. Hero Wealth hold's 'updu«' -swaijr, ' ' • • '■■'■" There Poverty still cries to Heaven and spreads "itft'feßt'enng'ißorß'i ' ■"' ' .•••-.:■.■•■■■-.-.••■....*. And Vice and! Folly flaunt themselves — but so it 'was' bf yore. " And so ib ever -wili ibe. But, thank God, I : -Still can- say, ' ';: "'•'"•* The Great" Heart pi that Empire ibea^s «mnd : 'and true to-day; *Yi " ' "" 3,! And ever will, if 'before Bo^er andi E.Ojg>p V.V,d ''y'l/iist df'QojdA""' '"'•" She places G-9d and Tra^a and Right, as- in -j the d_ys of .bid.'' I Qld Colonist: " Ob, Ohristm , as, Father Christmas, at this glgd feast of tlhine, When round thy graiid old iheadl true joy and loving-Jtind-ness efhine, Oh, 'blesa .ilho little children— the children •V.-whOm* you iove, ' *■""■"• " <••'.*: For -wibbm you bring your ohoicest gift— your' message from' above. : '. I*ree then from Priestcraft and Ttorldily Xlnibelief . • • " ' .-■;-■•.*► Teach* tTiein* that Love and Charity are, pf all wealth, the chief; That Upright and Clean- Living is above coin •untold. ■■■'-■'': So will our Nations steadfast stand,' as in. ; the days 'of old." Father Christmas: " These issues are in mightier Hands — hut be of this inspired*^- " : ' ''"'■■ From Parents andi from Rulers full much •wiU he required. IJy inissioni ,is' to ''glad-den.' all — iJbo. happy or ■' forlorn, '","'•• ■'■*.• With tidings of th^ phildl who op; this glorious day was born,' • ':-' '" ' A; " TV'hp YJpes tfbe eye with- suffering or sorrow-'stram-ed-and dim, ' ' ' "■ '' Apd u? suffer ail His little ones to come to Him; '• - Whoso Triiat makes Nations rise or fall — the ' weakest h^art 'he bold. And who -&lone cart guard! us all, as in the ' days oTold."" r ' ''■•'" ■■■■'■ •.- '