I know, at any rate, that the little girl's longing set me wishing that her life could be made, so far as possible, a continuous Christmas.
Do not, gentle reader, come in at once with discreeter severity, and point out that the very essence of a holiday lies in its being a holiday — that is, something exceptional-and that the wish to have it last all the time is as reasonable as the wish which children sometimes form, and indeed sometimes act upon, to have their breakfast or dinner last all day. But what made the joy of Christmas, after all Behind all the visible presents and special amusements there lay the general atmosphere of a time of joy, of freedom, of love and attention and companionship; a cheerful and smiling household, in short, instead of one preoccupied and careworn; a day of “Come here, darling!” instead of “Run away, dear” --and tills is surely a large part of what Christmas means to a child. So far as these things go, it is worth a little effort to keep up the spirit of Christmas even when that happy season has gone by.
Think again of the value of that atmosphere of sunshine! The crossest person is less apt to be cross to a child on Christmas morning; the most exacting is a little less rigid. The child is then a prime object, something to be especially considered, not put aside. On ordinary days how often the child, for whom the parent would perhaps die-if
