A letter from Santa Claus for Christmas eighteen forty nine. My dear children,
as I have always been in the habit of meeting with you on this anniversary,
and as I cannot expect to see you all together this year, for
the sake of old times, I am going to write you a letter.
Perhaps you are not aware that I have been a silent spectator of your daily
occupations, but so it is. I generally take a nap from one year
to another. So after our glorious celebration at the bee Hive, I packed
myself away in the stovepipe for that purpose, but the hum of merry voices
kept me awake, and thus I lay and listened to what was going on.
The fairies, in whom you perhaps all believe, have also been quite
numerous in your vicinity, and from my relationship to them, I have often
heard of your excursions over hill and dale, and the many gay times you
have enjoyed together. I travel over many regions at this season of the year,
and in order to accomplish all I wish in my endeavors to please the
young folks, I shall begin my preparations a little earlier than usual, so
you need not wonder if I visit some of you a little before Christmas and
New Year with one of my gifts. This will consist of a few of
the simplest little sketches, letters, and reminiscences of the various occurrences in which
you have participated, And I hope the contents of this Christmas bow will give
you as much satisfaction as those of by gone seasons. When the festive pine
tree erected to my honor has been loaded with gay and glittering gifts, I
trust you will all enjoy the holiday, and with glad and grateful hearts fully
appreciate the many privileges you enjoy as the children of kind parents, and the
objects of interest to affectionate friends. Of course, you will be most forcibly
reminded of the giver of all these blessings, and you will love to listen
about the gentle Child Jesus, in honor of whose birth the day is celebrated.
By looking back upon the past year, you can see what steps you
have taken in self improvement, what you have learned, what left unlearned,
and the retrospect will help you to form new plans for the future, which
now rises bright and beautifully before you. One little girl will have the satisfaction
of having almost conquered a peevish temper which made her very disagreeable. Another will
have acquired habits of neatness and order so necessary to comfort and enjoyment. This
scholar will have an increase of memory and thus avoid the repetition of that troublesome
phrase, oh, I forgot, And that one will become more thoughtful and
will not consider the excuse I didn't think sufficient to cover her frequent blunders.
A nice, hearty little fellow that I know will have learned to read fluently
and to love his books for the sake of all the good and pleasant things
he can find in them. While another rogue will be kind and gentle to
his sisters and give up the naughty habit of teasing his companions. The proud
child will learn her true value and not think herself better than her mates on
account of her pretty face, fine clothes, or handsome residence. While best
of all these changes, the cowardly and deceitful will be ever brave and truthful,
finding that honesty is the greatest safeguard, and truthfulness a shield from many
temptations. All foolish quarrels will be forgotten, and the spirit of love and
good will pervade all their actions. As the children resolve to aid their kind
parents in family cares, the brother and sister, mutually assisting each other and
with cheerful bright faces, make a perpetual will sunshine at home. In this
delightful progress. The claims of those who have always served you as devoted domestics
will not be forgotten, and by your thoughtfulness you can thus atone for many
an unkind word or heedless exaction on your part. As children of benevolent parents,
you will help to bestow gifts upon the poor and needy, and nothing
I know from watching you all will be more pleasant than this part of the
Christmas rejoicings. I shall want to hear from you in answer to this lengthy
epistle, for I know you are all used to writing, and be assured
I shall ever feel a sincere and hearty interest in your welfare, and whatever
may be your position in life, memory will carry me back to the happy
days spent in the pretty village of d And now as I draw on my
seven league boots for other scenes, I will wish you all a Merry Christmas
and a happy New Year, Santa Claus. And of a letter from Santa
Claus for Christmas eighteen forty nine,