Aunt Em was the beloved Emmeline B. Wells, the long-time editor of the Woman’s Exponent. The following article was written by her, for the newspaper, and published in the Dec 15, 1875 edition. Let this serve as our own little reminder of Christmases past from our one and only Aunt Em.
A Little Chat About Christmas
As I sit thinking about Christmas, in my mind’s eye I conjure up a fanciful picture of the past. I wonder whether any of our kind readers would like to know how we spent Christmas in the “long-ago”. I can see before me an old rambling brown country house and it is running over, full of little children, all ages from the tall young lady and over-grown boy down to infancy. In all the “living rooms” the walls and pictures are ornamented with the evergreens, pines and hemlock boughs with which New England abounds: the scarlet berries in thick clusters upon the vines and the tiny white-pink blossoms of the lily of the valley.
The house resounds with merry laughter and shouts of glee, and from garret to cellar, in every nook and corner, the little children hide and cluster, as they romp and frolic in their wild delight; playing at “blindman’s bluff,” “hide and seek” and those old-fashioned games which seemed so particularly adapted to the cultivation of physical development and animal spirits. Presents, neither costly or elegant, perhaps, but precious indeed from the associations of friendship and affection, and appreciated with warm-hearted enthusiasm. I can see, O so plainly, the window-panes all crystallized over and remember how I used to imagine cities, palaces, and castles, and associate them with fairy tales; and outside the snow lay so deep the roads must needs be broken with big heavy sleds and ever so many yoke of cattle and then the merry bells would jingle all day long as the sleighs flew past.
I will not tell you of the delicious plum puddings and roasted turkeys, for you will soon have them in reality, nor the full stockings we found by our little beds in the cold frosty mornings, but I will tell you of the bright sunshine in our hearts, of the gladness of the happy childhood, of the greetings of dear friends, cousins, and all the long list of relatives gathered around the hearth-stone at night, by the blazing fire of pine knots, and singing old-fashioned songs and telling wonderful tales, to please, and amuse the little folks, who were never tired or sleepy, while they might be allowed this exciting pastime.
If it were not too sorrowful, I could tell you of a Christmas when there were no presents, no sunshine in the heart, when all was so chillingly lonely, that even though the day was bright outside, and nature sparkling in her richest robes of jeweled splendor, the tears fell and blinded us from seeing it when the little ones looked in our faces and wondered what ailed us, and we could not choke down the sobs of anguish that rose up and almost stifled us. But my kind readers if you know where there is sorrow, or poverty or loneliness, if you know of a widow or little orphans, remember them on this coming Christmas, and God will remember you, and bless you, and it will be fulfilling the dear Savior’s words to whom this day is consecrated.
Do not let it annoy you if your gifts are not rich or costly but have a sweet smile, and a bright face, and a merry Christmas for everybody, and your hearts will be light, and you will be happy in imparting happiness to others. Many, very many, are the pleasant pictures of the past which present themselves to us as we look back, and a happy childhood is one of the fond recollections ever associated through life with feelings of tenderness and gratitude.
There is something about home, that touches the stoutest heart, the most hardened reprobate. And those who have a pleasant home, kind parents, loving friends and plenty, should never forget to thank God for all these precious gifts of His goodness. How often in the years to come, will these sweet reminders of happy childhood, flashes of vivid recollection, bring to us glad thoughts and for the moment we may almost feel again the brightness of the glorious past. God is pleased with us when we appreciate our blessings, we should never forget how tenderly He cares for us, and that all the precious blessings of our lives are dispensed from His bounty.
I love to see happy children, I love to see happy men and women, happy in doing right. And that we may, all of us, not only have a merry, but a happy, Christmas is the real wish of Aunt Em
And from me as well. Merry Christmas!