A Christmas greeting

Chapter 23: TO “THE QUARTERLY”

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About This Book

The essay offers a spirited reflection on the Christmas season, defending the traditional greeting against modern cynicism and urging readers to set aside private grief or quarrels to practice kindness, forgiveness, and small neighborly deeds. It acknowledges sorrow caused by war and loss while offering consolation that the departed may yet be near, and counsels cheerfulness as an ethical choice. It criticizes restless travel to continental resorts as a frivolous escape, praises old English Yuletide customs, and blends moral exhortation with patriotic imagery toward the horizon of a new year.

TO “THE QUARTERLY”

With THE COMPLIMENTS OF THE SEASON

Greeting, old friend! a merry Christmas time

To you, who nothing merry ever see;—

Great Murderer of poets in their prime,—

Why have you struck at me?

With vengeful hooks of sharpened critic-steel

You tortured giants in the days gone by,—

And now upon your creaking, rusty wheel,

You’d break a Butterfly!

Alas! you’re far too cumbrous for such things!

Your heavy, clanking axle drags i’ the chase;—

The happy Insect has the use of wings,

And keeps its Sunshine-place!