Santa Claus is known to be a very old man, with plenty of snow-white hair and loving eyes, but he has different qualities and characteristics in every land. When the early colonists came from Europe to America they brought their different ideas with them, and together they molded a new character. He loves old and young alike, and generous folks most of all. He knows no difference in nationalities and creeds – he loves the Protestant, the Catholic and the Jewish child equally. He loves American children, nor no less than the German, French, English, Russian and Italian children. He tells them that they are all children of one Father, belong to one great family, and have one Home. The joys of one are the joys of all, and the sorrows of one are the sorrows of all. Because of this teaching, many millions of Americans are sad this Christmas, and their prayers are that every heart should be filled with love and peace, instead of hatred.
To make this a living promise, many an American child has asked to share his Christmas gifts with some friend across the sea, and some have offered all their Christmas gifts to sad, lonely children in Europe. Though every great thinker and writer teaches us to love our fellow-men, Dickens, more than all others, gave us the impulse of loving kindness within and without the household bonds. He taught that each little home was a world's great family, of which we are all children together. With the glow not of log-fires, but of warm hearts, he scared away the Christmas ghosts and Christmas goblin that had crowded round in the gloom of the centuries. With an outburst of human tenderness he challenged the cold and darkness, not of winter alone, but of the grave itself. For, as Santa Claus kneels by millions of his children he whispers these are all my children, one of God's many emblems of hope, in innocence and beauty; born in human love, chosen as God's messenger to spread the promise of peace and brotherly love.