In which we reflect on themes introduced in these pages

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The streets of Newtown, Powys, are awash in Father Christmas clones for December’s annual Santa fun run that raises money for the Newtown and District Dial-a-Ride.[/caption]

‘Battledore and shuttlecock’s a wery good game, vhen you an’t the shuttlecock and two lawyers the battledores, in which case it gets too excitin’ to be pleasant.’

Miss Bolo rose from the table, considerably agitated, and went straight home, in a flood of tears and a Sedan chair.

‘Wen you’re a married man, Samuel, you’ll understand a good many things as you don’t understand now; but vether it’s worthwhile goin’ through so much to learn so little, as the charity-boy said ven he got to the end of the alphabet, is a matter o’ taste.’

Charles Dickens
from The Pickwick Papers

Work as if everything depended upon your work, and pray as if everything depended upon your prayer.

While women weep as they do now, I’ll fight; while little children go hungry as they do now, I’ll fight; while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I’ll fight; while there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl on the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I’ll fight—I’ll fight to the very end.
General William Booth

And when Booth halted by the curb for prayer He saw his Master thro’ the flag fill’d air.
Christ came gently with a robe and crown For Booth the soldier, while the throng knelt down.
He saw King Jesus; they were face to face, And he knelt a-weeping in that holy place.
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Vachel Lindsay
“General Booth Enters Into Heaven”

A tavern chair is the home of human felicity.
Samuel Johnson

It is not true to say I frowned
Or ran about the room and roared;
I might have simply sat and snored–
I rose politely in the club And said,“I feel a little bored;
Will someone take me to a pub?”
G.K. Chesterton

Heap on more wood!–the wind is chill;
But let it whistle as it will,
We’ll keep our Christmas merry still.
Sir Walter Scott