3-074-903 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Christmas Morning: Three Generations, drawn by A. Hunt, 1883. 'To Bolham Church, a quaint old pile, The rustics trudge a weary way, By zigzag paths, o'er many a stile, To worship God on Christmas Day; And see, with like devout intent, The child slow-pacing on before Three generations closely blent Are entering now the sacred door...In our Illustration we have a family of three generations...entering their village church together - honest country folk mindful of the sacred meaning of Christmas, in thus making attendance at the appointed religious service a prelude to...enjoyment and festive merrymaking...In their Sunday and holiday best they reverently enter the church porch...The little procession is headed by the grandfather and grandmother - a happy touch of reverence for age characteristic of true filial piety. But before these toddles the youngest member of the family - the representative of the third generation. How charming is this mystery of love between the youngest and the oldest - this meeting of extremes! It strengthens the chain...that unites our race in one...a chain stretching back through countless past generations, but which, for near two thousand years, has been consecrated by the sentiments of the Christmas Festival'. T. J. G. From "Illustrated London News", 1883.