It is a pleasure very near to sadness , bringing tears to one 's eyes like a beautiful picture or poem . And is not that a Mother 's gentle hand that undraws your curtains , and a Mother 's sweet voice that summons you to rise ? To rise and forget , in the bright sunlight , the ugly dreams that frightened you so when all was dark -- to rise and enjoy another happy day , first kneeling to thank that unseen Friend , who sends you the beautiful sun ? Are these strange words from a writer of such tales as `` Alice '' ? And is this a strange letter to find in a book of nonsense ? It may be so . Some perhaps may blame me for thus mixing together things grave and gay ; others may smile and think it odd that any one should speak of solemn things at all , except in church and on a Sunday : but I think -- nay , I am sure -- that some children will read this gently and lovingly , and in the spirit in which I have written it . For I do not believe God means us thus to divide life into two halves -- to wear a grave face on Sunday , and to think it out-of-place to even so much as mention Him on a week-day . Do you think He cares to see only kneeling figures , and to hear only tones of prayer -- and that He does not also love to see the lambs leaping in the sunlight , and to hear the merry voices of the children , as they roll among the hay ? Surely their innocent laughter is as sweet in His ears as the grandest anthem that ever rolled up from the `` dim religious light '' of some solemn cathedral ? And if I have written anything to add to those stores of innocent and healthy amusement that are laid up in books for the children I love so well , it is surely something I may hope to look back upon without shame and sorrow -LRB- as how much of life must then be recalled ! -RRB- when my turn comes to walk through the valley of shadows . This Easter sun will rise on you , dear child , feeling your `` life in every limb , '' and eager to rush out into the fresh morning air -- and many an Easter-day will come and go , before it finds you feeble and gray-headed , creeping wearily out to bask once more in the sunlight -- but it is good , even now , to think sometimes of that great morning when the `` Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in his wings . '' Surely your gladness need not be the less for the thought that you will one day see a brighter dawn than this -- when lovelier sights will meet your eyes than any waving trees or rippling waters -- when angel-hands shall undraw your curtains , and sweeter tones than ever loving Mother breathed shall wake you to a new and glorious day -- and when all the sadness , and the sin , that darkened life on this little earth , shall be forgotten like the dreams of a night that is past ! Your affectionate friend , LEWIS CARROLL . EASTER , 1876 . * * * * * CHRISTMAS GREETINGS . -LSB- FROM A FAIRY TO A CHILD . -RSB- Lady dear , if Fairies may For a moment lay aside Cunning tricks and elfish play , 'T is at happy Christmas-tide . We have heard the children say -- Gentle children , whom we love -- Long ago , on Christmas Day , Came a message from above .
Still , as XXXXX comes round , They remember it again -- Echo still the joyful sound `` Peace on earth , good-will to men ! ''
CARROLL Christmas-tide Cunning Easter-day Fairies Mother day elfish morning night