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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1924-12-10, Page 2ESTNER OF THE HIGH HILLS BY ORVILLE D. WESCOTT. Once upon a time, very long ago, ,trembling, were lying on their faces, there lived a little giriIn Judea, whom hands 4050-preseed over their eyes, everyone called, ""Eether of the High Esther no longer dared lift her eyes Mille," She had been. given_ this name to the Star. In spite of the longing beep -tufo, of all the little children in to reach her father, she felt she meat the little stonewalled village, she was, stay there and wait the impending the most active and fearless, ready to; Event, Kneeling, hands folded across climb beights that• °there thought her breast, head bowed and eyes clos- impossible, ed, eha waited for she know not what. ' Eether's father was a shepherd, The Star stopped its descent, re - grazing' his flocks in the early' spring- mained stetionary and then, from the tittle in sight of the ancient elty of midst of it, there stepped for an Jerusalem. When the heat of sum- Angel form. For an instant Esther mer came, burning the grass and dry- dared to lift her eyes to his face, She ing the brooks and the springs of saw the form of a man with a owl. flesh water, the sheep were led back tenants of wonderful cairn, radiating to the hills where there was grateful such peace and good will that she was shade and where, in the deep valleys, no longer fearful. the rich greases grew through the. Without touching the earth, the summer, The sherherda' families always ac- companied them to the hill pastures, where they wandered by day in the open and slept et night under black tents, It was the custom for several families to herd their flocks together. To the little children, the summer months saran tthe Land of Enchant- ment, with constant change of scene and fresh adventures daily. These ad- ventures were stored up and on the return In the autumn were retailed to the children who were condemned to the monotony of village life. Though her heart was in the hills, it was in the winter months that she woe to have her most wonderful ad- venture which changed her name from Esther of the High Hills to Esther of the Snow -White Lamb. It happened in this wise. In the month of December, following the sum- mer she was twelve years old, the shepherds were grazing their flocks a little way from the village. On a night late in December, Esther and her little brother had carried out to her father a hot cooked evening meal. The short winter twilight had merged into the darkness of night by th time they returned. The younger children were put to bed and Esther sat with her mother in the one big room i z the cottage. E flier was on the floor before the eyes above •he gazed upward as if to men flee, over which the evening meal seek approval of the Infmlte Power had h:+en cooked. Of a sudden the fire authorizing his message. Slowly the seem- d to lose its stow. ,d,, strangely ouspread wings unfolded, the Star luminous light fined the room. In seemed to open to receive him and qukk surprise Esther jumped to her instantly the earth became filled with f, et, meeting her mother's frightened the sound of music, voices in glad eves. Instinctively they turned to the open door of the tiny bedroom where the other children were peacefully sleeping; then the mother unbarred the outer door and they stepped into the pir'ht, a night so strangely differ- ent from any in the past. No village house or feed stack was ablaze. Instead, the horizon was a shimmer of soft tremulous light that seemed to come from directly over- head where burned a star transcend- ently bright, As they gazed it seemed to draw nearer to earth. They stood and watched, shading their eyes from the brilliance that steadily grew in the earth. She cought the glint of int--nsity. many wings, the flash of rainbow Esher dropped her eyes to the hues. Out of the night was borne to plain- where, half screened by a low hill. the flocks were sheltered for the rive The shepherds had left their Mkt for a moment and gathered on the ;'-own°of the hill, watching the et a as it dropped slowly down thrlith the ambient blue that was no:: almost the brightness of noon d, The star was directly overhead. Angel appeared to come to rest a little above and in front of the shepherds, Wings of snowy lustre half infolded him. The poise was one of perfect grace but withal dominating, the atti- tude that of a Messenger. As she looked, Esther felt that the Heavenly Messenger was about to speak. In the hush and silence that hung over the night it seemed as if the world were holding its breath waiting some great revelation. . Across the intervening' space th words came clearly to Esther. Th sound of the Angel's voice was tis music of belle, the concentrated sweet- ness of all the worlds, of all time drawn out and tuned down to perfec cadence. It filled her with*•ecstasy So intense were her feelings that sh could not move. She scarcely breathed The first words were reassuring an they burned themselves into her men, ory: Fear not: for behold I bring you geed tidings of'great joy„ which shall be to all people. For unto you is burn this day in the City of David, a :lav iour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall; find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a mange r," The angel ceased speaking., His message was delivered. Yet he linger- ed for a moment. Then lifting his ehtlled by the wintry lair. Night birds flew by and gave weird ca11e at sight of the huddled sheep. Barth dwellers at times scuttled by close at lcand betrayed 'their presence in the crack ling brush, Once a bush, swaying ' the breeze, brought her heart to standstill with the thought that it wa ome-ill-omened'exeeture of the eight Threw timea Esther made the tom plete round of the flock, stopping t teat 'after each round in the eheltet of the boulder that wag partial pro- teetion front the chill night wind, The dogs huddled cline and kept her warm She watched the stars as they dropped to the horizon and disapp yond the western hills. The noises o the night pressed in upon her and she was acutely conscious of the un- easy movement eft he sheep from time , to time. It ,woe after four o'clock, just be fore the first signs of dawn.' Esther was again making the round of the flock. She was weary. Sleep dragged at her eyelids and more than once she stumbled over the rough, uneven places, At the far end from her resting place the sheep seemed more restless than before brit the dogs seven* sign of an enemy. A moment later she crosseda 1. rid ow ridge and stood con- fronting a pair of glaring green eye- balls, not twenty »aces away, The suddenness of it deprived' her utterly ar ai tt 5 0• f attack with a swinging stroke that happily caught hint on the end of hie, sensitive nose. Dazed and maddened with pain, the wolf made quick re- Icoverer, Before Esther could again raise the crook, ha had crouched for hie ,epxing, but in that inetant a rock hurtled through the air, striking him (squarely on the head, Others follow- ed and he did not move again. The. heavy cudgels of the shepherds beat out his life. Strong arms gathered Esther in a close embrace and a shepherd brought the lamb that had fallen victim to the p wolf and placed it in Esther's, arms, It I was bruised and bleeding but other - close 1 wise uninjured and as she held it in her arms, comforting it motherwise, 'the men looked on in simple adoration. The ehepherd who had brought the lamb spoke. "Brethreneeve have this night wore shipped Him who, though born in a' manger, is yet to be the deliverer of Judah. While we worshipped, our Esther of the High Hills has guarded our flocks. Let her be known hence- forth as Esther of the Snow -White Lamb, because, forgetful of self, and out of a great love for the weak and ,helpless, she has saved one of the flock." " Esthergrew to be a beautiful wo- man and one of .the leaders of the religion Christ died to preserve. The story of her brave act childhdod be- came a part of the legendary history of the church, When the Rennaisance artists sought inspiration for their masterpieces from the heroic deeds of the women of that early period, they painted the lovely Esther with the Snow-White—Lamb in her arms and little children at her knees, e of strength. She could not move. She e was conscious only that her heart was beating wildly, almost to suffocation. To scream would have been a relief t but Esther eould only stand and stare e d unison, uplifted in a chorus of song. Although they seemed to come from a distance the words were clear and distinct. Again and again the mighty chant rose and . fell, the last sound dying away, only to rise again, a throbbing wave of melody: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Esther felt faint and dizzy with emotion and with the vivid conscious- ness of being alive. As she lifted her eyes in wonder to gaze at the Heaven- ly Host surrounding the Messenger, they were gradually withdrawn from her senses a perfume not of earth. It left her reeling with the longing to join that immortal cloud of transcen- dental beings. Slowly the vision faded and with it the rose colored light. For a long time an afterglow lingered and the music of the hosannas floated down to the listening ears after the last One by one the shepherds fell to their faint vision of the angel forms had knees, covering their faces with their vanished into the night. Esther hands. strained her ears to catch the last re - Esther could see her father stand- frain drifting down from measure- less heights. Fainter and fainter came the words: "Glory to. God in the High- est, on earth peace, good will toward men." When she could not longer hear a sound she turned toward theshep- herds and with a cry sprang to her feet. Even as she called, they were passing down the hill to the town of Bethlehem_ She hurried forward to overtake them but when she had crossed the narrow interval to the ing a little apart from the others. The whiteness of his sheepskin mantle caught and reflected the sheen of light. She was seized with a longing to go to him. Her mother stood still, awed into silence, with her hands shading her eyes. Esther plucked at her gown: "Come, Mother, let vs go out there and be with Father to watch the Star." The mother did not turn, did not even hear, She kept her eyes fixed on the Star but her thoughts were Spot where they had stood a moment busy recalling the prophecies to the before, there came to her the con - Tribe of Judah and the House of,sciousness that the messsge had been David. Was this the heralded comingto them; not to her. It had been of the promised King who should vouchsafed her to witness it, to hear reign over Israel? the voice of the Messenger and the In the distance, just over the brow song of the angel hosts but she had of the hill that sheltered the sheep,1 crossed the narrow interval to the was Bethlehem. Of it the prophet , spot where they had stood a. moment Micah had said: "Though thou be lit-! before, there came to her. the con - tie among the thousands of Judah, yeti eciousness that the message had been out of thee shall He come forth that- to them; not to her. It had been Till they find the manger where the Christ Child lie is to be Ruler in Israel." I vouchsafed her to witness it, to hear On the breast of Mary, in whose eyes are gleaming And what was this but his Star, the voice of the Messenger and the All the -lights of glory from beyond the starry skies. the "Star out of Jacob," the "Sceptre song of the angel hosts but she had that was to rise out of Israel?" Was not been called to worship at the Once again the Shepherds come across the hills and meadows the promise of the prophet Isaiah mangerside of the new 'born King. , Bringhtg about to be fulfilled? "For behold the Instead, to her had fallen the duty . gifts of soft white wool and flax that they have darkness shall cover the earth, and of watching over the unguarded flocks. spun,. groes darkness the people; but the At her feet lay a• shepherd's crook While the cattle, solemn -eyed, wonder in the shadows Lord shag arise upon thee, and His and a sheepskin mantle in which a And the Wise Men kiss the feet of Mary and her Son. Glory shall be seen upou thee," So shepherd had been wrapped when the ran the ancient prophecy. Heavenly visitor appeared. A star, The House of Christxnas fills my heart and oh, the'bel'ls are ring- A Babe se pitiful and mild.. - There at Bird feet they knelt and laid at those hateful green eyes. It was for only an instant. The dogs rushed forward, the eyes disappeared like the shutting off of a light Inc out at sea and there was a crash and scurry in the underbrush, Presently the dogs returned bristling and with low growl- ings. Esther strove to control the wild beating of her heart.' She gathered a handful bf stones to Ring. down the swale in the direction in which the waif had disappeared. At the far end of the ridge, where the valley narrowed and became more shallow, the sheep had crowded down to escape the wind: • Here the rocks were interspersed with boulders and Esther kept a sharp lookout for signs of a hidden enemy. Half way up the sharp incline, there was a sudden surging of the flock toward her. She heard the sharp bleat of a sheep and the pitiful cry of a lamb. With that cry, all fear was forgot- ten. Calling to the dogs, that at the moment were ranging on the far flank of the flock, Esther rushed forward. The wolf had crossed the farther ridge, worked back and, chancing the wind, had run, in and seized a lamb. The mother had endeavored to defend it. As a consequence she suffered a torn throat but had failed to save her little one. It was bleating pitifully under the huge paw of the wolf. This time, as Esther approached, the grea''t eyes did not disappear. The wolf would not leave his prey. ' With all her strength, Esther flung her largest stone. It missed but the wolf flinched to one side, trying to keep his hold on the lamb still strug- gling in his grip. Esther stopped and. hurled her stone straight at those hateful gleaming eyes. It struck the shoulder nearest her. The wolf growl- ed in rage and crouched for a spring at the frail slip of a girl, Esther saw that her sole defence must be the crook. She saw also the bleeding frightened lamb beneath the hungry jaws of the wolf. The sight nerved her arm. She swung the heavy cud- gel over her head to meet the shock of the wolf's spring. A stone under her foot turned and she went down, her blow missing its mark. Almost instantly she was on her feet and as the wolf again .sprang, she ztnet the Christmas in the Farmyard. ih A Yuletide Legend, A pilgrhn walked with weary tread, le sought the Flower at Peace, in vain, Though he. found. other bloats instead, Blossoms of worldly wealth and These blossoms, dazzling to the eyes, Seen faded, now the earth lay bare As 'Heath the cheerless Easterh skies Thiapilgrire searched with zealous care. Men staffed at him. "Why labor on For that which you nuty never find? Why strive with evil? Peace is gene, 'Tis easier to be resigned," But, though this counsel made hem • grieve, Undaunted, steadfast on he went, Till on that first glad Chriatmas Eve His heart was filled with deep con- tent. He knew his weary quest would cease, For in a• humble cattle shed At last be found the Flower• of Peace Growing beside the Christ Child's bed! —Leslie' X. Oyler. White Christmas. When Christmas hangs un high the holly bough, And Christmas trees bear fruit of varied blisses, And traps are set with waxen mistle- toe a As bait for kisses, Let me not hear the crying ghosts of rain Beyond the uneurtained pane.' Let snow fall in the night, as soft as breath, g And clothe familiar things with frosty change, Till every bush and fence rail' wears a wreath Lovely and strange. Let frost shut from the window with /rail laces Those fragile, peering faces. What should I do, remembering to- " night Those footsteps that I• knew, now light as air? Rather I choose to hear the laughing, light Child feet on the stair. What should I do, holding the door for thin, Frail ghosts who come not in? —Dorothy Stockbridge. "We Are. Ready, Santa." The minister made a jolly, plump streets, and in a short time ,tali"hifal; T ere was once a small girl who Santa Claus, and the little ones wait- with a doll, and all she had missed insisted upon giving every animal ed. before him in breathless, eager fragrant, inspiring carols were being in ,childhood because her mother had suspense. �Suddenl one little voice wafted onwards od the eveninz breeze, about the place a ChristmaF dinner. y The spirit of Christmas was there, persisted in saying, "'She is too old for Of course she was laughed at a good piped up, "Are you coming to„our pto s.++ house Santa?” Immediate) there The sinning sent Oe 'Alis nn and dawn y deal, and assured that the cats and „, y one's shine. One conid hardly help A way to prove that your child dogs and chickens did not know' was a chorus, I ve been good, are you but think of. Old Scrooge in Diekens' likes toys is to' provide an opportune Christmas from any other day, but coming to my house?" Finally one ity of choice for the next present. h t k h little girl. cried, "We worked hard and "Christmas Carol,"i o much like Nina children out, of ten will choose cleaned all up for you, Santa, Are Christmas was the whole afnosnhere..toys! you coming to our house to -night?" Organizations -on this side of rho At Christmas time and birthdays 1 or iiden goodies. Howl they must I Atlantic are at work try' to crests have -wen ver red what z all meant) It Tho last child had the right idea, so often have seen disappointment in and I think there must have been a more general interest in caroling. The children's faces that I feel like writ- aniwasn't very much, and of course the Salyation Army most not he forgotten animals promptly forgot it. They haPPwinhy, busy Christmas at her house, in this -connection. This body has been ing in huge capitalai— acted very much like humans after all. ,with mother and thke little helper `"MOTHERS! ATTENTION! working together to keep the -joyous ` ptoneerinR in this' direction, and re They stuffed disgracefully, then sat PLEASE GIVE YOUR CHIL- sults have been most, encouraging, it ,,, time. Too many things at Christmas ` . DREN TOYS around and licked their chops and p zs sai, • Young Folies' Community ° Christmas Tree: TOO QLD FOR We had one last year and here i how we did it: tbaut half a dozen of the young folks got together and de- cided cided to have this tree, We knew 1 would require some money, sox coin- in visited community a fully plained their children eneugh' to eat, 1 have in the ct,ell and fully explained r Seen breakfast consist of fruit, sore the project, and as a result quite a ridge, eggs and bacon, tenet, marma- substantial sum was raked, ,One man ludo and eol)'ea, 'Phis would have been donated tiueat ree, a big evergreen, and enough for a goad dinner, butt was we had it dug up by an expert ands sltnlly a bxeakfcs t, Imngina what the planted in central .position. Tie dinner in such •a hole would, bel wiii g d tl ' it kept right on growing. Provided their parents are able to We were fortunate to be Ileac- elec-i p trig light wires, so for a very nominal' oaPpiY it -110e more than enough to aum had the electric by t company tet while their little bodies are sttiing a wire to our •troe• Practically Y stuffed, their heartsareoften starved all the work was done by the young ,fou, want of toys, folks, We wired the tree. then bought I suppose You aro bu%y buying various sizes of ted, vrhlte and blue toys" I remarked to a mother one day 01 TOYS1 ti BY MRS. NESTORNOEL. q d People are very partloular to give •t'ae a use again. us. year, as Certainly ;most •children nowadays— electric light g,obes; also metal stars a few weeks before Christmas. and some red balls. We also bought "Oh, no,"she said, "My children peanute, oranges, lolly -pops and enroll` are too. old for toys!" The eldest one boxes of candy. yeas not yet nine! We invited every member of the. What do you glue them?" I asked, ' community to be at the tree at eight: She told rtze that she filled their o'aloek sharp, Christmas eve. Every- stockings with peanuts, oranges and body was those, The lights wore turn- candy! More to eat! From time to ed on and we distributed printed time, I had taken these children toys, z copies of Christmas carols. We had and I knew by their delight in my a good sing for, about twenty mine gifts that they would have appreciat- utes, then sleigh belle were heard and, d t morn than anything a*se, i ht of the. un stars , to the great del g y$ g e oya Claus, with a Tittle fear, Santa Soma mothers are .quick to say,. Claus with a big pack vsaseen tom "My children are. too old for toys,"1 dozens of parked uta b 'Qs were 'Nast the children to help more with thrown on him and he gr meet ran the work. After all, d the re with themselves who should decide whether high. Santa came to the group, shook or not they axe "too old for toys:' hands with all, patted the children Childhood can some but .once. Why and gave each child a bag containing, themselves your children to grow up too Peanuts. candy, orange and, a lolly-, soon? pop, That ended the entertainmifht I' Have noticed that when there were and all went home feeling happy. The many in a family, the eldest was al - same program will be repeated thio, ways supposed to be ""too old for year. „ toys. Of course the child was not necessarily so. I knew a girl once A Fine Old Custom. , who had been treated as if she were The Christmas Season is upon us a grown-up since the age if. sour! It and our minds naturally revert to came from being the eldest of the such old-time customs as "Christmas fami,y. At the age of seventeen, she Caroling" But the paint is—do we found herself free, 'with "money to made enmph of this fine o? l observe spend. One of the first things she ince? After all, it is a beautiful thing, bought herself was a doll. She did this Christmas cardiine—isn't it? The not play with it for her years in writer remembers having been in old which ono plays with dolls were gone London (Erie -bind) one rheletmee oldese Forever, She sewed for it, however, a few years sale. Shortly after. dark -making it exquisite clothes, and she rices had fallen on the cite, the, kept it in her trunk, looking at it fee - "'waits" Kevan to appear on the quently. Perhaps she realized how many games she migEt have played ' often think they say this because they ing down the road, rho lights from. e n mo ilexit is s e s ue to er point, and the pets were lined up, and fed all sorts- of forbidden paws, which, was their way of using time are done by mothers for children i People will not; however, vet the table -napkins and finger bowls; they .when the ideal way is to do them with right slant on caroling until the ccs - played a little in a feeble, stupid sort 'the children. In that way there are of way, then they lay down in a quiet corner and wert to sleep. But the instinct that prompted the' small girl to see that even e the ea' animals joined in j the fun, grew and blossomed, and bore fruit, so that in after years, it enabled her to do something lasting and worth- while' for the aninials that suffer so needlessly from people/ carelessness and cruelty. OUR HOLIDAY WISH TO YOU. May Peace and Joy with you abide Throughout a happy Christmastide, And Health and Wealth and Love. unite . To keep your Future always bright, THE HOUSE OF CHRISTMAS By Edgar Daniel Kramer The firelight is glowing on the pine boughs 'and the holly In the House of Christmas that my dreamings ever know And sweet, childish voices, jubilant and jolly, Hymn the Babe of Bethlehem, born long years ago. . Through the starlit.stillness the Christmas bells are ringing From the highest hilltop to the deepmost glen, And the House of Christmas joins them in their singing, "Christ is born in Bethlehem! Peace on earth to men 1" Once again the Wise Men walk in the ways of dreaming, " 'never any fussy, restless, bothersome children, but a willing, interested, un- selfish group of youngsters having the real spirit•of the day. . "Where's the pretty things?" wailed a five-year-old laughter as she survey- ed the dining table on a holiday. "I haven't had time to get the usua decorations," replied the hurrying mother. Then noticing the disappoint- ment on the child's face, she suggest- ed; "You know where I keep them in the attic; why don't you get them and arrange 'them 'for me?" The little ° girl trotted off happily and much to her mother's secret sur- prise, did get the simple napkins and crepe paper runners and -flags, and placed them very.daintily on the table. The proud delight of the child was a revelation to the mother, and after that she always said a few days be- fore" a holiday, "Well, daughter, we must soon be getting ready to make a nice holiday and have everything clean and pretty." Then would follow plans fora few simple ways the child could help. .. The best Christmas of all to the children would be the one when they helped make table decorations, chains and paper flowers for the tree, helped pack the box of food or clothing and, gifts for the unfortunate ones, and "worked hard and cleaned all up" for Santa Claus.—Lydia Lion Roberts, • The Children's Festival. On Christmas night, the Angels say, A babe: was born far, far away; A Little Child so fair to see, HO lay upon His Mother's knee, From fields afar then shepherds came,. And wondered at His Glorious Name. A King they sought and found a Child, • Gifts for City Friends. tom is more widely taken up by music Are the cousins and the aunts of lovers,'- Are church choirs and choral whom you are so fond packed away in organizations `of every kind doing modern apartments zn the big city? their share in this direction?* Does it bather you traznendonejy to know what to send `them for Christ- mas mese—something different from t thin the s I ee for sa a an that• y d 1 ' d' ho FOR THE DINNER TABLE.you .We have Planned a novel feature are sure they can use? 1 for our Christmas dinner table in the You perhaps have right et hand the line of illuminations. 'A number of things that would prove most accept- tiny- plant potshave been given a able, but which at first thought may coat of white enamel, and pasteboard seem too ordinary, Home canning is glued inside so they are in no danger. one of them. of letting anything through the hole Why not then, from your big stores intended for drainage. In theca we of jelly; jams and pickles, pick out .a have planted red and yellow candles— dozen or half dozen cans of uniform one candle in each -using sand for the sfzo, wrap them attractively in papers purpose and covering the surface with and use the Christmas stickers, box artificial snow. The candles' are held and send to the city? firmly and dripping wax soils only the Perhaps you have that wonderful snow. 1; sausage which seems to be made no A sprig of holly is fastened to each, place so well as on the farm. And pot with a fine rubber band or two. perhaps you have bees, and the Wee ; There will be enourth of the pots so have fed from your own clover fields, each child guest will have one as a and made you honey. With sausage souvenir. For a smaller dinner of and honey provided at Christmas adults one might put place cards in the holly sprays.—M. S. Again Esther tried to draw her brilliant and beautiful, thing low over mother's attention but she did not Bethlehem. Esther looked at it with The Christmas candles beckon me and I Their offerings down and humbly heed. With a last look at the rapidly longing but her thoughts turned to, As I hear child voices andiall the lad stars h young prayed. descending Star, Esther turned and the flacks around her and to the little, "Christ is born in Bethlehem! Ileacs and1" Ohs 'twas a blessed sight to see with flying feet ran down the narrow Iambs, many of them but a few days l d good will to men Their Lord in such simplicity. And ever' since we know it well, Christmas the children's Festival. The night when Christ came down to reign To conquer death, and sin, and pain, acv .r ,, .... ce ing! ath that led to the stream, up the long hill and across a plateau to where her father still stood. The ascent of the opposite hill was not steep but the way was rough. Bram- bits caught her rough spun freak, Boulders and loose stones impeded her progress. She reached the top breath• less and nearly exhausted. Meantime the Star had dropped lower and lower, its brilliance Increased and seemingly focussed on the hill top, a hundred old, which, unguarded, might easily! fall victims to wolves or bears. So with deep joy in her heart, but with many a tremor at the terrors of the, night, Esther wrapped the sheepskin about her shoulders and began her lonely vigil. Galling the dogs to her side, she slowly made her way around the flock, searching the shadows forsome prowler of the night or for a lamb strayed or hel less in it or bramble, yards or less across the. shallow The heura dragged slow)-, In spite male. Tho shepherds, in fear :and n? !ha heavy Sheapskln, Esther was Do not give children too much at Christmas. There is nothing more nauseating than a blase, surfeited youngster. Encourage the children to Oink more about giving egleasure to those who have very tittle, and loss about their, own things, Teach them to divide up, Gifts. can't you imagine •the feast completed with waffles? I know a man who looks eagerly among his Christmas packages until he finds his box of glasses or orange Many people think that because -marmalade, each jelly glass wrapped they arenot able to give Christmas in orange -colored tissue tied with a gifts, because they cannot give money green ribbon, and a green sticker on or what it buys, they can give nothing. it. This has been his gift annually How little we realize that the best from a cousin and I'!n sure he would thing anybody can ever give in this be terribly disappointed not to receive world is not money or expensive pres- it, elite, but himself, It may be many a day since these A opor woman who has no money cousins and aunts hall the black wa- fer Christmas presents, writes ,the nuts and hickory nuts of their child- most beautiful, encouraging, cheer -up hood; so wouldn't a box of these be letters to many poor and unfortunate different and acceptable? And those people, especially the eicic in the hos- good crisp, juioy apples why not pitals and other shut-ins. She fills some of them? them with the spirit of Christmas, and /lit be a smaller offering than these that is what counts. If that doesn't mentioned, what could be cheerier go with the money yeti give, or the than to see' on opening a box a mass, gift you send, you are not giving any: of the bitter-sweet berry which is so thing worthwhile., I have always thought of Christmas time as a good time—a kind, forgiv- ing, charitable, pleasant time. It" is good to be children' sometimes, and pensive bit of charity that is^often never better than at. Christmas, when highly entertaining, Decorated with its mighty Founder was a child flim_ Popcorn, cranbe, pierce of bread self. -Charles Dickens, and suet, the outdoorrriestree is certain to attractan excited gathering of The most- beautiful, thing in the feathered guests, There is n pretty world, the most gracious gift, that Scandinavian' custom of the spare which every human being craves most, sheaf, At this time of year the farm- is love and the more of love we give er puts out close by his barn a sheaf out, the more we have, the richer we of grain at the top of a long pole. dire. Lova maintains perpetual stun- Who shall say that he does not there - mer in the soul and shuts out winter's by propitiate some kindly spirit who chill, Love of matt is -love of God, seas to it that the birds protect his 1 g Hex Bummers crops front, insects? abundant in some localities and just wanting to show its glory to the closed -in folks of the city? A bird's Christman, tree is an infix.