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The Exeter Advocate, 1923-12-20, Page 6Different" Christthas l LYDIA LION ROBERTS. • • "Weil, my dear family," said. Ro alio cheerfully, "Cleristmass: ie-" sh paused. "Corning! groaned a chorus voices around her, "Therefore,'"' continued Rosalie with a reproving glance at her family, "thi Christmas which is coming must be different!" It was a Sunday evening in Decem- ber. . n& aenton family had been to church and was now gathered in the. big living -room, talking and listening to Rosalie as she played dreamy, rest- ful chords on the piano. The married sister, Alice, and her husband, Jack, had come over from their home on the next street, and Nan, the college girl, was spending the week -end at home, The fourteen -year-old son, Clarke, had just filled his hands and pockets with refreshments, and sprawled on the bearskin rug, was finishing an ad- venture yarn, Father Benton leaned his shaggy gray head back in his old Morris chair, his blue eyes twinkling as he listened to his lively family. "Say on," he urged, surveying his youngest Baugh - ter with quiet pride as he watched her earnest brown eyes, and vivid, eager face. Rosalie nodded gayly to him, sure of his understanding, and continued: "Just think; we groan because Christ- mas is coming, and shout relief when it is gone. Isn't that rather awful when you think of the meaning of Christmas?" "Any remedy?" asked Jack, who was the kind of a brother-in-law that fitted snugly into the family circle. "Yes," promptly replied Rosalie. "Christmas should be a satisfying of those little dear desires and fancies eve all have tucked away in our hearts and are so ashamed to show. If we did that, it would make lots of fun and riot be a burden either." "I believe I Itow what Rosalie means," suddenly laughed Alice, "I ,like things in half -dozens. I would get a half-dozen at a time of almost everything I buy if I could afford it Zt is silly, I realize, but it is true. I had rather have six medium quality handkerchiefs than one very nice one, that isn't a bit correct, but I have elways felt that way." "There," triumphantly cried her sister, "that is just what I mean.,, "Pll give you six toothpicks," ,offer - ad Jack. "Here we are," laughed Rosalie, her {:peeks hushed with the fun and ban- ter and her dark hair rumpled above her shining eyes, "an average Can- adian family, the bulwark of the na- #Ion, so the statesmen say—" "Speech! Speech!" cried Father Benton waving a sandwich at her. "And yet we are ashamed to show dur desires and dreams that go to make up our most precious possession, our own individuality. Why shouldn't Alice have six hankies if she wants them? Let's all confess and then have Some fun for Christmas, instead of wondering and worrying what on h earth to give, thereby wrinkling our • dispositions." "Very good," approved Mother Ben- h ton who was rocking contentedly in front of the fireplace. an "All right, I dare you," briskly said I Jack. "I don't like neckties for a D Christmas present, but I would like the !money to go on a real necktie spree en all by myself. Also," and he sighed plaintively, "I adore chocolates—but co 'who ever heard of such a silly man?" His pathetic expression made them laugh a,nd then Nan said thought- fully: "If we had plenty of money we might buy such things for ourselves, but every one of us is saving for some- hing bigger and better and so we ave to count our pennies. I think it a nice idea, Rose." "Christmas certainly should be a time to help people realize their little dreams," smiled Alice. "Very well," replied Rosalie, "we will have a: Benton Box Benefit for Christmas." "Sounds good, what is it?" smiled her father. "Let's take each one's special likes land longings and make up a whole Ch box of them, as. fancy or jokey or aretty .as possible. We will decide mong ourselves on some one subject for each one when that one is absent, and then we -will ' all know what to buy." "I need a regular tool -box,"' an- nounced Clarke raising his tousled head from the rug.. "That kid one of I be nine is no good. Club together and get: ot some tools and a box and some op wood, that's what I have to say!" B. "Use your head, sonny," suggested of Jack softly, and ducked the paper ch Clarke flung"at him. Th "Rosalie is the musical one, and ir. Nan is the college one, and Alice is ba the half-dozen one," murmuredI' d mother, "and Clarke---" r,; "Stop, mother, you'll be giving all ve 'ports of secrets away," warned Rosalie co I�{{uickly. "What about yourself of though?" in "Well," hesitated Mother Benton du ternoothing her white apron, "as long, fo as we are talking about foolish tillage, hel and it isn't expensive—I really' don't' need it, but --well, ,'there if you must know, I am 'very fond'' of .Japanese things, only'I never could indulge; my Whims, Your ideas are attractive, but you must tetn'ember that anything bxpensive ie forbidden." "That's ,fine," teased• father,. as het tic rose to say good -night, 9'UU have, two in s=" tlozenebooke, ars •ani;omobile, and scene e big leather chairs; piease. Nothing ex- pensive, y'ou understand, just a trifle." of "Yes, we'll order' them all right away and put thein. in your box," as- sured Rosalie in the'same gay spirit. s "You deserve every one of them. What do you really want, daddy? You're dreadfully hard .to give presents to;. you never seem to need anything." "Yes I do,"protested father, "I really do, girls. I need some shoe- strings badly. Give me a box of shoe strings and save= me biting my tongue every time mine break," and he went upstairs chuckling at their disgusted looks. "Such a dad," smiled Rosalie, as.the young folks settled for a last few min- utes' chat. "He never gets a thing for himself, and he doesn't want us to spend anything on him. He never gets much for Christmas but a few hand- kerchiefs and some neckties. He will not tell us any of his dreams, and says his family is the best thing he could have." "Yes," added Nan, waving her hand and mocking her father's jelly tone, "spend your money for your pretty trinkets, girls, don't waste it on an old codger like me.' " "He's the best dad there ever was, ,1 Said Alice, "He always tells Jack and me: 'Now you young nest builders save your money to make the nest cozy, and put a ,vay my gift money for the nestlings.' " "It's about time - we got even with him," frowned Rosalie as she thought- fully gazed into the firelight. At last, after days of whispered consultations, of hiding mysterious packages, of smothered giggles and happy plans, it was Christmas morn- ing. The Benton family had filled a box for an unfortunate family, had made toys for some sick children, taken part in the church concert and had a Christmas tree for some little tots who lived near them. Therefore, they woke with that glad, thrilly feel- ing so indispensable to Christmas Day. "Box Benefit after breakfast," Rose', alie called as she hurried to the kit- chen to help her another. A little later she drew back the curtains and let the family file into the living -room where the sunlight danced on the red and gold decorations and the tree sparkled and twinkled like a loving and joyous spirit all over. Across one corner was a big placard which read, "The Bright Ben - ton's Boxed Christmas," and under- neath was a pile of boxes big and small. "Mother first" decided Rosalie, so Jack brought a large box to her wrap- ped in matting with labels of Japan over it. Mother actually blushed with delight as she found the kimono from father, the picture of the sacred moun- tain, the tray with iris decoration, Japanese silk for a waist, and a book of quaint stories about Japan. "You bad children," she said softly with tears shining brightly in her appy eyes, "you shouldn't have done It, but it is very sweet," Already Nan was exclaiming over her shirt -waist box which Jack and Clarke had made for her college room d had lined with the delft blue she iked best A Dutch flower scene, odd elft dishes for fudge parties and a table -cover, with quaint Dutch maid- s strolling around the edge, showed that some of her fancies had been dis- vered and gratified. A deep groan made them all turn hastily and look at Jack. He was curled up on the floor against a chair, hugging his brown collar -box in one arm and waving an envelope with his 0 m a th a on au ther hand. "I am overcome," he caned in mock faintiness. "Think of measly little envelope hiding such rills. A bill that is big enough for mighty necktie hunt and an order a store for a scarf -pin." "What have you got behind you?" ddenly asked Clarke. "Go away, little one," loftily replied Jack, shoving something out of sight, but the family' gave him no peace until he sheepishly produced several boxes of fudge and chocolates. "Let's have ristmas every month," he beaming; ly suggested. "0 boy!" shouted Clarke a moment later. "Some tool -box this family has donated me, and plenty of good wood ready to work on. Hurry up with the other presents, I . want to go ;'down cellar." Alice leaned against the piano and , gan to laugh so heartily that the tlhers turned to'look at her as ,she erred the long- package ,that. Father Be handed her. Out came" a set six hollow building-blocks such as ildree use, and each held a package. ere were six postagestamps, six on -holders, six handkerchiefs, six rs of chocolate, and six bright- heli- ollars, The paper around the money ad, "'.t{o be spent in answering ad- rtisements," for Rosalie had dis- vered that Alice loved . to get. some the things' so attractively displayed magazine pages, bet • would not in, Ige herself, In, the biggest lox -she and an envelope from Jack which d money and .said,; "For my self- deiying wife -to' buy six pairs .-of .; gloves • at; one time." As she looked up Jack smiled at her. apd whispered,I "Let's go on our-sprees'together,,' "Mine is .a :music -lox," laughed Rosalie happily and held up a; silk pera hag;` uew ;pieces c', .music; and . lodes ,dor, s �veral: cor.:erts in -the coma! g year. `fWhat' Creats°I, have in stork' for my music -loving ears. My lessons are costing so much I .didn't suppose I could go to such wonderful concerts." "I'm next, pass up forward piease," called father, who had insisted on be- ing the last. "We got you just a little joke, daddy," Rosalie said, coming over to him with her hands behied her. "You never seem to want us to' spend any money on you." "I should say not," agreed father, taking the tiny box from her hand, "I like a good joke about as well as any- thing, and you girls need pretty things and must not spend any of your money on an old fellow like me. Well, well, that's pretty good," and chuckling and twinkling he pulled out of the small box an auto, several dozen books and two leather chairs—all little pictures cut from magazines, "I got everything I asked for," he grinned broadly. "Did you look under the tissue - paper?" asked Rosalie, "maybe the shoe -strings are under there." "Is there' another joke on me?" and father wonderingly took out a thin flat parcel from the bottom of the box. The family crowded around as he opened the paper. "What's this!"—anal he stared in amazement at a cheque for a generous amount and a slip which read, "For the Big, Bouncing Better Chair Father has dreamed of having, with enough left over for Bully Books." For once Father Benton was speech- less. He coughed, then he choked, then he blew a resounding blast into his handkerchief. Finally he cleared his throat and turned to mother. • "You told," he said reproachfully. "I did," mother placidly answered. "They kept coming to me and asking what you wanted, and I told them your Morris chair was all worn out and lumpy, and you had wanted a big leather chair ever since they were lit- tle tots. Rosalie said that when a man had wanted something for twenty years it was time he got it." "Especially a man like our dad," murmured Rosalie. "What's the matter with dad?" shouted Clarke who was grinning on the edge of the circle. "He's all right!" shouted the family in unison and they gently and firmIe led Father Benton to a chair and choked his protests with loving hands and bear hugs until he promised to. go down town the next day on a shopping trip of his awn. Inspiration. There is nothing too high to aspire to, 0 woman, a -thrill with your dreams, There is nothing too great to require you To further creation, it seems. The man may go faithless and fearful, With doubts what the future may hold; But woman is right to .,e cheerful, Adventurous, hopeful and bold. At Christmas turn over the pages To the story so tenderly true -- The dear little Son of the Ages Was born of a woman like you. —Clare Shipman: Christmas carols are really the old- est hymns of the Christian Church. "Carol" is from the Latin "cantare," 'to sing, and "rola," a joyful inter- jection. • 0 Christmas Music Fills. -the Night. A Christm'as -carol, to the Mane "St. Kevin," by Sir Arthur Sullivan, Chrietnias music fills the night, Christmas stars are gleaming, Souls .in darkness hail the light From a manger streaming. Though the inn is full, the beast Greets the world's sweet leaven; Bethlehem, thou art not least, Thine the Bread from, Heaven. Dark and silent was tide' land Where the shepherds guarded, Till there shone the Angel -band, And their hearts. rewarded, Chant so lovely sang they then, We too hear with gladness— "Peace on earth, - good will toward men," Jesus ends your sadness. If the shepherds leave the sheep, Who will. watch and .tend them? Faithful guardians must not sleep, EIse the wolf will rend them! Yet the angel bids them go, Seek the sign so lowly; - He will keep their flocks,, they know, Shepherd bright and holy. When they found the Child of God, AU that heard it wondered; But these things, made known abroad, Mary kept and pondered. Babe of Christmas, grant us part In their adoration, And the grace that filled her heart— Raptured contemplation. Why shouldst Thou have blessed us so, Sought the love of mortals, Coming down to earth below, Far from Heaven's portals? Dost Thou know, 0 Saviour dear, How this world will scorn Thee? Men will hate Thee,. though they fea Thy poor Mother riourn Thee! Can it be Thou still 'wilt stay, Shrinking not from danger? Can we too see Thee this day, In the holy Manger? 0 for all Thy tender love, Happy is our singing, Hymns to poin the Hosts above, Bells of Christmas ringing. —Eliot White. ' The Horse Factory. Betty, taken to the country fo Christmas, had been having a ru round the village. She saw many things that . we strange to her, but a passing glimps of the blacksmith's shop filled her wi wonder. When she got back to the cottag she burst into the parlor in a state o great excitement. "Daddy," she said, "I've just seen a man who makes horses!" , "Nonsense," said daddy "-you've made a mistake." r, • T SUNDAY Sd OL LLQ DECEMBER 23 The Universal Reis of Christ—Christmas Lesson--Isaial ' 9: 6, 7; 11: 1-10; Psalm- 2: 1-12. Golden Text—Ask of me, and I shall give the the- heathen for thine ,inherit- ance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy' pos. session. --Psalm 2: 8. LessoN saerriNc--In the last few, to finish his work." There': are no lessons we have been following the.] motives in his heart. ` He has growth of the missionary spirit and one. . supreme motive: ' He shall not the extension of missionary operations in the early Christian church. In prin- ciple it became universal, and in op- eration it became everywhere age gressive, In our lesson to -day we turn judge after the siglct'of,.his eyes. The Messiah is to see the unseen fact and hear the unuttered reason that are all important in .true, judgment, With. righteoicsness, the poor . , and smite back to the pages of the Old Testa- the. earth with the rod .of his mouth. ment, where the propshet gives us a For the poor he , shall speak. justice, vivid picture of the Messiah and the but he shall smite: the wrciced of the manifest results of his reign, I. THE CHARACTER OF THE MESSIAH, ISA. 11: 1-5. earth with words as with e rod. II. THE cerei,RACTret OF. THE MESSIAH'S anxaw, ISA. 11: 6-10; PS. 2': 8.' Vs. 6, 7. The wolf also shall dwelt with the lamb. The pro'phet's; vision Vs. 1, 2, There shall come forth a rod. Widen Assyria falls it falls like does not end with a regenerated so - a cedar of Lebanon which sends no ciety. He sees a new spirit in the and, fresh sprout from its broken stump,' mal kingdom, just as other, prophets but Judea is like an oak which, though see nature itself at its best when man hewn to the stump, sends forth new is at his best. There is first to be growth. A shoot shall spring from the ' peace among the beasts themselves. stock, and a fruit -bearing branch shall The savage beast of prey that lives on grow from the root. When Christ was the weaker, is a companion with the born we see how low the fortunes of herb and grass -eating animal. 1. little God's people had fallen, and from 'child shall lead them, George Adam what we know of the earthly circum- Smith -calls attention to the dread of stances of Joseph and Mary, we see the ancient people in regard' to the how humble had become the circum- wild beast. They were a real menace. stances of the family of Jesse and Nevertheless the prophet looks for David. The'spirit of the Lord shall- reconciliation and not for externuna- rest upon him. The spiritual endow- tion. ment of the Messiah is to be in mark -1 Vs. 8-10. The lion shall eat straw ed contrast to his material circum with the ox. Nature is to be no longer stances, The sprit o wisdom and red in tooth and claw• The fierce spirit understanding. The fruit of the Spirit of man and beast is to pass eway. which rested upon the Messiah is now Isaiah sees the possibility of co -opera - described in a threefold way. First, tion of the whole of life. Peace and he has wisdom and understanding, or harmony is'the deepest truth of life. what we might call insight, and fore- The suckling child shall play . . asp. sight. He sees through, and sees be- The spirit of peace extends even to neath, and sees beyond.The spirit of the creeping things that sting and counsel and might. Second, he has the poison. We may Interpret the dwell - spirit of action. He acts with wisdom ing of the wolf with the lamb in a and power. He has "moral decision figurative sense as applying to human - and heroic energy." The spirit of ity. Then it means the subduing of knowledge and of the 'ear of the Lord. all the fierce and selfish instincts bee Hiswisdom and action spring from a tween man and man. The earth shall ✓ knowledge of, and reverence for, the be full of the knowledge of the Lord. n will of God. It -was a divine program Isaiah believes in the reformation or for human need that he carried out, ! transformation of the world, not by Vs. 3-6. Shall make him of quick organization, but by inspiration. A re understanding; translate rather, "And • peace -filled earth comes in'a God- o he shall draw breath in the fear of the filled earth. It is the advent of Christ th Lord." Love of God is to be the very to the human heart that alone will do atmosphere of his soul. Jesus ex- this. To it shall the Gentiles seek.. o pressed the same truth,—"My meat is The prophet sees the Gentile world to do the will of him that sent me, and flocking to Christ. An Ideal Christmas "No, I haven't," she persisted. "I By Kather saw him. He had one nearly finished. Just a year ago I was invited into a He was just nailing on its back feet." neighbor's house "to see the children's Christmas" and went under the mis- taken impression that it would be a pleasurable experience. It wasn't. To old Bert received a Christmas box see what should have been the crown - from farmer Bull. This was for drive ing occasion of the year to this chile ing a cow half a mile to pasture twice dren turned into a confused complex - a day. He was just as happy as a boy could be, for he could spend the money Interest in His Work. It was Christmas Day, and six-year= i_ty of excitement was a positive grief. The room was small, the too large tree was decorated in a most hap - Just as he pleased. hazard and inartistic way; yards of That night he came home cracking clot i on which Santa Claus pictures a whip, and his mother exclaimed: had been printed for the Christmas "Bort, did you spend your Christ- trade were stretched along the wales; mas box on that whip?" various paper bells, wreaths and fes - "Yes, I bought it off one of the farm toons were hung on available pieces hands," Bert replied proudly. "you of furniture, and a profusion of rifts can't expect a fellow to work if he don't have the tools to work with," ti People born on Christmas Day are, according to an .old superstition, lucky all their lives. Pictures of robins, holly, and so came into use on Ch`ristrhas cards 1862. . on in littered the floor, chairs and tables. I took stock of these as I gaged, sup- posedly spell -bound with interest and delight. I saw at once that quantity, not quality, had been the dominant idea and that a group of grown people had been enjoying themselves with little consideration of the children's real needs or desires. - There were breakable dolls in im- HOW BLESSED ARE THE YEARS OF PEACE THAT FOLLOW WAR'S LONG • STRAIN, HOW SURELY DOES THEIR PASSING HEAL 'THE HEART STRINGS TORN WITH PAIN, UNTIL THE BURDEN OF OUR GRIEF FOR THOSE WHO FOUGHT AND DIED, IS LIGHTENED BY THE MEMORIES s THAT COME WITH ,CHRISTMAS 'TIDO, rr" FOR THEIR DEAR SAKES WE LOVED AND LOST IN SILENCE LET US STAND, FOR ONE BRIEF MOMENT,.WHILE WE PLEDGE TO THIS BELOVED LAND, A FAITH"A3 STEADFAST AND AS DEEP AS `THEIRS WHO DIED THAT WE, MIGHT KNOW THROUGH ALL THE YEARS TO COME ,s; THE JOY OF LIBERTY: ine Beebe practicable pinks and blues; there were numberless toys having. neither play value nor educational content. •" Handkerchiefs, hair ribbons, dish tow- els, socks and neckties had all been given a part in the scheme of decor a, tions. It was chaos conte again and the children seemed fairly bewildered with excitement. In contrast to this reckless festival it is a joy to recall the Christmas which stands out in my experience of many as the one most nearly ap- proaching the ideal. - On the twenty-fourth a small tree had been beautifully trimmed in white and silver by mother and children to- gether. Father was the one who was to receive"the traditional shock of sine prise in this case. The living room was made lovely and fragrant with boughs of Norway spruce and as five o'clock drew near all was in order and the tree lighted for a Christmas greet- ing to passer-by. Then the whole fam- ily went to a "Candlelight Service" in a nearby church, stopping on the way home to see a wonderful creche set up with loving thought and care by a friend and neighbor. After dinner there were Christmas stories, Christ mas songs and Christmas music on the victrola, and then came, bedtime with its excitements and anticipations and the hanging of the stockings. In the early morning Father. slip- ped quietly downstairs while the rest of us waited for the music which was the signal that all was ready. ' Then, not with. a rush,. b,ut with deliberate intention not to Iose a single thrill, we descended the staircase together. On the landing it burst upon us, and Oh, the beauty of it all! There was our tree, sparkling and beautiful" in .the firelight which filled the room! .There were the stockings,' bulging! Therein the chosen' places were the gifts! And what were these? For each child one special 'and long -desired. treasure, an electric train, a sled, a tricycle, books, three games full of promise of .future fun, and for the- use of the. children together a box of the biggest blocks that could be found: In each stocking was a' lovely cornucopia. full. of good - es, candies, nuts and raisins, while under these were,»several little: toys chosen as jokes or for the foolishness without which:there can be no re2$' Christmas in . this. family. "' The' chil- dren's efts to Father and Mother and; heirs to each other were.', given at the reakfas-t table, a time-honored cus- The aftermath'_' of this Christmas ' was' a matter of great interest to the '- ortunate guest. By fear o'clock in the afternoon the neighborhood' chil-. ren began to drop in until there were t least a --dozen df. thein,; one of • whom • , onfided to me that "at ; Christmas time - the B— children always got. resents you could do things with." ndeed for weeks -afterwards the house f `iny friend was "a rendezvous` for that compellinij, reason.: Surely this as an ideal Christmas ' t b d a c p I 0