Exeter Times, 1916-12-21, Page 7The Christmas Card That Travelled
Half the boys of Miss Hathaway's
school were gathered in an eager
group at the foot of the steps,.,- Miss
Hathaway had been giving them a lit-
tle talk on Christmas presents that af-
bernoon.
"I'vegot fifty cents, and I'm going
to spend it all," announced one,
"I've got a bank, and I shall take
all there is in it," cried another.
. "I shall give my dolls and half my
"'2 bean-bags; I'm tired of dolls anyhow,
chimed the third.
"
I shall give something I'm fond
of," said a black-eyed girl, with a toss
it of her head. "1 slia'nt give any old
cast-off things!"
"Well, I shall," retorted a boy on
the edge of the group. "It's all I've
got to give someone that didn't have
so much as we did; and I'm sure folks.
like that won't mind it if things aren't
brand • new!" And he tur"nied and
went whistling down the street).
It was the beginning of a general
breaking -up; and by twos and threes
the rest went their various ways,
laughing, and calling merrily back to
their comrades. There was one, how-
ever, that did not laugh, chatter or
call back. It was Carrie Austin,
walking all alone down a side street.
Caurie was puzzled, and not quite
invir-ppy. What was there, indeed, that.
she could give ? Anything new was
out of the question—she had no money
to pay for it; and as for old things ---
one headless doll, a few torn books, a
amok brooken hoop; surely none of these
could she give for a present. Yet ib
had seemed so easy that afternoon
while the" teacher was talking—so
easy to make some one happy that was
poorer than she.
All through the week before Christ-
mas, Carrie puzzled over the question;
but not even so much as a bib of rib-
bon could she find that was fresh
enough to give away.
On thentwenty-third of December
the postman brought her a letter, and
in the letter was a bright new Christ-
mas card with a sparkling, snow-cov-
ered house in the corner.
"O!" cried Carrie. "Isn't that love-
ly!"
Then 'she propped the card up on
the mantelpiece and stood off to ad
mire it
"Mother, just see how it shines!"
she exclaimed exultingly, as a stray
sun -beam came through the window
and lighted up the diamond -dust :: on
the card.
"But your letter, dear -you hav'nt
read your letter," reminded MrseAus-
tin with a smile.
"Sure enough!" laughed Carrie,
picking up the letter which bore the
postmark of a neighboring town; and
this is what she -read:
Dear Pussykins: I saw this card in
a window to -day and thought of you
you do so love things that spkle.
Keep it or give ib away just tthich
you like. ,.
Love and merry Christmas from
'Brother Will.
Carrie laughed gleefully.
"That's just like Will," she cried
"The minute he's got a spare cent in
his pocket off it goes for something
for us! 'Give it away,' indeed!" she
added .scornfully --then stopped short.
She suddenlly remembered that for .al
whole week she had longed for some-
thing to give away. •
Carrie did nob speak again for some
time. She wandered restlessly from
room to room only to come back every
few minutes and look at the Christmas
card on the mantelpiece.
1 ,x "It isn't enough to give away. any-
ion how," she told herself; then some-
thing seemed to answer:
"You know better, Carrie Austin.
Ib is big enough for you to like, and if
you like it some one else would!"
At night she put the Christmas card
in an envelope and sent it to Nellie
'Randall, the girl who sat two seats in
front of her in school, and whonever
brought much for luncheon except dry
crackers and• bread without butter.
Ib was the next morning that Nellie
Randall rushed breathless into her
mother's .room.
"Mother; mother, see!" she panted.
"Some one has sent me the loveliest
Christmas card/ Now I can do what
the teacher said; now I can send
sonfething to one one pourers, than I
m ! But who shall have it, Mother ?
Mary, Tom, Henry or Jack?"
It was a weighty question. Nellie
Ilkand her mother could not decide it at
' once. Mary was poor, certainly, but
Tom Henry had a sick mother and no
father; while Jack—poor Jack—was
crippled himself and could not run
and.•Yl ay -'like. the other lads.
At last it was decided; and with
shining eyes Nellie hurried away for
an envelope and a stamp.
That afternoon on the first mail,
Jack Talbot received a bright new
Christmas card with a sparkling,
snow covered house in the corner.
"Humph!" grunted Jack. Then he
scowled and tried to look as if he wore
1 not pleased.
• Jask was not a favorite at school.
At first the scholars had tried to show
how sorry they were that he could not
join in their games; but he had met
their advances with sullen looks and
short words, so that gradually his
schoolmates had game to leave him
pretty moll to himself.
Jack was not able to be at school
every day, bub he had been there on
the afternoon that Miss Hathaway
d given her little talk on Christman
presents and :many times since, then
he had thought of ite '
urine J04t as if thera eat ld be
anybody poorer than I am!" he' would
mutter to himself sometimes; and
then almost always he would retnem-
ber Mrs, Murphy, the little old woman
on the floor below who took in wash-
ing. • t
For some time after the Christmas
card came Jack sat 'looking at it.
He picked it up and tilted it from
side to side that he mighb catch the
glint of the diamond dust.
"'Tis kind of pretty," he said aloud,
almost grudgingly. "Ilumph! I won-
der what Mrs.. Murphy would say to
this ? Guess: she'd think 'twas a
little bit ahead of that old pdstai card
picbure she came toting home .last
week; and she thought that was fine
even if it was all torn!"
After: a time he arose and limped
stealthily down stairs. He paused at
Mrs. Murphy's door and was just tak-
ing something from under his coat
when the* door opened and Mrs.'
Murphy herself appeared.
Bless you, boy, how you startled
me!" cried the little old woman.
"D -did I?" stammered Jack, hasti- l
ly thrusting something under his coat
and stumbling on down the stairs.
Ten minutes later, after walking
once around the square, Jack slowly
climbed the stairs and stopped once
more at the washerwoman's door.
"Hi there, Jack! I was just look-
ing for you," called.a boy's voice; and
again Jack thrust something hastily
out of sight.
"W -were You?" he stammered.
Jack seemed to be doing 'a good deal
of stammering that afternoon.
"Well, here I am." And he 'limped
baldly along without so much as a
glance toward the washerwoman's
door.
Long after dark that night, how-
ever, when the house was quiet, Jack
crept downstairs and tied something
to Mrs. Murphy's door -knob.
It was on Christmas day that Carrie
Austin's mother answered a `timid
knock at her side door.
"Why, good morning, Mrs. Mur-
phy," she said pleasantly to the bent
old woman on the doorstep. "A
merry Christmas to you!"
"And it's just that, ma'am, that I've
come to say to you," returned Mrs.
Murphy, in an eager, quavering voice.
"It's always you who have been doing
things for me potatoes and tea, and
a bit of warm flannel—and never a
thing could I do 'for you. But now,
ma'am, I've got something you'd like
—something I'm sure you'd like. I
found it hanging on my door -knob this
morning, and I hadn't more than set
my two eyes on it before I said,
`Sally Ann Murphy, you've got it now;
that's just the thing to give good, kind j
Mrs., Austin and Miss Carrie.' And
here 'tis, ma'am, and a merry.: Christ I
mas to you!" she finished, handing out
a flat, brown paper parcel.
"Thank you, thank you," called Mrs.
Austin, as the little old woman hob-
bled joyfully down the walk.
"Why Mother!" cried Carrie in
amazement a little later, as the wrap-
pings fell away from Mrs. Murphy's
gift and disclosed a bright new Christ-
mas card with a sparkling snow cov-
ered house in the corner. "Why
Mother that's my very own card that
I sent to Nellie. I. remember that lit-
tle black mark on the back."
It was some days before Carrie un-
derstood
nderstood the mystery; then she over-
heard Nellie Randall say:
"0, yes, I sent something. It was a
Christmas card that some one senb to
me—such a pretty card, all snow and
sparkles! I sent it to Jack Talbot."
"And Jack Talbot lives just over
Mrs. Murphy!" cried, Carrie under her
breath, as she hurried home. "Moth-
er!" she cried, bursting ,into the house,
"only think! First Will sent that
Christmas card to me, then I. sent it
to Nellie Randall and she sent it to
,Tack Talbot. And what did Jack do
but take it down to old Mrs. Murphy's
and tie ib on her door -knob, and then
Mrs. Murphy brought•it to us. My!
how that Christmas card has traveI-
ed!" she finished, as she hurried over
to the mantelpiece to examine with
new interest the wonderful card with
its sparkling, snow-covered house in
the corner,.
Where the Card Came From.
The stingy young man approached
the flame of his passion.
"Did you receive many Christmas-
cards, Miss Buzzer?" he asked, by
way of a beginning.
"Oh, yes! And. there was one—un-
Signed-that I thought particularly
dainty and artistic. I'm sure it came
frdm you!"
`Indeed!" exclaimed the delighted
gentleman. "And what makes you
imagine so?".
"Why," replied the maiden sweetly,
"because I sent it to you' last Christ-
mas!"
At An Armory.
The head of a great gun and arm-
or=making establishment said to the
agent of a foreign Government:
"Then, sir, I am to understand that
you want us to make you an armor
plate that no projectile can pierce?
We are producing armor plate like
that daily."
"No," replied the military agent,,:;
"you mistake me. I want to know it
you can make a gain that will pierce.
any armor plate manufactured t"
"Certainly, sir, Certainly," was the
prompt answer; "we do that Bort �ti{
thing every day;"
11,
When Christmas time comes round
As though the long, long years
Roll back and take away our cares
And dry up all our tears;
don't know why it is, but when
The great day comes along
I get to feelin' young again,
And kind of turn to song,
And whistle and go on just like
A boy would. I'll be bound,
The old world seems to brighten up
When Christmas time comes round.
I'm tickled at the Jumoin' Jack
And all them kind of things;
like to watch the toys that play
.,, By windin' up the springs,
And somehow—don't know why it !sae
Love seems to fill the air,
And I forget I've enemies
Or troubles anywhere;
• And every little while I sort .
Of listen for the sound.
Of voices that have long been still,
When Christmas time comes round.
it seems
1 wish that i was Santa Claus
And had a magic sleigh,
To visit all the children who
Look forward to the day—
The orphans and the cripple's and
The poor folks everywheres
All children that are good and kind
And don't forget their prayers;
)'ll bet you that they'd all be glad
When they got up and found
Their stockin's fairly bustin' out,
When Christmas time come round.
Oh, happy time of jinglin' bells
And hills all white with snow;
Oh, joyful day that takes us back
To care -free long ago'
I wonder if up there above
Where happy angels roarn
They do not get to thinkin' of.
The happy times at home,
And turn, in fancy, back once more
To listen to the sound
Of voices that have long been still,
When Christmas time comes round?
MAKING CHRISTMAS A BURDEN.
A Worried Mother Writes the Follow -
"With the approaching Christmas
season cannot a word of protest be
uttered against the custom of ex-
changing gifts between pupils and
teachers ? The writer was present at
the closing of aschool term last year,
and saw a teacher open gift after
gift piled up on her desk. It was
easy to single' out those who had not
brought presents by their distressed
and unhappy faces, their sensitive lit-
tle hearts feeling as if they were un-
der a ban for not being able to do so
as the others. A sorry beginning for
so joyous a season. Even if the gifts
are not brought to the school, but
sent direct to the teachers' or schol-
ars' homes, would it not be better
simply to have the good wishes of the
season exchanged, without the ex-
pense and formality of a present?
"I know of one family where the
three children expcet to take a gift to
each of their different teachers. They
are asked also each year to bring
something for a donation from the
class as a whole. The same thing
is repeated in the Sunday school, •each
child giving to each teacher, and each
one also expected in addition to con-
tribute to some special charitable ob-
ing Protest.
ject. The father and mother of these
three children each have sunday
school classes, one of seven scholars,
the other of five. If they pursue the
same method in their own classes and
give a remembrance to each pupil, and
also contribute to the special object
chosen by each ,class, the grand total
of the presents given by this one fani:-
ily would reach tthe extraordinary
number of twenty-six, aside from the
immediate relatives and friends.
"Is is any wonder, therefore, that
Christmas becomes a great financial
and nerve -exhausting :brain ? This
is especially the case when the bur-
den falls upon the tired mothers, who
have to select; the gifts. An overdo-
ing of anything, however good of it-
self, ceases to be desirable. In the
needless multiplication of Christmas
gifts have not many of us lost the
spirit of joyousness and true thankful-
ness ? In our absorption in "much
giving" do we not often forget to
thank oar Heavenly Father for the
Gift of gifts, whose advent we are
supposed to be celebrating?"
"A Mother."
To this we would like to add a word
for the teacher, longing to remember
each little one, and without time or
money to spare for such a purpose..
Let love and loving wishes take the
place of all this strain,
�bIWN88 Giving and Christmas Chr ! :as diving .and Christmas Living
It was Annis Crosby, in her pathe-
tic: black dress, advertising the recent
loss of her mother, who startled them
all by coming to the first meeting of
the Christmas sewing -club with a
large darning -bag, We had hardly
expected her to have the courage even
to think of Christmas this year.
"It isn't city that we don't feel very
Christmassy at our houee this year,"
she said, drawing a boy's thick, ugly
riiebod stocking over the darning -egg,
"but I've been doing a lot of thinking
lately, especially about Christmas. For
one thing I've come to the realization
that we-ve all grown fanatical over
giving instead of living ---and maybe
over getting, too—but ;with most of
us here, present -making has become
a regular vice,"
"Why, Annie," expostulated Marion,
the most ardent and eleborabe giver
of all "giving things is the very es-
sence and spirit of Christmas!" 1
"Giving, yes—but not altogether;
giving things, Marian," replied- Annie,
quietly. "I don't know quite how to
express what I mean without seeming
to lecture—but don't you think thele
are gifts more important than the ma-
terial ones, and, too, better selections
to be made when it comes to the ac-
tual gifts themselves? None of us
ever count the cost of all our Christ-
mas preparations. I thoroughly be-
lieve, for instance, that we could
choose a few more 'boughten' presents
and use the time Lind effort we expend
on Christmas sewing to better ad-
vantage. If I'nr not mistaken, Mar-
ion
spent her Christmas holidays in
bed with the grippe last year," she
added with a faint smile, "just because
she was tired out and her resistance
was low when the grippe germ roam-
ed'in her vicinity that's one kind of
unreckoned cost, but not exactly what
I mean, either."
She :bopped, hesitating.
"Go on, go on!" urged several of the
girls. The group of eight busy teach-
ers had formed a little club which
met once a week from the first of
October for the laudable purpose of
working on their Christmas gifts. Of
course nobody accomplished all her
Christmas sewing to the accompani-
anent of tea and little cakes and much
balk; in fact, each of the eight had
somehow' to manage seven iiresents
for the other members entirely outside
of the club meetings, to say nothing of ;
gifts too cumbersome to -carry about.
But the club furnished the impetus
for a vast amount of energetic Christ -1
mas labor, so that eight pairs of eyes,
already tired by the close work of core recting papers and writing reports
1 and plan -books, were taxed after the
school day for many a song hour;
nerves, taut` and tense from the class-'
room noises, were put to final strain
by the confinement of sewing; eight
intelligent brains centered frantically
;for weeks on producing tea -aprons,
ornamental traveling -cases, embroi-
dered shirtwaists, fancy pincushions
and coat -hangers, hemstitched table -
linen, tatting, crocheting, and sheer
and fragile dress -accessories dear to
the feminine heart. I i
Annis cleared her bhroat. "After
Mother died' I gradually began to not -
t ice how everything fell on me—how.
1 the younger one were off about their s
I own affairs all the time, and nobody s
had time to help. Right there I sat 1
down and asked myself how much
time I, personally,' had been giving
Mother when she was with us. I 'i
counted up the hours and minutes, and t
the sum total was, oh, so pitifully lit-'
. tie! I used to think it was fine of me f
to work hard and let Mother use most
of my money; but I know now that f
money isn't everything, and that there
three of us clubbed together and
bought her a lamp—and Mother rare,'
• ly had a chance to use it at- all be-
, cause we usually ,monopolized its
' light. The traveling -bag Don. gave
her he used himself, and we all walk-
ed over the new rug—Mother simply
kept it clean. Thio year we're. going
to put our savings into a few sub-
stantial things the, house needs, It's
our home now, and even when the was
hero, it wasn't just Mother's exclusive-
ly. We'll have councils over the In -
`.
Homme ade
Christmas Gifts
A "traveler's friend" is a pin case
that can be tucked ill a corner of the
suit case or traveling bag, and that
carries all sues and colors of pins.
A strip of cretonne twev]c inches long
and eight wide, has ane end rounded
like . the lap : of a pocketbook, The
strip. is then bound with• narrow rib-
bon or silk tape. Eight leaves of
white flannel three inches and a half
wide and not quite two inch; s wide are
chases and committees and the kind pinked, on circ side and the wo ends,
of celebration Mother would have liked Two are bound together with the:' tape
over the installation. Any one who or ribbon, and the four groups stitched
'still wants to cultivate the individual. to the center of the cretonne strip,
feeling can do so in a separate small one above the other, with' equaf in-
gift to the house—an egg -beater or a servals between; the sides of the strip
new book or a sofa pillow or anything are then folded over the leaves, and
else we can all get some satisfaction the fold stitched to hold it flat. After
out of. the leaves are stocked with pins the
"Then for our friends, lettbrs and
case is folded up like a pocketbook,
greeting -cards and 'service -promises' and a cretonne covered button and
will be all. We don't—" loop of the tape added for fastening..
ere -
"Please, Annie," interrupted Marion, For this use a pretty striped ere-
"what ado you mean by 'service-pro-
mises?'
tortnis best.
mise:? Pretty curtains for a boy's roam can
an -
"Why," smiled Annie, "if Dorothy be made of a very light weight un -
should hand her mother a note saying bleached domestic cotton, fhnishirng
that her Christmas present was a . them about a foot from.the top with
contract to darn stockings or do mend- asix-inch band of cretonne which re-
ing for two hours once a week, that petits the colors of the wallpaper and
would be a 'service -promise.' The
carpet. Such curtains are, pretty,
Dorothy's mother could have the fun
not easily torn or injured, and can be
of embroidering centerpieces instead laundered easily. Nor is it much
of doing the less interesting work. If ;trouble to renew the cretonne.
Marion should decide to give Myra. For a young housekeeper'a couple
Conwayall the time she isputting into
of big checked gingham aprons, nicely
that baby -jacket, takingcare of, the, made off, folded neatly, tied with red
other children, for instance, while ribbons and with a sprig of holly
Myra rests or gets out for a change thrust through the knot look quite
without the children, that would be a Christmassy.
service -promise: And without want- Stocks and collars of silk braid, the
ing to criticize, it's been the experi-; kind that draws up on a thread and
ence .of most of my friends with forms charming curves, are easily
babies that the practical 'boughten' : made from the patterns, which cost
things, like hot-water bottles and about 25 cents each. Very little work
diapers and rubber bath -tubs, are far: is necessary—just joining the braid
more needed than the francy garments. and putting in a few filling-in stitches.
Im've f es'h thougr ht
of lobownns 'service-pro-1
ly-- hel P ng i giver has greatest
s to think le ofthe suitablestmas
gifts
Roy with his mathematics, taking one for her mer friends. Almost any
of Edna's settlement classes off her man will like a pretty and serviceable
hand. Thesre are really lots of uses box for his handkerchiefs tot some -
for time if you Gaunt up how much thing all lace and frills, but one that
there is and what you can do with it " is practical. A sweet grass basket
"Do you believe in giving people! in box form, or one on raffia, with the
clothes for presents, Annis?" demand -1 inside wadded and lined with thin silk
ed Dorothy. "I don't. Every year j and a cover that lifts with a. ring
Ted gives Jack a necktie and fine a I or hook instead of a ribbon •1?n�a*,,-will
pair' of gloves, and Jack gives Ted suit the average• man "real first-
rate."
silk socks and me silk stockings— rate..
Find out '
do t the color of your friend's
stockings—
'rad secretly nobody likes' what the
other has chosen. And if I want to r room, and—unless she has one, make
invest in a new party -dress in October, { her a pretty pincushion in that color.
Mother says, 'Wait and see what; Chooseoothe desired e, cover with the
Santa Clause aloes for you'—most like -1 stretch all over. lace over
ly forgetting and giving me underwear; the top. Make a ruffle of the silk—
when the time . comes! I can't see; 'China silk is best, pinking • one edge
much present about something you' and gather and sew the ruffle all,
have to have anyway!" round the cushion. Take lace edge
"In families where there are children just a trifle narrower than the ruffle,
you can't banish gifts—they always I gather and sew neatly around over
expect toys," protested Anna, the the latter. Finish the corners with
youngest member. bows or rosettes of narrow ribbon.
"Yes, they do," Annis agreed, "buil A pincushion recently seen at the
usually they get too many and very Woman's Exchange was made of pale
few well-chosen ones. As long as chit- j blue satin in the exact style of a
dren are at the expectant age, give' mattress. It was "boxed" in proper
them playthings with which they can ' form, and. tufted as mattresses are by
make or do something. Good tools, :baby ribbon run through and tied in
building-blocks, the various kinds of the tiniest of loops. Very small
wood and metal building toys, :cis -1 pearl buttons might be used instead
ors, knives, paints, electric motors, of the ribbon. Men like such a pin-
ewing-outfits, crayons, raffia—things: cushion; it it simple, and there is "no
ikesthat. After a while they esti{ nonsense collegeabout it."
learn to make things for others, and man always likes things
filially come to the household -gift' connected with his college or uni-
dea, outgrowing personal anticipa- versify. Cushions in college colors
ions."' are always appreciated. So are pic-
"We've always devoted the day be -1 tures for his room, scenes•from the
ore Christmas to making our own a campus, the portraits of the faculty
candy, Clara said. "We've done ib, properly grouped, the football team or
or years, and everybody helps. Bee. boat crew, views of the buildings,
prettily framed in passepartout.
4 strange. new u%ortcicr•whtsper tri the. ni +i wind,.
That's a song of r.� hur on the ftp of morn;
Oh; cart you hear tttm wIngtrrg, he wtw secs the earth a-s''Ln sag,
who holds the, woraac,- of tlu tuorta to tus pate arms. new • born?
Sand low; sing. Low, oh you who feet htsprtsence,
Fo'- great and good and gtorlous u ftc
He Rae the awesome dawning ofthe only wuttrr.•morning
When. sin. arta hate ena sorrow arc Lost In charity.
t can. make the sinner saLntly For a. tttcr,ntnty
A.He can nt.akc the sonata sykeru let fora day.
Then wh.tte yec has spell Ls o'er- us. he wail march. along t,efvre.
aver out crtto slit silence of the sitaaows on away.
Oh cynics, ruts from Christmas unto Christina:.
Piot then gee place to baser ,nen a:na wjse.
Though you prcoch yow sorry story, still we. know bunt UJc Ls gLory:
For 1 thunk we are the rrctd wortct through the thrtstmas spates eyes.
THE
SPIRIT
OF
RIS_
CH T,N�•.AS
• AY
D MACE
EDG)NTON
foreheand we make or buy pretty
were lots of little matters I might b
have attended to, but mostly there
was so much time I might have spent c
oxer and the children fill them to
give to their friends. When the
andy's put in cornucopias on the tree,
they eat too much, and get at it sur-
reptitiously.,
"Our Christmas plum pudding is
made a month beforehand," remarked
with her that I can never have now.
"Take this Christmas sewing-club—
we've had it for six years. If it was
just the one afternoon a week, I'd
say it was a fine thing -bringing, us Millicent. "It's another family in-
all together, having a good, jolly time; stitution. We all seed raisins and
and forgetting other work. But that's' cut citron till our arms ache. Then
the smallest part of Christmas. After; it's boiled and hung in a bag in the
we leave here we all spend every spare; attic to season. It comes on the
minute sewing on a lot of unnecessary; Christmas table blazing all around."
things that don't do the people . who; "Wouldn't it be a fine thing," Annis
get them any good, and all that pre-' said, "if families could get together
clous time might be spent being with; once a year and talk over their income
people we love, doing things for them, and expense -budget frankly? Decide
making life easier. There is a little how much each ought to spend for
tinge of selfish indulgence in the clothing, for example, and let each
way some of us concentrate on the' spend it whenever he or she wished
pleasure of making Christmas bhings." 1—take birthdays for the really indi-
"But what," naked Clara in bewild-, vidual gifts, the little luxuries, and
erment, "are we going to do about the turn Christmas into a day of broader
presents? I think it's all true about thought, good will to all? Have the
too much giving, and over in our' whole family unite in whatever fun or
school we all joined the 'Spivs' to celebration there is—such as install
prevent collections for the principal ing a new phonograph or a big chair
and officers, but home giving arid your or an elecrtic light or a beautiful set
friends are different—you wouldn't of 'best' linen—arid then bry to have!
feel right, not to reneraber them." the day one of `peace en earth' instead
"We could begin right here in this of confusion and commotion? The
meeting by pledging ourselves to big Christmas dinner's all right—the
family feast belongs to the traditions
that ought to be kept alive—but the
work of it shouldn't fall on one mem-
bet' of the family."
"We can't give up our Christmas
tree," said Clara,' "but. we could cer-
tainly,adopt some of these other siig-
gestions that make Christmas a day
for all the familtto think about loving
and serving each other better and doe
ing things in unison."
omit all gifts to each other, couldn't
we?" suggested practical Elsie.
"Or limit it to a card of greeting or
a letter or camera picture," put in
Millicent.
"I suppose," said Dorothy, slowly,
"my mother would have more actual
satisfaction if I brought her darning
bag to these meetings instead of mak-
ing her this centerpiece I've started.
X believe I'll dog it, .Annis. I just love
to embroider and I hate to darn—but
what shall I' do for a Christmas pre-
sent for her, saneething she'll really
like?"
Annis considered. "We've been
thinking at home that our so-called
Christmas presents to Mother weren't
really personal' gifts at all. Otte year.
Featherstone: "I wonder if your sis-
ter realises, Willie, that during the
last two months I have given her ten
dollars' worth of sweets and #lowers ?"
Willie: "Of course elle does. That's
why she is keeping her engagement
with ,Tisa Ettiriing a secret."
Christmas Musings.
The joyous bells are ringing
The message from above,
And worshippersare singing
Of God's unfathomed love:
Of love in sending Jesus
From glory bright and high,
Down to Bethlehem's manger,
For rebel man bo die!
Love! Higher than the heavens,
And deeper than the sea,
Broader than a world of sin
So gloriously to free!
Such love transforms the rebel;
His Spirit and His Word
Implant the love undying,
Make sinners "Sons of God!"
In turn, God asks the homage
Of loyal hearts to -day,
Who prize the loving Saviour
And labor, watch and pray.
Oh; swell the anthem ever;
Tluoughout the circling years,
For love unbounded nev,,,,c.,.-
Should pall on ransomed ears.
In Need of Repair.
"When I bought this automobile.
from you a few weeks ago," cried the
irate purchaser, "you said yoa would
be willing to supply, a new part if
it broke anythingl"
"Certainly, sirl" agreed the manu-
facturer. "What can I have the plea-
sure of providing you with?"
"Weil," tep'hed the purchaser, "1
want a pair of new ankle[, a left eyti,
three yards of cuticle, a box of assort- .
ed flngerenails, four front teeth, and it
funny -bone!"
The observation of' Christmas 1:4im
gat in the sestottd century in dit'fereilt
months •J'anuarar, April, of 24.1ri