The Ohio organ, of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, [Ohio]) 1853-1854, 1853-01-28

stroking her head. II have had some
Christmas presents that did me a
world of good-a little mark,
for instance, that certain niece Of
mine worked for me, with wonderful
secrecy, three years ago, when she
was nota young lady with alpurse full
of money-that book-mark was true
Christmas present. And my young
couple, across the way, are plotting a
profound surprise to each other on
Christmas morning. John has con-
trived, by an hour Of extra work every,
night, to lay by enough to get Mary a
new calico dress /; and she, poor soul,
has bargained away the only thing in
the jewelry line she ever possessed, to
be laid out on a new hat for him. |
know, too, a washerwoman who has a
poor lame boy-a patient, gentle little
fellow-who has lain quietly for weeks
and months in his little crib, and his
mother is going to give him a splen.
did Christmas present."
"What is it, prayF"
GA whole orange Don't laugh.
She will pay ten whole cents for it (;
for it shall be none of your common
oranges, but a picked one of the very
best going. She has put by the mon
cy, a cent at time, for a whole
month and nobody knows which will
be the happiest for it, Willie or his
mother. These are such Christmas
presents as like to think of--gifts
coming from love, and tending to pro-
duce love /; these are the appropriate
gifts of the day."
"But don't you think that it's right
for those who have money to give ex-
pensive presents, suPposing always, as
you say, they are given from real af-
fection?'
Sometimes, undoubtedly. The
Saviour did not condemn her who
broke an alabaster box of ointment
very precious simply as a proof of
love, even although the suggestion was
made, this might have been sold for
three hundred pence, and given to the
poor | have thought he would re-
gard with sympathy the fond efforts
which human love sometimes makes
to express itself by gifts, the rarest
and most costly. How I rejoiced with
all my heart, when Charles Elton gave
his poor mother that splendid Chinese
shawl, and gold watch-because !
knew they came from the very fulness
of his heart to mother that he could
not do too much fora mother that
has done and suffered everything for
him. In some such cases, when re-
sources are ample, costly gift seems
to have a graceful appropriateness |;
but I cannot approve of tiff it exhausts
all the means of doing for the poor /;
it is better, then, to give simple Of
fering, and to do something for those
who really need it."
Eleanor looked thoughtful; her aunt
laid down her knitting, and said, in a
tone of gentle seriousness !:
Whose birth does Christmas COM
memorate, Ella?"
"Our Saviour's certainly, aunt"
eyes" said her aunt. And when,
and how was he born? In stable,
laid in a manger; thus born, that in
all ages he might be known as the
brother and friend of the poor, And
surely it seems but appropriate to com
memorate his birth day by an especial
remembrance of the lowly, the poor,
the outcast and distressed; and if
Christ should come back to cur city on
Christmas day, where should we
think 1t most appropriate to his charac-
ter to find him? Would he be carry
ing splendid gifts to splendid dwell
;,a ~. ,.,o,,ld ha ha olidinO about In