The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-01-29
Giving GIFTS.

A writer on this subject says truly:
The gift season is now at hand. All
things have their season-there is 8
season for sorrow and season for joy.
Man lives for time, and when he ends
his earthly career he dies, but he goes
from this earth 1amented according to
the amount of usefulness and Joy he has
dispensed. ALI have their joys and sor-
rows, only some are blessed more than
others. Some have much, others lit
tie some have great talent, others not
some have much of this world, others
little. just in proportion as we have
means and opportunities, in that pro-
portion do our responsibilities increase.
This rule applies to the dispensing of
gifts. The Great &Giver had this world
at his command; he gave it to his
children. To save this fallen worle he
gave his Son as sacrifice. Christ
came to us as gift-He came on
Christmas day. For this reason this
day has become day of giving gifts,
and it is for this reason Christians, es-
meann of JOY and delight. Giving
seasos of commemorating this annual
festive occasion just as firing guns,
pistols, crackers and displaying the
American flag are means of COM
memorating the Fourth of July TO the
American people. 1t is more blessed
to give than to receive" is truth fully
comprehended by the open-handed, lib
eral giver the close-6sted, selfish, be-
erudging giver May not enter into the
spirit of that saying. To give gifts.
then, requires means, Judgment and
iberality. The world is rich-our
country and people are now rich-but
have buried their talent or locked it up,
and will refuse to put it out for the
benefit of others-nor will they profit
by it. Ameans thus lockedup becomes
curse and makes men poor, endanger-
ing them, SO that they must suffer in
mind and means The curse of this sin
rests on them. Such, of course, will
refuse to give gifts. Such are too poor
in their own estimation to give or en-
able others to do 80. But the liberal,
the Christian, ever happy and making
happy, will give to those they love.
They will seek to make others happy by
giving, and will be happy themselves in
the consciousness of having made one
for a share. Christ said, "You have
the poor with YOU always, but not SO
with me-" He meant by this that there
was time to care for the suffering
poor as you have them with you al
ways, plenty of opportunity is offered
to care for them. It should not be for
gotten that winter is now upon us, and
that the poor and helpless may not be
well housed, clothed and fed. Let it
not be forgotten that our crops have
been large, the prices profitable. and
that our people must have plenty of
bread and money. The panic has not
ruined our people it has only fright
ened them and now that the danger is
rapidly passing away, let fear be dis
PEELED. Let the money safely and waste
fully locked up be- put out at interest
again, in good real estate and other
good securities-let business have the
full benefit of it-let the poor workmen
have work and wages to support his
/ family and himself-let Christmas, the
season of gifts, inspire our people with
financial courage and iberality. 4-very
one that has money and debts should
use it at once and pay. You viii do 8
benefit to all classes. Let all have the
means to give gifts. Giving gifts is 9
pIeasure-it is full of beneft-it is 6
Christian virtuc-it is blessing and {
comfort to giver and receiver, and it,
influence extends far beyond this. MAJ
it cause turn in the events of the day
"a source of change for the better
with the whole country, financially an(
! otherwise.