, 1880-12-11
CHRISTMAS GIFTS.
4 LETTER FROM FERN LEAF.

OTTAWA. Ill.,, Dec. 8.-rhc Lord OF tic
harvest In now sowing snow, Ice, md frost,
tint VIC next summer may rcnn bountfful
crop; and VIC gather nbout warm fires shty-
erlng rs the wind latlon with Ices hastens
through the land, and enters. novels where
prayars for tleir detention have preceded
tlle.n, still they enter. nnwe1cono' guests,
antt will not 20 ut tho bidding Ut the Inst.
"Gutl pity the puorh Is moro easily sald tllnn
aclcsl on, md thoro must be, wltout great
care Ia exercised, mitch suffering this cofsl
winter. Alrea.ly the Christmas mIrth Is
flooding tho lnnd, mid Tho choir above nre
tunlng their harps. Some arc singing thcir
first Christmas carol, and sad hearts below
miss tic pattcr Of little feet which were wont
to riso ero tho sim pccped through her Icy
scree,t; but MS tho tears fall MD. the lleart
aclles for wllat might hayo becn,"'let tho
Smile shine through tho tcars and mike raln,
bow around tito hearts Alll lives Of tlnsc about
us, mud, wenving through Its brilliant c0l0rs,
prove that tue Hpsent nre mol tho only ones
beloved, aIid that 1t Is not uGccS5nry to die to
have II proven.
sorlc who wero accustomed to receive
from thoughtful laotter's loving heart !!cr
aM'ys s ra fos g s stsa i enrsyr yhy 70, w III
Betllehe,n's sheayes her 7haw hnbl.atio,',
GoI's altar, 9 sletlwcl!s on tic joy lnc'Eab'e,
., esss"scFs sss M'!sef e ser 'fxs afSes
| thts Christmas dNy thord aro wilto cups With
snnwy frills .whicl, Will not nod us welcome.
whilo soft, thin haM! II, used to .iraw ls
Ing on .our bowed head THO goitton beads
NrD lat.l away, mil tho bowed form Is cr,,ns-
bling, whl!e t!o spirit se|oces oyvr tho victory
Kainrd.. III tho "ol.l arm chair In tho stl1';
tUothess. o!ls sway, anu coos ut-we know
nut wllnt-perllnps 1T tle Erent granddaughter
wiit,ss cilaIr sho INV cialms. Il i ,Iillellit
to understand their language, but their lltto
snllp who can rcslst:-for tltey arc such
,lninty while t!owers, and as pure us I'LL all
VI! list stepped fr0ln It's l,ome.
Ihcts aFS ps y OF p.my ni norme fro pF
WI hear only In .lmaElllat!on. bntso real It
SEEMS t'.at we stop nill busy cures. atld
listen n!gain and agutn for the familiar sound.
@ou S j. sea st TIKI d desoratis,'. sS s T lneu the
plants ~ l,er t1yert sunny w!tl,loW, ard iet e
they speak OF llor .wi,ul a'l elso IL flushed.
III another l.onse sits 4. weary watcher ltstetl-
ng t9t hteI wf'ra retrs ot Ut , tlie nces;
s i 1q tSa @ Wa we III II y sn ytorscts rset K9 tat
unly Il nlouinl relna!ns Oh eartla to the let''
ply, and y Il loylng life aud happy inen1orles
Ia l!er. Yes, the beautyot tlat llfe u pa!ngl
/ t0+uAy lHll t19 lllellG tuy EtktfEA VI! lHlIl Wl
.a,ln'!n 50 white md Blill ln Its stately ;nwe; w
l'nt 0ll, the sunshine rolls IN with wonderful
tmn,tty, when .w0 wRr!dar In thought t0 thai
Ellen sfnglesilte, which W. shMll reach
wIInn W. l0at utlOwt, tho stream OF Tine. nE
reaet, tllB beautiful shore where roses cyei
l,tuuln, ni,d Sabbath IL Que CONSTANT summer
tlny. Az tuses lM1 Alld bloss''1l In june, u
!ho hsarts @ n I. cllten :a opsn y lex at ctrst M
IL us Is the U0tl.giyen mission OF atltlIMg t0
tI.s pleasure, as,d gratifying o.rl. own ileNrts
in lnlniatrrug to them, Nun mid wt,lnall art
hut children Ut KrGnter gruWt!', AlMl tn tholn
too, WI Gun make giatl this spueu of time
Cliffs Of kind words or rendy sympathy cos
nntls!ng, a1a aru oyor at our fo,'llaantt, Whtlt
welcome. even wero 1t IN Oar power to be
stow tll6r,. Il Is frequently Ietlcnte nut
ter 10 l}estnW n Ktft III prtIlleT 11t!nnur
/ 'rhcre Aro times w1lnll He wish tn ten'ler I
: tlft, hut dD 1l0t wish for a. return, kll0WtHl
that circumstances Art such As to preclude
! sen!ollca to Thy party ltessowln., atld woul.
thus uestrOy gil pleasuIo fOr tl,e persan 70
cetytnE. It Is often y pleasure to rocefvl
/ | xllts from oNr friends, but not always
. II we nru cnehtzAnt of tho fact t1lut tue VT
lAs Gust HreRt Belt:stell!At on thu p'rt Ut TIL
ti0,lor, Or It. 1t was siytn from stllso 0f nc
. cesslty, It lins In .sul4v IN pleasure, nnd tn
frops ol,o NO e,erisl, 'gtses great peaco nI's
, lnso III tho heart. fills Is the happy. ,l,urr.
i | season Ut tll0 year, amt WI slntlu to SEQ th
joyDus little ones surfbdtu important notes I,
SaMtn Claus, tteilaIltilNg fr0M lit!n Wtlnteyc
pectlng h,! to tibuy. Last Wtck saw u not
+. written u his lu.ll0r, but ns 1t MAS lnass o
| uulnteialgent llieroGlyplllcS To int, aske
Little GplarA 4ulr ~ 1Algr1ret ZOE Me4 AL