Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1883-12-25
The Merry Christmas.

The Merry Christmas.
Christmas, that whitest of days in
the calendar of childhood, and often
of later years-with its festive cheer,
its good gifts and its heart awaken
ings-is with us again. The harvests
have been gathered, the grain gar
nered, and the yellow stubblc and
withcred grass lie buried beneath win
ter's icy mantle. The arching sky,
leaden and gray, warns us of coming
frost and chill winds-of storms, of
sleet and drifting snow flakes.
It should be the endcavor of all to
render each Christmas day more
bright, more heartsome, more mem
orable for good deeds than any other
1t is the. most beautiful festival of the
year a cold, cherries hearth and
home at Christmas time, is sad thing
indeed. Then, of all times, should
the human heart pour forth warmth
and tenderness.
The giving of Christmas gifts is
one Gifts sweetest customs, and tends
= to keep alive the warm sympathics
X. which so often seem hidden under a
crust of sellishncss. It is, indeed,
more blessed to give than receive
we. pity the man or woman who has
no. little stockings to fill, no little
hands to load with presents, no little
hearts to fill with happiness.
By all means make the little ones
about you happy on that day-cven
at the. cost of little self-denial to
yoursetf.As, Remember that too soon
the glamour and glow which renders
the Christmas festivities to them as so
1nany glimpses of fairy land, will
hsyepassed away; and they. like US,
win see. only the furnished tinsel and
the wifhsreb flowers.
yeu cannot get for them the
pretty ba1bles, the costly trinl5ets
youswouIs bare; get the little picture
: book Jwhistleand the candy
sheep so1 5ingto brighten the eye,
and end tie laughter to their lips
dzbegtad, with them, for even this
llE9eh. Don't let this one white day
this symbol of hope and love, this
sweet reminder of risen Savior-be
to them only a season of gloom and
disappointment. Let the little ones
be happy. It takes so little to make
aIchild glad.
There are many friends to whom
w would wish to show our regard and
friendship. In no way can this be
done more delicately or more accep-
tably, than in the bestowal of some
gift alike5suitable to the giver and to
LIE Recipient. If your means are
donot withhold the slight tcs-
al N99.e.Ause you cannot reach
sostly and elegant. There are
gifts which are worse than none. be-
cause both parties know that their
cost is beyond the donors means
The age, position, tastes and needs
of the recipient should be considered,
and the gift adopted.
Christmas! season of fcasting and
fun, of family gatherings and family
reunions. Happy for those whose
banquet board knows no vacant chair,
whose chain of laughter has no mis-
sing link. Sad, doubly sad, for those
whose loved ones have wandered away
to the other shore, and whose empty
arms stretch out over buried hopes and
broken ambitions-ovcr household
graves and shattered idols for which,
this side of the eternal, there is no
resurrection morn.
Even grief can afford to put on the
garments of gladness to welcome the
gracious hours of this consccratcd
festival
Gather We rosebuds while yc may
Old time is still flying
And this same flower that smiles to-day.
Tomorrow may be dying
Let those whose garIands of holly
are mingled with cypress, look through
the clouds into the sunshine beyond,
md out of the raindrops of sorrow
build the rainbow of hope. Let them
Not bo.1 ,o~,a1 ~, e4oined with +oorS but