The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1883-01-03
Eyerybody's Day.


You are too poor TO have any Christ
mas this year, Sickness, misfortune,
perhaps disaster, have clouded your
year. Whatever you have thlt is not
necessary for your life YOU owe to 9th.
ers. You can give no gifts with = clear
conscience You have nothing 10 spare
for presents; all must 60 for necessities.
Very well mako gifts OF necessities.
Love ma es wood silver, and brass gold;
II converts the necessity into u myury.
The most expensive Christmas Is not the
merTicst IL is not even now too late.
Come. come Let in the light and
brighten the dark year with at least me
joyous day. Decorate Your rooms with
evergrcens. If you live in the country,
the boys win enjoy . ramble in quest OF
winter beau.ies--spr OF fir, spruce,
bittersweet; ii in the city, they can
pick up from the cGst-o1 garments Of
some church enough 10 make a wreath,
an anchor. or n motto. Litter and
trouble? What II thore arep 1t will do
you good TO break in upon the dull rou.
tine OF too prosaic life with tho litteI
OF love and the trouble Of merry max.
ing No timer The time spent In bring
ing sunshine into darkened lives Is ncy.
er wasted.
Lool, on this picture; the reality Is in
hundreds Of homes all about you: Christ.
mas has teen looked forward to with
delightful anticipations Tor weeks. AZ
the days draw near the children ARE
busy rs ees making articles for use OF
ornament Some aro not very uso.ul;
some are not very ornalnental but love
gives value to one and beauty 10 the
other See tho family dispersed about
tho family sitling-room, making great
pretcnso OF spyng out each other 8
work, and taking groat pains not tdsec
| II. Christmas comes. Perhaps there is
u possibly n little one possibly a
dwarfcd and stunted one. The best
fruits sometimes grow on dwarf trees
Perhaps there is not much on il. Perhaps
the little are necesSnrc5; apair of warm
mittens for the boy; n hood for the girl,
u much needed pair OF arctics Tor father;
a better lamp Tor mothers none too
| good eyes TO use in her winter evenings
sewing; barrel Of potatoes for all con.
corned from the Christ chld-lol
even potatoes viii taste better foi
having Christmas flavor, and II
is wonderful how long that flavor
lasts. Or in lou Of tree 10 a
box nm old shoe-boy. with n friIl OF
chintz 10 cover the sides, md evergreen
around the top. Into II are piled pro-
miscuously the Christmas packages,
labeled Tor distribution. All being
ready. one of the boys, arrayed rs Santa
Claus. hands out the contents. Such
shouts of laughter and merry jcsts when
Nlary's daintily-covered package, tied
with ribbon, turns out only an almond,
and Annios brown paper parcel. with n
score of rough wrappers, displays butt
pretty silk handkerchief. Some mes
sage a merry rhyme, n pretty motto
loving wish ada value TO every article,
and though the gifts have small market
value they represent uncounted wealth
Of aNectionatc remembrance.
Wake up, then, dosponding mo hcrl
cast-down father! Ring out the Christ
mas chimes in your own heart; lightth
candles in your own life. Let the music
OF Christmas sound out and the light oil
Christmas shine out; aud greet the day
with the Joy of hope aud love, 1t /,
late TO begin; but it is not too late. II
is never too late TO mend. - CWisiiah
| LliOU