Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-12-11

Doors that have been closing tighter and
tighter as the financial depression in
creases, are sudisniy thrown wide Opsn
Christmas. Hearts. too, that have been
closing their shells all the year, suddenly
hy open with good wishes in this happy
time. Just as the Spring storms the world
with white apple blosso ms in May. so does
Winter bring bOmbardment of good
gishes at Christmas. One needs to be very
tead to his fellow men, to be cold to them
inr sim IS. There is no vaccination
against its contagion. Indeed, so far from
wishing to avoi 1t, I think we wish to have
it in it's most COZ fluent form. which our
financial situa5i ns are lily able to bear. |
am afraid, tho "a, tlat Christmas brings
good deal of am and pretence with it. l
am afraid we t % often gauge our gifts more
by the impress! they will make. than by
the amount i affection or charity in
which we Civ them. l am afraid that
when young Jones PRESENTS the Smith
girl, who is deed his very dearest girl,
his annual pre- sent. he has as keen an eye
to what tn money value of it will be
estimated at oy the family and friends of
that estimabl young person, as he has TO
.unveyILs her token of his affection.
And, further, fear that he also has a
BUSINESS eye towards what young Brown,
his avowed competitor In this parlOr
possibility that the Smith girl may, in
showing it to her friends, after indif-
feiently setting his aside, say to them
N italics ~ has. is from MIR. Brown" Ii
it were possible for me to address few
remarks of unlmpeachable good sense to
both OF these young men aud obtain re-
specttul hearing therefor, which L know
it is not in their present frame of mind, l
should like to do so. / should like to tell
them that while their liberality is credit
able to their hearts, it yet has to pass
through an ordeal which will not credit it
to their heads. The elder Smith and his
estimable wife, and possibly the lovely
Smith girl herself, have been for long
time aware Of the exact amount of their
salary and other worldly profits. The
trouble is that they look at the cold facts
only; they don't see the struggles. nor the
affection, nor sometimes the self-deDial
that accompany it; to them the sacri-
fee comes to the altar without any of the
sweet SAVIOR which these things give it,;
to them it is only So young man making
$40 present. But should We judge him 80
coldly I? Not for one. If his pretence is
petty, it Is also pure; if his Extravaganza
is absurd, 1t is also sincere; if be is trying
to appear in her eyes as richer than he
really is, it is an ambition that has not
speck of selfishness in it, and if he has
given two doves where he should have
given but a farthing. let US be content III
admiring the devotion that will put its
last farthing in doves. SO. say, you and
will judge this young man, and what
ever fate may bsfall him this Christ
mas time; whether the competing Brown
may excel him in the splendor of his
gift and capture the Smith girl or, still
graver complication, leave her to him; and
whether the elder Smith will judge him
coldly OF kindly, We, at least, will pat him
on the back and give him the comforting
Christmas gift of kind words.
AS far as present making is concerned.
however, think l state the case accu-
rately when I say that in this field sweet
hearts are lntrudera. II is legitimately
the property of the poor and of children
Describing all the stock phrases, church
and secular, which are so freely tossed
about at this time of year, | say that can't
think Of a more kingy situation than to
be able to give to those who need 1t. 1t
enables US to crafty more of the superior
emotions Of the mind than any power
know Of 1t is a practical response to its best
emotions. Our love Of our fellow men. oul
lauiable desire to stand we'll with them,
our pleasure at knowing ourselves the au-
tbors Of gladness in others, aud our am
bition to approach one step nearer to the
IDEAL that every good man carries about in
his soul, meet an active response in this
ac5 of giving to those in need. 1t is go0d
act that cannot fail of its mark whether
its object proves worthy or unworthy, for
its virtues do not lie in the receiver, but
the giver. 1t is harsh and CONSTRUCTED
charity that talks about the worthy
poor. If they are unworthy then still more
DO they need the kindlyhand. A man OF
wcman who, to the horrid burden of vic
ious and dlssolute life, has added the dire
load Of poverty is an object, to turn from
Which, heart must be hard indeed. And
who are we that we should sreak of the
unworthy poor What separates US from
them, except that instead of giving rein
TO our evil passions We, after one
fashion or another, are clinRing to a
Father 3 hand, and listening in one way or
another 10 Fathers voice ? Cast loose
lem these restraints, how many and how
long are the steps between US and them
A different sort IF gift we may and should
have for those poor who are unworthy, but
not an empty hand.
The other legitimate occupants of the
field are the children, a class who need no
advocate, being sufficiently powerful to
make themselves heard. IL ia astonishing
how Christmas developes children. At
this happy season the once reserved and
retiring cues have all disappeared and
are replaced by shrill banditti that
| demands your money or your life. The
| timid little tot of four, blooms into the
boldeat of highwaymen, the all EN- bracing
| demand of whom have the tempaling
quality that 1t makes little difference to
her whether the present is a hundred dol
lar gold watch or i've cent watch from
pr!Zs box. 10 her CHI istmas is Christ.