The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1885-12-18
WHAT CHRISTMAS GIVING MEANS

"Why 500" | asked. at always
seems to me as if that should be the bright
est, gayest time of the year, because it
brings so many pleasant thoughts of those
one cares for. People are generally good
natured and jolly then, no matter how the
wind of their tempers may set afterward.
| am curious to know what has brought
gou to a state of feeling so entirely unlike
yourself
Gust this. Christmas present giving
has come to be just as it is in the case of
weddings. Now to remember and be
remembered by ones friends by some
pretty little gift. conceit, or odd fancy
is delightful, but the day of small
things is passing, and presents are grow
ing more and more costly, so that the
custom is becoming an absolute burden.
Ever in ones own family it is so. | know
more than one where Christmas is kept in
the most bountiful way, and then for weeks
afterward there is a pinching and worry
ing that must be exasperating. Now in
my own case, | must either work my fin
gers off at the ends, and nearly put my eyes
out making fancy articles, or spend an
amount of money that ] can i'll afford.
Otherwise | will seem careless and forget
full of my friends. There must be some
thing wrong somewhere
''There is something wrong answered,
''and it is Just here We haven't any of us
independence enough to do just what we
know we ought, but try to fulfill what we
imagine are other peoples expectations. If
each one would show our Christmas
thought of those we love by some simple
gifts, which, in the aggregate, would be
no burden, there could be no dreading of
the beautiful holiday time by anybody.
And then if one did not feel able to afford
even a little thing, there are always
pleasant words and warm wishes to offer.
II know it she said with sigh, and
then with a bright look she added, but
want to do something more, and I'm going
to, if live on bread and water for four
weeks afterward. The bother is, though,
that Fred don't take to the bread and
water diet kindly. Men never do, you
know. Sentiment don't count beside a
good dinner"
She went laughingly away, and left me
to think over what she had said. 1t would
have made less of an impression upon me,
had | not heard the same remark from
some one else a day or two before. Was it
really coming to this, that beautiful Gus
tom, the outgrowth of kindly feeling, was
growing to be a dread simply because false
ideas had come to be dominant? 1t looked
so. A little thought tells the reason why.
Only few years ago, Christmas present
giving was confined entirely to the children
of the family They hung their stockings
in some convenient place for the good Santa
Claus to find easily, and went to bed with
the blissful consciousness that the morn
ing light would show them full OF treas
ures BY and by came the idea that older
ones too might find pleasure in Christmas
surprises, and so a general family gift sea-
son was inaugurated, which easily grew to
include near and dear friends, until the
circle that includes all who are to be re-
membered is very large one.
1t seems to me that there is something
very beautiful in this custom of putting
heart thoughts in some little gift, that all
over the land each one is trying to give
pleasure to others, to make life little
brighter by these tokens Of friendly regard.
Even if it has been done at little self-sac-
rifice. it is WELL for the very effort has
driven self i'll the background, and made
the world brighter place for somebody to
live in.
There is one thing, however, to be kept
in mind, and in forgetfulness of this lies
the trouble 1t is not the value OF what Is
given that is to be considered. 1t is only
a coarse spirit that will guage gratitude or
pleasure by the amount of money present
costs 1t is the friendly thought which
counts. the assurance thus conveyed that
one is kindly or lovingly remembered.
Never. therefore, be betrayed into the
folly of giving what you cannot afford, be
cause you may think it is expected or you
imagine the recipient has SO much which
is rich and beautiful that simple thing
will be uncared for | shall never forget
the remarks heard made once by rich
woman who had just received present
from an acquaintance in exceedingly linn
tied circumstances The Gift was very
beautiful, and had evidently cost good
many dollars. spoke of its beauty.
Eyes, she said, but how inappropri-
ate. | know, and everybody knows, that
she cannot afford to do that sort of thing.
would rather have had single rosebud,
for should have been sure then that she
need not pinch herself for weeks to make
up for giving it to me.
No doubt she would. She had money to
buy what struck her fancy, but the good
will which the rosebud would express as
we'll as the eostliest gift, money could not
purchase.
Christmas giving should be governed by
good taste and good sense. As the season
typifies peace on earth, good will towards
men. so should the exchange of gifts typiiy
the closer peace and good will that dwells
in the hearts of friends for each other. 1t
is not the thing itself but what it means
that is of moment.