Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-12-24
THE GRPEs or THE WORLD.
People who Prepare for Christmas
without Putting Their Hearts in
the Work.

without Putting Their Hearts in
the Work.
Like the rest of us, Mr. Gripe is prepar-
ing for Christmas. He has settled all his
little bills even paid his workmen yester-
day. in the middle of the month, instead OF
at the end. If he had dropped a single
pleasant word about Christmas they would
have thought that he did it in order that
they, too, might enjoy the holy day with the
rest of the world But he counted out the
money with his usual calm, icy poiteness,
and they made sure as they went out That
"old Gripe only wanted to square his ac-
counts" He had just bought new set OF
glass for his wife and something for each
of the girls. But the things will be sent to
them direct from the shops, with no word
of greeting from him, and if they venture
to thank him, he will not glance up from
his paper as he answers Il am glad you
are satisfied | supposed you needed them.
The children are in doubt whether he real
/ " knows it is Christmas after ali, and Is
not simply renewing their supplies, as usual.
John GRIPPE is so far nihilist that II he
/ believes or feels anything, he says nothing
/ He was a calm baby. His mother never
knew whether her kisses pleased or bored
him. AS he grew up he was always per
fectlv civil and kind to her and for years
] after MS IdJneI anu DIOLntlS AhNt SUI ~
A place under his roof. While she lived
there (the others all being dead and gomez
the years stretched out long and lonely to
the old woman. and the world yawned emp
| tv about her. Her clothes and food were
of the best, every want was supplied, but
there were days when she would have CIV
en- all that life had held for her for single
tender word, for a loving touch from
chld's hand. John never gave them to her
He did his duty to her, fully, until he had
laid her under ground.
He fulfilled his duty to wife and children
in the same way. He keeps his account ac-
curately clear with his Maker, subscribes to
all charities, occupies his pew regularly I'M
listens attentively to the rector. But that
good man to this day does not know wheth-
er the seed he sows falls upon good ground
or on a rock. Should a stranger wander
up the aisle Mr. GRIPPE is first to courteously
surrender his seat: but, who could imagine
that fine, portly, well dressed figure going
into the highways and byways as a messen-
ger for his Master, and compelling the
tramps and Magdalens to come in.
John GRIPPE never did a cruel deed oI
spoke an unkindly word Yet he was nav
er known to heartily praise friend,
out of his way to set struggling ma
his feet, or to utter word of encou
ment to any poor devil who had slnney
Probably, he feels deeply. If 80, nj
and God know it. He hugs hims-
placently, it is likely, and cor ~
himself that he is not weakly dec .aI
that he is too strong TO dri out'
emotion in words. Most OF us he 81
when we think we have hidden q ge1
feeling under well bred reticeiice -
of us are like John GRIPPE in N,
We are quite sure that we have Il rol.-
flood of religion and charity in our souls
but no drippings of it ever fall on oul
friends and neighbors in cordial words OF
> friendly acts. We mean some day to rise
to some great heroic act to show our devo
ton to wife and children, and to prove oul
philanthropy But, meanwhile, we art
dumb Our hearts are all right.
:, Wife and children are dear to us, but W.
don't tell them So We see how that poo
:. clerk in the office struggles to do his worl
- well, but we never speak word OF prals
- to him. Every day hundred chance
come to us to make the lives of other
a easier and cheerfuller by little common
dation, or encouragement or tenderness
and we pass them by and do not give 1t
/ Some day, when life near to us drops sud
= denly into the darkness, see how W
= might have made it happier ii we had spok
, en-. But then it is too late. Now that tn
day is coming when all the world holds on
friendly hands to each other, what shall W
u dos The Master himself did not comprc
d mise his dignity by showing the feelings tina
were in him. He wept over Lazarus, h
praised the heather centurion, he touche
% the leper, he held the little children in hi
II arms. Shall we be afraid to do the same
e. In our own homes, at our table, perhaps
the poor heathen the friend, the little chill
II waiting for us to help and bless. Fhuade
~ phid Press.