The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-12-18
HOME TALK TO GIRLS ABOUT
CHRISTMAS.

1Ou are In the m1uSb OF buo uelISutlul
furry OF this most beautiful season. We
older ones know all about 1.-THE long
ings and endeavors to put some bright
ness into the lives of others, the dreams
and anticipations for your own happy
day. Girlhood, with it's enthusiastic ap-
probation for the lovely deeds Of life, as
we'll as for it's pretty favors, finds rich
fruitage of all the other common days Of
the year in the glorious Christmas-tide.
To this one day girls thoughts tend for
twelvemonth. For this she watches and
waits and works. And this, when it
comes and passes, makes her happy for
twelvemonth to come, in the memory of
it.
Not to dim one bit OF the brightness,
nor to abate particle OF the joy, do I
write the words am moved to speak to
you now. It is because L want to help
the Christmas season to take deeper
hold upon your happy hearts, revealing
to you many hidden significance that
now you have not dreamed of, that I
would lovingly drop two or three little
suggestions.
The first thing want to speak to you
about, is the giving and receiving of
Christmas gifts, because I think this GUS
tom gives shape pretty largely to young
girls idea of the season, and colors all
her thought of it. The sentiment Of the
Christmas gift is beautiful one; it tells
of the warm OVERLOOKING of the heart in
unselfsh love that prompts to sacrifice
of time, money and strength for the
pleasure of another. But like many
other beautiful inspirations, the prompt
ing to the bestowing of Christmas gift
upon friend may, alasl have mixed in it
a motive far below one that should gov
ern at this sacred festival, and thus the
spirit of the g It be lost.
If we would put ourselves in an atti-
tude receptive of the deep significance of
the season, we must first be in sympathy
with all that is Christlike The love of
the One who gave the greatest gift ever
bestowed on needy human heart, was
pure, unselfish, sincere. So must ours be
to be worth anything. We must forget
ourselves, and be glad to make others
happy, even if we in return receive moth
ing. And now just bear with me one
moment, dear girls. Don't think me
preaching" if say that each of us
should enter this bright, beautiful Christ
mas-tide determined to rid ourselves of
all that is unworthy the holy season, and
to make it our chief concern to increase
the happiness of those around us.
To this end we devote ourselves to the
preparation of gifts. How many weeks
and months our hearts are full of theml
We live and move in an atmosphere
largely permeated with all the pretty
conceits that generous purse or an in
ventive genius can originate. Our wax
ing thoughts and our sleeping visions
are full of all the colors of the rainbow,
and all the forms and devices from which
we hope to evolve something new and
dainty to please our friends.
And how many we havei Dear girls,
aren't you astonished every year to see
the list grow, of those who have reason
to expect, or whom you desire to honor
with Christmas token? Just take your
pencil at midsummer, and note them.
Why, you pause when you are half
through, and exclaim, "One would need
the purse of Croesus to do it all sue
cessfully."
"What makes you attempt?" asks
Aunt Mary, at your elbow. Aunt Mary
is voted "queer" by the family, being
painfully plain of dress, and up to her
eyes in every reform movement in Bos-
ton, SO you are not disposed to follow the
advice that can not tolerate the beauty of
life.
"Why, must" you answer.
"Humphl" exclaims Aunt Mary, who
doesn't believe in coercion for woman.
az would come out from the yoke, then,
and assert my liberty"
You do not even hear her, but go back
in dumb despair to your list again. BY
AlLSOub 6bu0ylnS ohA hA0Sh hutN WIN
you at last cut 1t down third by cross
ing out some distant relatives who last
year gave you nothing. Even then it is
appalling In length.
The list all done, you approach it in
anything but contented frame of mind;
being morally certain that you must
either scrimp yourself fearfully in regard
to pretty adornings for months to come.
or accept the other alternative and make
presents that lily compare with those the
other girls are making. This is only the
beginning. AS time goes on, and you
are fairly launched upon the work you
have mapped out for yourself, your tenn
per fails, your strength wanes, your love
for your friends and charity for all the
world depart, till You are ready to ex-
claim, The girl who first gave Christ
mas presents ought to have been throt-
tledl"
Now this is a sweet spirit to give favor
to the gift, isn't it?
What are the best gifts to mark the