Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-21
ONLY LOVES TOKEN.
A Christmas Gift in and Of Itself
Doesn't Amount to Much.
IT'S THE HEART THAT'S BEHIND 1T.
A Beggars Doll is as important as
Millionaire's Diamonds,
THE SPIRIT OF THE DAY CAN'T DIE
WRITTEN FOR THE pIsPATcH.i

There is great lamentation among some
people over what they call the decadence Of
Christmas. They hold that it is degener-
ating into mere holiday, a common giving
of gifts, time when people lose their heads,
run themselves into debt, indulge in ex-
cesses that make them not happy, but un-
happy. They say people 60 racing around
for weeks, wearing themselves out, making
themselves nervous, taxing both physical
and nervous energy to the utmost stretch by
the strain between their desires and their
means, and to what end? Not happiness,
because the philosophers contend that that
is an illusion, and experience seems to con-
firm it. but simply as a sacrifice to the spirit
of Christmas.
The giving of gifts is beautiful in senti-
ment pleasant in reality, joyous and blessed
to those who have the power and the spirit
of love which prompts it, until it degenerates
into barter and trade, until all the poetry is
rubbed off by the mercenary idea OF measur-
ing the worth of its expressions by dollars
and cents. Moreover, by those who value
friendship, who appreciate the kindly
thoughts of those who know them by their
simplest manifestation, who accept with
warmest pleasure the most trifing reveal
ment of appreciative regard, expense is never
considered, or, if so, is rather regretted as i'm.
posing sort OF sense of obligation.
WHAT AN INVALID LEARNED.
"My illness has taught me a great les
son." said an invalid. 'It has shown me
the real goodness in people, the true kind
ness, the blessed charm in the offices OF
frien dship," she continued, as she gazed
upon the offerings of fruit, and flowers, and
books, and tokens of remembrance as shown
in workmanship, and manufacture that
crowded her room. 'It had always seemed
to me, before, that my little gifts were of no
moment, and of no value to anyone, but
now appreciate the fact that the smallest
and simplest token inspired by real love is
infinitely precious as a mark of remem-
brance and good feeling. I shall never,
hereafter, be withheld from giving by the
thought that what could send would be
lightly esteemed or overlooked or held as of
no account"
Her last days were spent far from friends
and home, but they were continually glad
dened and frightened by the little gifts that
were enriched and made more precious than
rubies. as showing the love of tar-off
friends. Uncle Sans budget rarely failed
to bring letter. a paper, a photograph, a
book, a ribbon or some small matter that by
the exiles was looked upon almost as god
send. Boxes of candy, baskets of fruit, o
fresh magazine, extracts cut out of papers,
little bits of this, that and the other were
cherished and appreciated with a zest hardly
to be realized by those outside of such ex-
perience, but mentioned now for the benefit
of those who are restrained by the thought
that cheap gifts are not welcomed BY the re-
ceivers. If prompted by sincere love and
true friendship let no one withhold his
hand il his bunch of violets cost only a
nIckle, or his little tribute not more than
dime. The spirit inspiring the offering is
the point, and not the value
WHAT A BOY LEARNED.
st can't have any birthday down here"
said a little boy discontentedly. Nobody
knows u.s." But the little fellow realized
he was all astray ip his calculations. A
pot of flowers in bloom, dainty little vase
filled with roses pretty cup and saucer,
"pigs in clover" box of dominoes, and no
end of little gifts made that boy as happy as
king, and for that matter happier. Birth
day cards in the mail run up his tempera-
ture to almost fever heat with his excite
ment, but if the senders could have wit
messed his delight they would have been
give him pleasure.
With this chapter from experience which
might, if written out, fill book OF at least
three volumes, we have no hesitation in say
ing that the giving Of gifts need not be at
all expensive in order to secure apprecia-
ton, or give pleasure. There need be no
filing up of bills to be groaned over in the
first week of the New Year. If people are
not satisfied, or if they growl over their
gifts they may be set down as ingrates. If
friendship is to be measured in that manner
it is worth nothing, and may as well be let
go. It should be remembered that those
who love you would gladly give you a
house and lot, or good farm, or million
dollars, if their means In any way came up
to their desires, but the appreciation OF their
lesser gifts should be measured by their
hearts. If there is a time when the most
well-to-do people feel poor, it lis at Christ.
mas, when good will to all men and
especially to those they love inspire them
to its richest expression in the giving of
gifts.
HOW SOME PEOPLE FEEL.