Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-12-25

The child that would be K ing one day
OF kingdom not human but divine.
LoSGFELLow.
The children of men, at whatever age,
are best taught by realism, and IN this
busy, practical. everyday world OF ours
sentiment ID apt to be forgotten. 1t Is
therefore well that Christmas comes once
q year TO call off sordid thoughts and al
low for even q short space the tenderer
chords of nature TO yibrate as memory
wakes them.
Nineteen hundred years ago "when
shepherds watched their tocks by
night, - was penned a scroll that brought
good tidings, and star shone out, the
light of which has never been quenched,
but shines and will continue to SHINE
unto the perfect day. Down the ages
comes the echo of the joyful shout that
angels then sounded "Peace on earth,
good will to men, an echo that enters
homes and quickens heart throbs. The
note that was loosed in heaven makes
melody on earth and ct Christmas tide
10Y and gladness abound. Wreaths of
holly, branches of mistletoe OPPORTUNITY
placed, Christmas trees bending with
heavy burdens, all betoken that in these
homes there is love and jollity.
In all perfect pictures light and shade
have place, what says the angel song.
''Peace ard good will. - Then what
better time to lift shadow from heart
or hearth than Christmas time?
friendship has cooled ID slight misunder-
standing has erept in, comrades once
are almost strangers now; why not
PEACE? Why not some little token,
even from the one who is aggrieved.
which may serve to rivet again that
which has been severed?
"'Good will to men. There are
homes in which to-day there is neither
holly or mistletoe, nor sound of jolllty,
not even the smile of plenty; homes that
are dark because of bereavement, that
are chill aud desolate because want fills
the space of better things.
The wise men brought gifts to the
King, they brought kingly gifts, but to
q king who said to his subjects that a
cup of cold water in His name will not
go uurewarded. The motive glor!ties
the deed. A growing plant sent 20 an in
valid, warm shawl or jacket to hard
working or aged woman, a toy TO child
who has been cheated of q child 8 high
est pleasure, these and kindred remem-
br8nces to those whose joys are few, or
whose Christmas portion Is not meas
ured by plethoric purses belong properly
20 II season that celebrates the birth of
Him who went sbout doing good.
II is a pretty custom al this time to
decorate the churches, to sing praises in
grander, nobler strains than on other
DAYS, but these customs are meaningless
unless ia the devout worshippers kneel
they think of some one they can that
dav make happy; if on Chri-tmas day
they do not forget all grudges and envy
inCs and are ready to extend a friendly
grasp to those from whom it has been
withheld; IL i'll the GIFT making they fail
to heed the lesson that was taught when
gifts were laid at the feet of a helpless
poor, humble little Child lying in a
manger, yet guarded by heavenly hosts,
IS are his poor followers in earth s low
est station. =.
a word on gift making. DO not make
the gift ex pressionless, let il express in
dividuality and speak a sentiment that
will need no Interpretation. 1t often
happens that n dainty trifie speaks more
of affection than the costliest offering,
because il tells of consideration for your
taste or your fancies, and if it represents
labor OF painstaking it is more valuable
than when representing money only.
Then, too, there is grace In the ac-
ceptance; ii is not every one who knows
how TO receive a gift. Because some
wealthier person than yourself sends to
you costly gift, do not feel that you
must return in kind. 1t would rob the
giver of much sincere pleasure were you
10 do this.
In after days return the gift, il you
choose, but do not feel il an obligation,
and when YOU do, let it be an expression
nj yourself. A gift that carries with it
the evidence OF skill, of love and of
thoughtfuluess is of greater value than
anything money can purchase.
The secret OF successful alternating is
IN the appropriateness and in clear dis
CrimInation as TO what would be suita-
HE. IN short, IN Christmas offerings as
IN other things, use the good, plain,
common sense that seldom makes mis-
takes, The better way TO preserve this
precious holiday is not 10 ndulge in ex-
trRvagsnce in any of its observances.
Without undue Intrusion of the ego the
editor of this department asks permission
10 extend a Christmas greeting 10 all its
readers. MAY joy and glsdness permeate
the homes TIE GAZETTE enters, and jol-
lty reign supreme around every hearth
stone. Aud as the Christmas bells ring
may every heart beat in happy unison.
Under the mistletoe may true lovers
meet, and happy children find in full
stockings and gft-laden trees an sssur-
ance that though ''Pan is dead - Kriss
KrinRie lives, and Santa Claus still drives
his reindeer, and that the jolly saint has
been at his business. A merry Christ
mas to all.
Chat on Fashions.
Simply because we are creatures
of habit and that there would be a GER