The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-12-25
CHRISTMAS TIME.

QulChig nave UuC iocO tnCisC HhOhShn
passed by, and the CHEEKY greetings,
peace and good will toward men, rest
with all. There is no better time
in all the year than now, to look back
over the months which made it up,
and note the mistakes and successes,
and see where improvement can be
made, than at Christmas. To the
most of us, the past year will be a
pleasant one to look back upon, as it
has been most prosperous one. But
because of its prosperity we should
not fail to note the mistakes make.
In taking such survey we should
not put on long face and look at
every thing through serious eyes.
This should be the happy season of
the year, when joyousness should
break forth at every turn.
With the great prosperity that has
befallen US as nation, this ought to
be most Merry Christmas" Peace
and plenty abound everywhere. Local
ly there may be a blue tinge to the
feelings of our business men. But
this is because the elements
for few days back have been I'M
favorable for general movement of
the people, not from feeling of close
times among them, through this fact
may not have very soothing effect
just at present.
And what blessed time Christmas
is. A season which softens mans
heart toward his felloWmen. 1t al
ways has done SO and always will
through the future. More than at
any other season of the year do we
look about us and note the ways and
habits Of our fellows. Some one has
written that when man is once in
terested in his fellows he is already
halfway to being friends with them
and thus coming to know how human
they are This is true, and it only
illustrates the old saying that it is
"better to give than to receive" The
greatest boon of Christmas is in max
ing others happy. This world at its
best is filled with sorrow and pain,
and mans highest ambition ought to
be an attempt TO scatter sunshine in |
the dark places. The shifting shadows
of pain and care are often driven away
as effectually- by some little act of
kindness, as by the most costly gift.
1t may be even more effectual, as the
act comes from the heart, while the
gift, but to often, comes from the
pocket book only.
The precious boon of giving and
loing good should not be limited to
Christmas time. As the happy ira
ditions which gather around the day,
opens our hearts and calls our atten-
ton to the outside world, we should
be careful to extend that feeling as
much as possible throughout the year.
The lessons of the day should be heed.
ed through the months to come. We
should call to mind Him, the ami
versary of whose birth we celebrate,
and as Christ opened his heart to
all men, so should we remember that
they are our brothers, struggling for
higher and better, and
give them word Of encouragement.
Remember the poor. The twelve
months have been long, weary ones
to them, albeit they have been bright
ened many times by acts of kindness.
But this should be the joyous season
that they will look back to with
pleasure as time flies. on. !
And then the children. What hap
py traditions cluster around this day
Of days to them. Who would not be
child again and reyel in the delights
and ioys of Christmas time? How
little it takes to make the childs
heart bubble over with JOY. The
most common article given in the
spirit which the occasion promotes,
will cause as much joy, peace and
good will, as the more costly gift often
does. The poet says the happiest
hours of life are spent in childhood,
or in sleep. AT this time, when all the
world feels touch of brotherly love,
we should endeayor to make the
hours of childhood doubly happy, for
all too soon will the child be rudely
awakened to the cares of life.
The era Of good feeling generated
BY the peculiar surroundings of the
day, should be cultivated to the full
lest extent. that it may fash down
through future days and make the
world better, lift people to higher
thoughts and aims aud cansc an i'm
proyement IN their surroundings.
What is life if We do not use it TO
help our fellow men and encourage
them to something better. 1t is well
that there is holiday week that We
may pause in our rush after things
worldly, to consider our surroundings
and remember those who have beer
less fortunate than we. Let it be
truly week of peace and. mercy