Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-12-15
CHRISTI1AS COMING.

iS IuEISIllldS uue rises nl9n6f ana
draws nearer we venture to say there
is not child in the city, from the
school boy or girl in their teens, to the
wee little sister or brother at home,
but can tell just how many days there
are between now and that wOndrOus
day of DAYS.
The peanut vender and the candy
merchant finds fewer pennies in his
till though the attractions set forth are
temptingly displayed. The appetite
for sweets is just as strong, the desire to
buy nuts and apples and bonbons
knows no change of seasons but a
greater and more all pervading desire
fills the heart of the child. Self is
forgotten SO far as the ministering unto
self is motive, and the controlling i'm
pluse is to do unto others, saving to
prepare for the giving. 1t is the seed
time for love, generosity and thought
fitness for others, A time when the
impulses can be trained and grated
with deeper sense of humanity, that
Will bear fruit in the maturer years.
1t is we'll to cultivate the spirit OF
giving, not alone to the few connected
by family ties, but to those from whom
no gifts in return may be expected.
1t is well to teach children even child
rem of larger growth to give from out
their store Of books, or toys, or cloth
ing, some share to those who have less
than they. 1t is easy to impress upon
the young mind lessons of generosity
or good, of selfshness or philanthropy.
The papers of the whole country
have been filled recently with criti-
cism, biting sarcasm, and scOrn for a
great life that went out in utter selfish
ness. The instincts Of caring for self
and self's prejury was eXemplified, but
the broad humanity that called for a
generous giving was killed in the days
Of long ago childhood. There are
none 50 rich but there are greater
riches eagerly sought for, none so poor
but there is yet deeper poverty claim
ing a modicum from poverty's child.
What the future holds for either none
of us can tell; the heartsick, hungry
child of poverty, may rise in might and
power, and the remembrance of a day
in childhood when life was frightened
by the expressed love of a playfellOW
in gifts for Christmas joys, may be the
principal of an Understanding gen
crosby that will fill many lives with
gladness. 1t is well in their day of
weakness and want to forestall the day
of their power.
There is but little of real distressing
poverty in our prosperous city. 1t
speaks we'll for the humanity of the
place that no absolute suffering pre-
walls. Christmas promises to be a day
of peace and plenty. And yet. there
are those here among our little ones
who have no fathers whose hands and
purse supply the longed for gifts, to
whom the looked for Santa Claus will
be sadly disappointing one unless
kind hearts remember them. Some
little ones to whom the words Father
and Mother are but names and memo
ries, some half orphaned whose parent
feels the burden of the food getting
too heavy to think of toys and sweets.
Some children losing all the JOY, and
pleasure and abandon of childhood in
toiling early and late to help to keep
the wolf from the door ADD succor the
little home circle.
In sowing the seed by the wayside
let these be remembered, let the child
rem especially be looked after, and
cared for, and shared with in the joys
of the coming Christmas time.