The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1893-12-29
CHRISTMAS THE.

| "Oh there's buyin', plenty of it. of a lot
II o'gorgeous toys;
An it takes a mint o'mouey to please modern
girls and boys,
Why mind the time a jack-nife an a taffy
lump for me
Made my little heart an stockin JUS chock
full o. Christmas giee.
Another Christmas is at hand and
in all this world among all the groups
of boisterously merry children, and
also of older folks whose hearts are
warmed by the remembrances which
are caused by the returning of this
anniversary Of peace and happiness,
there can be no truer celebration Of
ChriStmastide than in the homes
where want and mourning have been
changed through the sympathy and
help of others to peace and comfort.
And there has been plenty of oppor-
tunity this year to demonstrate that
it is more blessed to give than to re-
celve, and well has this opportunity
been taken advantage of. He who
has lost faith in the world because
selfishness seemed to have the upper
hand, must be made fully conscious
of the fact that it is never safe to
judge by appearances, and his faith
in mankind must be to large extent,
if not wholly, restored by the charit=
able impulses exhibited by his fellow
men. But it has not taken the good
cheer of Christmas time to open the
hearts and purses ofmen to relieve their
more unfortunate fellows. When the
first cry of misery and want went up
as a result of the times on which
we have fallen, there came gener
Gus response, and this has been sup
plemented again and again, and now
as Christmas day with all it's tender
memories draws at hand, there seems
to be renewed inclination on every
side, to make it as far as possible
joyous happy day for all. h
And in this world of ours, which is
world of sadness and joy, PECULIARLY
mixed up, it is well that there should
be one day, world wide in it's tenden-
cies, on which all can meet upon
common level, and make it day of
happiness AMI joy for each. 1t is a
day of good cheer. And above all it
is especially children's day, made so
by the tender memories of the Christ
child. Who would not be child
again and revel in the delights and
joys OF Christmas time? 1t takes but
little to gladden. their hearts and
make them forget the hardShips
which may surround them, and who
is thereat this time who would with
hold that ulittle. The poet has said
that the happiest hours of life are
those spent in childhood or in. sleep.
At this time when all the world feels
a touch of brotherly love, we should
endeavor to make the hours
of children doubly happy, for
all too soon, if such has
not already been the case, will they
be awakened and made to feel most
acutely the cares and burdens of life.
1t is too bad that the affection and
!, brotherly feeling which is generated
at this season of the year, is so soon
dropped. A much better world it
would be if it could be retained and
pass current throughout the whole
twelve months to come. And yet we
do retain more and more of this
spirit as each year passes by, and the
altrujsm which has been a plaything
for the philosophers will yet blossom
forth into the mighty controlling
force of a higher civilization. Some
one has said that "the Christmas star
shines down upon hard and bitter
world, and on the blessed Utopias
that men have dreamed of and lived
and died for, conscious that one day
it's rays will fall upon the morning of
their indissoluble union. This is the
real Christmas which is foreshadow
ed in days of heartfelt merriment.
Ever toward it set the deeper cur
rents of human life. Ever towards
it strive the longings of the noblest
, and the purest. Wherever men and
women have been busy in relieving
human suffering and setting joy to
rule the meager feast of sorrow, there
we have the Christmastide that will
not perish;the faithful prophet of the
future speaking through the thrilling
words of it's own past, 'Inasmuch
as We have done it unto the least of
these, my brethren, We have done it
lunto me-"