The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1893-12-21
A Merry Christmas.

And now Christmas time has again
been reached and the close of the year /.
near at hand. 1t is the season when We
remember friends with gifts and wishes
of Merry Christmas and the kindly greet
ing is exchanged in commemoraton of the
one grand event in Christian history that
stands out 10 bold relief, the birth OF
Christ, the ,ayior of the world.
1t is we'll at these times to rejoice and
be glad and We would not attempt to re.
strain joy and happiness that may come
from the observance of this holy holiday
Its observance is a sacred thing with oul
people generally and they usually make
it more sacred occasion by the fitting
remembrance of those who have not the
good things or the necessary things OF
life in abundance; and give gifts to those
who are poor and needy.
The Master once said "the poor you
have always with you This is true
and it is also true that the needy ar,
with us in increased numbers this yeal
and the exercise of benevolence anc
charity are more IA matter of recessit,
than for many years previously.
The severity of the weather and the
prevalence of sickness in many commune
ties do not mitigate the evil of lack OF
employment and the consequent scarcity
of the wherewithal to provide the com
forts and necessities of life.
The greatest benefit we may confer al
this or any other time is to afford EN-
ployment whenever possible. The gen
eral employment of the people of any
community at fair wages is one of the
greatest blessings that can be bestowed
upon them, and the lack OF this is keenly
felt and very quickly, too.
There is, of course, necessity for dis
elimination and care in helping those
who are in Strengthened circumstances
for, as strange as it may be, there are
those able to help themselves who vii
without conjunction take money OF
food and clothing designed for those who
cannot help themselves, but it is un
doubtedly better to give in a few un
worthy cases than to withhold from all
for fear of being humbugged, and thus
fail to receive the blessing that accrue'
to the act of giving.
In our town we have charitable or
ganzation know as the Ladies Aid So
ciety, composed of ladies who are excep
tionally well qualified to relieve distress
so far as the means of their society q
and they will at any time gladly receive
contributions to enable them to extent
their benefactions.
The churches also work in this lin,
quietly and without ostentation and ther,
are other societies and organization
that Systematically render relief and ait
to the destitute
Yet there is opportunity for persona
work along this line and always will be
even in our rural communities.
The sc. C. c. C."-the short for Skow
hogan Cooking Club-have taken upol
themselves the very commendable pro
ject of providing Christmas dinners TO
destitute families and their efforts NEE
with generous response from many o
our citizens. This will carry satisfact
ion and happiness into these families TO
one day at least and is a movement il
the direction of practical Christianity ap
propriate to Christmas time, that mus
have good effect upon all concerned
the giver and the receiver.
Mr.. Stephen Blaisdell of Oakland