The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-12-15


When we apply to it the scriptural in
junction .Itis better to give than to re-
ceive, Christmas offers us an opportunity
to show those we love that we have not
forgotten them 1t is pretty custom to
have day fixed when we may give this
outward vent to our feelings. When an
noyed we may, nay, often do, say cruel
things during year; but We are all too apt
to hide our fonder sentiments-except du-
ring courtship.
The custom per Sc is beautiful; but ii IS
carried to such excess at times that it be-
comes a burden Every man presents
should be regulated by both his pocket and
his heart 1t is nothing less than absurd
to feel an obligation to incur expenses that
one cannot afford This is unjust to the
recipient, and nothing short of criminal on
the part of the giver.
1t is not the present alone that is valued,
but the feeling that prompted it. Nobody
can make gifts to every casual acquaint-
ance The line must be drawn somewhere,
and my idea is that it should be drawn as
close to the family hearthstone as possible
Some intimate friends must be remem-
bered but never at the expense of the
bestowed ones at home, or, for that mat
ter the loved ones that may be ever so
far away. do not think that any sensi-
Bile person feels hurt because he has not
received presents from friends. or because
presents that were sent cost comparatively
little. Those who weigh the value of
gift are mercenary beings whose hearts do
not respond with sincerity.
| enjoy being able to celebrate Christ
mas as Dickens liked to have it; and if
with such enjoyment others are made cor
respondingly happy, then indeed is my cup
of bliss filled to overfowing.
Mrs Elizabeth B. Grannis. President ofthe National
Christian League, and Editor of THE Church
Union"
have given this matter of Christmas
presents my attention for twenty -one
years,-not only once year for twenty
one years, but continually and steadily the
year round The moment one Christmas
has passed l begin to lay my plans for the
next one | believe | give from hun
dred and seventy-fve to two hundred
Christmas presents every year. | give to
everyone; from my best friend, to persons
in the most humble positions. give to
my foreman, my workmen, my clerks, my
servants. everyone.
I'm not saying this now TO attract ad
miration. | do not even want to set an
example, unless my example be followed
in the right way,-unless the presents be
given with the proper sentiment.
To me, Christmas tide has always been
the sweetest part of the, year, especially
because it is the time when gifts are ex-
changed. don want to see the custom
abandoned Who that sees the child hang
up its stocking on Christmas Eve and 90
to sleep secure in the knowledge that Santa
Claus will come down the chimney during
the night and fill that stocking full of good
things, can think of suppressing the dear
old white haired myth ?
Now we are all children at Christmas
time, no matter how far we are beyond the
time when we discovered the real Santa
Claus. Figuratively, We all hang up our
stockings at Christmas, and we like to find
them filled in the morning, too.
Now comes the question, What should
Santa Claus put into our stockings? The
truth is. we don't much care what
it is, so long as it something The child
doesn' care,-how could he? We, the
older children, don't care,-why should
We?
The thing is to give always with view
to the usefulness of the gift If want
to give boy book, consider what book
will most please him, be most useful to him,
now and always.
BY all means let us make Christmas
gifts; let us give to everyone. If it only
a scrap of writing. let Santa Claus be al
ways on hand But give with common
sense, give reasonably, give because you
love to give, give no more than you can
afford Away | say, with the fashion
able functions and ceremonies which make
gifts that suggest having cost money; and
let us all give with the simplicity of Santa
Claus himself smiling as though giving to
the children