The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-12-20

oncc. the face of child, when at a
charitable Christmas tree dull. DARK
,yoollen dress had been gwen TO her she
needed H. of course. ana IL unoouDleuN
was generous to give IT 10 her' out lhe
drcee MIGHT have been bright and with
n there could have been bit OF folly.
"A toy. a box of sweets. or a DOCK lull
of cav mixtures. All the year round the
ants work for the necessarics OF lie.
IYPOCRITES OF CHILDREN.
when YOU are generous 70 them let
them know its pleasures taste. Pure
folly is good-good for evefybody-and the
folly of the Christmastidc makes us
voune again. When we give 10 some
body who win really enjoy il the smarily
dressed dolk the wonderful gct-up OF the
shoulders or the ship that VIII SAL all
around a wash-tub and back again. wen,
IL may he folly-stockings and rubber
shoes and undershirts are more senai-
bic. perhaps. but somehow they arc not
Christmas gifts What a hypocrite
little child must have become when be cap
he thankful N Christmas time FOR "a use
fol present, Too many OF the so-called
charitable Institutions make hypocrites OF
children. Fancy giving boy who had
looked forward 10 a pair of skates. or a
bicycle. or something that was intensely
bovish in its possibilities. a dullv-bOund
ftliit. U~t ilt tVAAN iA'''' - hifN+N'
verses from the old Testament ! should
fear thot hey. | should conclude that ne
would be so ccuvcisant with some or
the vengeance expressed by the great
soldiers e the old time those soldiers
who Numbered fIrth their belief in
revenccful Cod. that he would live up
20 some of the verses he had learned.
One verse IS enough for any of us-but
how few Of us explain in ourselves all its
fNrf Wa a
think of the last part of II just now.
You know the verse | mean Thou
shalt love the Lord thy God with all
thy heart. and thy neighbor as myself
Your neighbors are all around YOU now.
They are the poor. hard-working ants.
and a gift 10 each one means for you
tho being a happier man or woman ana
the certainty OF Merry Christmas"
Give. and give. and give Of your plenty
10 those who have but little Teach your
little children to be really generous not
to give In a Condcsccnding way.
not To give in a patrOnzng way. bur
10 give as God gave that first Christmas
GIFT. That Christmas GIFT that came
with goodwill 20 an tho world Not
Just 10 the kings and princes and TO
the rich OF the earth. but TO
those who were in iOWly places. ana who
were Gods own peoDle-thc poor. How
can the angels sing their song of happi-
ness when they look dowa on the world
so mean and 50 fun OF selhshness? Make
II easier for them my friend. Give so
loyfuliy and SO merrily. and so certainly
ic those who need gifts. that like the
quiet beasts In the stable there VIII come
90 Won. ae in q dream the sound of the
melody that first echoed through the
World 30 intls hundred years ago.
GLAD WHEN You GIVE.
You can DO so happy when YOU are gem
crous. You can be 80 glad when Won give
and give freely And you need not be
rich. my friend. to do this. What seems
so little 20 you becomes so much 10
somebody who is poorer than you. No
one ever gave with a free heart who did
not receive a great gift in return II
may he long coming. You may not know
n when II does come, But oftcnest II
takes the form OF quiet pleasure that
pervadcs your whole soul. That is the
blessing OF God resting upon you. The
recipient OF your gift may forget. but
God never does His thanks stand for
ever. and are written opposite your name
la the great Life-Book. How can you