The herald., 1897-12-26
clothes-and there is still another kind
of Merry Christmas for you.

OF a merry christmas LOT you.
\ + \
These are three of the three hundred
and fifty cases. Each, as has been said.
has been investigated each proven to be
worthy Of human charity, if not of SYM
pathy and loving Kindness. In each
case one thing after another has been
sold as long as there was anything to
sell, and every effort seems to have been
made by all to help themselves as long
and as far as they could. But illness.
hunger and desolation are ak there, and
the resources have come to an end.
Yet, strange as it may seem, these peo-
pie are not bitter, they are not soured
they do not groan and wall, and utter
mprecations-nor do they blapsheme.
They do not question if there is God,
as richer men do when the market goes
the wrong way in one of their deals. The
women do not show the resentment that
a society dame visits on her modiste
when her dress is sent home and proves
g msfit.
They do not even sit and dejectedly
hang their heads and wear the express
sion of dogged apathy that their bet
ters" show when any of their frivolous
.
They are all hoping for better days. for
work, for health, with mistaken and
unshakable faith in their God and in
the Son whose birthday anniversary
they cannot hope to celebrate in the CIV
ing or receiving of presents, nor in any
way, unless it should be that by some
special dispensation they might per-
chance be able to enjoy square meal.
\ 4 +
And this giving and receiving of pres
ents. Has it occurred to those people
who have been buying presents for this
past week or month, how, by saving q
little on this or eliminating that which
is not vitality necessary from the list
a whole family, one Of those three hun
dred and fifty, might be kept in potatoes
for whole month? How, by giving
Johnny or Susie one less expensive me-
chanical toy, a bag Of flour might be
sent to somebody who is in the dires
need for bread?
Might it not be possible to spend G
little less on luxurious gifts when those
that cost less would answer ever pur.
pose. that a worthy family might re
ceive the unusual benefit and nourish
protracted diet of bread and potatoes
Could it be any less valuable an expe
rence to man or woman to invest til,
same amount of money that {
silver or cut-glass trifle for tn
dressing case would cost in help
ing a worthy family to keep tn
roof over their heads? And would tn,
desultory thanks that would follow tn
= -,
keen joy and satisfaction to the dono
as would be his at realizing the graft
tude and the ecstacy of relief that
months rent would confer on some of tn
unfortunate poor?
Probably quite one-half Of the Christ
mas presents that are given are no
needed by the recipient. Many of ther
are put in a drawer or on a table, en-
joyed in a way for time. and then for
gotten. Surely the same money spen
in housing or feeding the destitute coul
not be more nearly wasted and throw
away.
Not but what Christmas gifts are dc
lightful things, and no one would
away with the agreeable custom. Pei
ish the thought But there are gifts an
gifts. There are family gifts, and friend
ly gifts, and policy gifts. All charmln
to give, and as charming to receive. Bu
there are some that might through ne
cessity be omitted. and there are fe'
that would not convey the same though
and sentiment if they cost less. 1t
by using such discrimination that ther
would be money left for rent, food an
clothing for Gods poor.
4
1t is In such ways, first by remember
ing the unfortunate ones, then by hum
ing them up-and they are so easy I
Finland lastly by economizing if nee
be, to reach out a hand-with somethin
in it-of good fellowship to them. {
e course those who have Succeeded" {
a the saying goes those who can afford
give freely to whom and to as many
they please-to such the privilege
IS helping the unfortunate is an ever,
day matter and Christmas is simply 6
opportunity for more lavishness in nun
ber and cost of the gifts.
Is But to the vast majority 1t means
r striving for months, an economy in nun
% berless ways, to make the contents
e the purse cover the list, and for th
e reason it is vitally essential that all II
e unimportant and unnecessary iten
n should be struck off and added ca
/, taken in making the selection Of eat
e one If the poor, who can make no r
e turns, are to be remembered.
v But the poor are always with us,
i some irreverent wit has said, and ther
e fore, if this Christmas has come al
s gone without the thought that shou
l. have been given them, there are 9th
weeks and other months when a fe
Z. cents saved here and a. dollar saw,
there will do just that much iowa