New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-31
HOLIDAY-TIME THOUGHTS.
COMFORT FOR OWNERS OF VACANT
CHAIRS AND EMPTY CRADLES.
HOW HUNGRY LITTLE BOY ILLUSTRATED THE
TRUE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS WITH

instead Of happiness. the sense Of loss Instead or
gain. There are many empty chairs to-day, and
alas. sadder still empty cradles that cannot fall to
bring 10 mind the sweet presence OF the loved and
lost.
Many a soldier boy sleeps his last sleep away un-
der the sunny Southern skies. while the mother
"weeps and will not be comforted because he Is
not" All My friend. do you not know that there
is Comforter who has ''trodden the winepress
alone? And the very One who came 10 bless
the earth nearly nineteen hundred years ago? Yes.
He walked alone. but We need never feel such
isolation. for have ever present with US a
Helper.
We may not forget others because We have the
heartache. no, We must strive all the harder 20
make those about us happy. for 1t is thus that we
shall be comfored ourselves. There Is no panacea
for sorrow equal work. all-engrossng work
something that will and must take the mind from
self and sorrow and rest 1t upon other things. NO
matter how deep the hurt in the heart how great
the loss from the home, still must rise above 1t
and think for others.
y count 1t truth with him who sings
That men may rise on stepping-stones
OF their dead selves to higher things
Then as Christ who is the spirit OF the Christ
mas gave Himself for others. forgetting self and
all worldly interests. may do the same.
STORY OF THE POOR LITTLE BOY.
Giving means more than the giving OF gifts
Material. II have these to give, well ana gooo'
and there are very few who poor that they
cannot give something II you think you are too
poor then here is story ! read few days ago
OF a boy a poor little city waif. who had rescued
from the gutter three apples that had rolled from
a plethoric package carried by prosperous SHOP
per These apples seemed like a godsend TO the
little fellow who had had no dinner and VINO saw
no supper in prospect. But he had hardly wiped
the dirt from them whel q CO pie OF gaunt little
fellows came up and after little chatting. he
gave each Of them an apple. Then 10 really en-
tov his own share OF the feast ne determined TO
20 into the railroad station and eat his own and
warm himself by the genial fire. But as ne was
about to enter he came across poorer boy than
those before encountered. one who had been 'nred
as he expressed it, from the waiting-room He
was hungry he had had dinner and no sup
per- and allowed that ne wasn't sure about the
breakfast but with a heroism engendered only by
hard circumstances he bore all this with good
nature saying that he had got pretty warm be-
fore the attendant had shut him out into the cold
, The first little fellow was struggling within him
SELF ana gained victory greater than ala
Dewey Manila He gave the last apple 10 this
hungry lad and said: Here's Christmas present
for ye" and walked away though food was Of
no consequence whatever. and giving an everyday
occurrence.
SO say to you who think you 100 poor 70
give. think OF this little man who Sc all he had
and that. too when hungry beyonc anything we
have ever known OF dreamed He probably had
never had a full meal in his life. say. give and
give freely. The Book means exactly what 1t says
when II SAYS 1T is more blessed 10 give than TO
receive" But think there Is 80 discrimination
in giving We not 70 gi' = Sc VINO
are better off than are We are NOT 20 give 10
those weather things that VII iniD ish our
purses so we have nothing left for Aritv. We
are first Of all make our own home folk happy
and then outside We are TO make "a nIch happi-
ness as We possibly can THE poor We nave al
WAYS with YOU" the Book says. and this fact OF
the every-dayness Of the poor sometimes makes us
callous-a caousness We have no right 10 reel
We are commanded 10 give. JUST as surely as We
ara commanded not steal, but We forget the
new commandments In trying TO keep the old we
forget the true spirit OF OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
in the letter Of keeping the law.
Tot us not overlook these things but let us re-
member that He who gave His own lie Tor US
has a right 70 expect give Of the richness
u.b,cb He has bestowed upon us We need not
fear we shall give too much. the giving is zone
IN his sprit for shall He who has given us
His own Son with Him freely give US all things I!
This is not mere figure OF speech: II Is an aoso
Int truth and which We may prove II we
u,sr. NOT so half-hearted in acceptance OF the
greatest gift OF all
Let us give the kindly word; let US not forget
,he smile that means a great deal 10 some one,
rnaybe most OF ali TO our own VINO nave seen Us
sorrow as one who would not and coulo NOT De
oo-,fo-,sd because Of the loss OF some loved one
Tecause We have lost one, shall we forget those
who are left 70 us7 We can do nothing for those
who have passed into the great unknown. and
who are now testing the great "verties OF life"
Rut for those whom have yet 10 care for we
can do much, and the best thing we can 90 IS 10
Mt ourselves from our sorrow. and seek the sun
shine Of the love that is left us and as far as mat
goes II IS all left for love never dies. and never
die. Take this thought 10 your hear'' so''o"-
Ing one ano be satisfied
Lei all who are sad take heart again.
We not alone in our hours or pain.
our Father stoops from His throne above
He leaves US no, when the storm is high.
And we b hay tTo safs Which fo6 He He d Is hare
Oh rest in peace for the Lord does care
know person who has held the above words
to an aching heart. and found comfort in the
thought portrayed. We are not left comfortless or
deeolate for 'the Lord does care
AID. again here is al other drop of comfort and
love for your cup Of bitterness:
/ child of my love. lean hard.
And LEI feel tire pressure OF my care
ny burden for fa nd nsGe t. f.; weigh,
And when laid 1t on thy shrinking form
/ said. Il shall be near and while thou leanest
This burden shall be nine. not thine
snail keep wih ioy my gIch Iav ar'" down
SoT fear to weary Him who made. upholds
And guides the universe.
Yet closer come ~
Thou ar, not near enough. Thy care. thysen
| Law both on me, that may feel my chhd
Reposng my heart
Thou lowest me-
I doubt II not Then loving me lean hard
,,.u,cb 6 D i ROSE SEE ssEEsLYE-MILLER
AN HONOR FOR MISS LAWRENCE.
Tn. Secretary of the Navy has selected Miss
pu.b Iewrence OF No. 2s5 Lexing ton-ate. TO
chri stem ahe torpedo-boat destroyer Lawrence IT
| Ga h.,np built AZ Weymouth Mass. The selection