Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1898-12-16
The Christmas Spirit.

pTlGCipIeS IS somewhat CullouSl
illustrated at the Christmas sea
| son when many thousands c
people who do not profess Chris
tianity nor ordinarily practic
its teachings are moved as b,
common impulse to protiot
"psacc on earth, good will t.
men" II is possibly nothing
more than the coutagion Of eX
ample due to the secular observ
ance of the Christmas holiday
but for some reason at this sea
son of the year hardened nature:
are softened, and men net aC
customed to giving lay aside tol
the moment their selfish dlspo'
sitions and try to make some
one else happy.
The story OF the transtorlna
tion wrought by the Christmas
season is nowhere better told
.au ii a Christmas cdI,l by
hR-les Dickens 1t IS an ex>
ceilent story to have read in the
family circle at this season OF
the year, for although it may be
familiar, it is ever fresh and en-
| l3yable. The character OF
Scrooge as depicted in the be-
ginning may be a little eXager-
ated, but it is nevertheless typi
cal, and the method whereby he
is transformed may also be some
what fanciful, but such transfers
nations, nevertheless takes place
at the Christmas sason, and more
of them would occur if the
Scrooges of today could be TAX
en- around and see the joys Of the
Chris scmas holiday season.
Nearly all he readers of the
Headlight. we may suppose,
have family reunions on Christ>
ms day and 90 not need to go
away from their homes to taste
the joys of Christmas, but they
should give some thought to the
friends and acquaintanCes who
may be far away from home
alone on Christmas day, and
who would be glad to join in
the festivities OF the season.
There are not only the poor to
be cheered and helped, but those
who need nothing more than All
opportunity to join in making
others happy. They are not
Sc.ooges, but they have dropped
out Of social life and feel their
isolation keenly al Christmas
time, when all the rest of the
world is making merry and they
alone seem to be shut out from
participation in the pleasures of
the season. 1t is a Christmas
duty to help these as we'll as the
poor to the joys which come in>
to the world when selhshness is
set aside and men unite to make
others happy.
Gift, giving at Christmas is or
ought to be nothing more than
a manifestation Of the Christmas
spirit. which is unselish, seeks
only to make others happy. Ev-
eryone who has been moved by
this spirit has realized the truth
of the saying that it is "more
blessed to give than to receive
Cynics may affect to find some
thing selfish in the desire to OBJ
tain enjoyment through making
others happy, but the world will
not suffer from that form OF sci.
hshness. Nor as d matter of fact
does the kindly man or woman
think Of self in prepari g to
pleasantly surprise relatives and
friends on Christmas morning.
The sole thought III his or her
mind is the pleasure that may
be given, and that makes all the
greater the pleasure he or she
enjoys.
Christmas, however, is not to
be enjoyed through the follows
ing Of any set rules. One must
enter into the spirit OF the sea
son to participate in its joys
The best preparation is the
reading OF the Christmas carol.
That breathes the true spirit
which is founded upon kindness
of heart and an unselfsh desire
to promote the happiness OF
others. v neither ones gifts be
large or small. few, or many, If
they are inspired by the right.
spirit they will brlrg blessings
upon giver and receiver and
leave in the minds of both
pleasant memory Of the Ch1ist>
mas season.
A merry, marry Christmas to
one and all, with many returns
of the day!
Pains in the chest when a per>
son has a cold indicate tens