The record-union., 1898-12-23
OF HOLIDAY PRESENTS.

AT this season the mind is concerned
about those annual souvenirs Of af-
fection and regard which testify to our
thoughtfulness for our friends, and
those especially who are bound to us
more firmly than by hooks of steel.
We take genuine pleasure in holiday
giving not because it is the custom, or
is expected, but because of the sincerity
Of the affection or regard which
prompts the sacrifice for ones friend,
and because the season affords the spe-
cial opportunity of making it joyously
manifest
If there Is no pleasure in giving the
performance of the act is mockery and
the prostitution of an Office that ought
to be regarded as holy. But every gift
should be a sacrifice, a sweet and COM
pensating Offering upon the altar of
unselfshness. If there is nothing sac
rificed there is no true giving. But 1t
is not necessary that the sacrifice
should become a burden and a punish
ment. He or she who sacrifices to the
extent Of crippling him or herself fl
nancially, does both giver and recipi-
ent grievous wrong, and robs the
performance of whatever of love, SYM
pathy, generosity and regard 1t should
possess.
The truth is that the dearest, most
precious souvenir of the season is
that which represents something of the
personal art, labor or skill Of the giver,
wholly regardless Of it's cost. Thus the
veriest trifie in value may become a
priceless treasure in the heart of the
recipient The love, affection, regard,
gratitude that is stitched. woven, ham
mered or fashioned into the gift by the
hand and skill of the giver, becomes
part and parcel of himself or her
self. and as such the recipient receives
IT. He or she then possesses a part
OF the being, represented by energy,
toll. patience or skill of the donor. and
hence the Offering becomes one of the
household gods.
But 1t is not given to all to make
such gifts. 1t is impossible for the
many to embody in their tribute
something of their own being and per-
sonality. Such must tax their wits and
tastes therefore to select from the work
of others and this is the most difficult
of all tasks of the holy season. Prob
ably every one has experienced this
difficulty and has suffered no little,
but for the most part pleasurably suf-
fered, in choosing. Weary, uncertain
hours have been spent in wavering
doubt and indecision, in vacillating be-
tween choices. in fruitless endeavor to
settle upon just the thing that will
please recipient and giver alike, and
even after choice has been made
how much Of doubt and fear attends
as to the fitness Of the article. But all
this is one of the sweet penalties of
the season of good will
One of the hardest problems in gift
giving is to pass upon the gifts for
those who are most dearly and nearly
related. The husband feels, despite
the most chivalrous and manly effort
TO cast it from him, that if he gives
to Wife or child that which in the
household will be Of general utility and
usefulness, he is evading a duty, since
the necessary article he should supply
In any event Yet he wisely abhors
the giving of useless thing Such.
therefore, naturally turn to articles OF
purely personal use for the wife or
child.
So, too, the wife is more or less
troubled in her soul if she supplies
by way of gift that to her husband or
child which wifely and motherly duty
and love should prompt her to provide
regardless of the season. She, too.
therefore. struggles with the solution
of a problem, which resolves itself
finally into settlement 30 often upon
articles Of personal adornment.
Yet, as a matter of fact, these are
often the gifts OF all others which are
least appropriate. We are undone by
unworthy fears on this point and so
led into extravagances which often can
be i'll afforded, or waste our means in
objects which have no practical util-
ity. We must convince ourselves that
1t is the act, not the article which en-
shrineS the tribute. The better giving
then is that which is of practical
use not only to the recipient, but in
which others of the home may also
have loving copartnership use, with
out title Of ownership.
Costliness in no wise enhances the
value of the true gift of the good will
and peace season. He or she who flat
tens the purse and robs necessity of
its due to crafty vanity for large CIV
ing, sins against himself and his loved
one or his friend. To keep our giving
within our means is the high virtue of
all giving. To give beyond our means
Is to offend ourselves, rob the Offering