The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-12-26
CHRISTMAS.
From the Cotton Plant.

>NNNSiA 4 III
Blithely ring, o Christmas bells!
PeallnR over frozen dells,
stealing down where blossoms 6 .ay
In the Southland's sunny way
UNTO Western plains repeat.
ROW your message clear and sweet,
Blithely ring, o, Christmas bells
troubles fade, and comfort wells
High in every heart that feels
All your melody reveals"
Christmas is coming and we are
glad! Children talk confidently of Santa
Claus, of the letters they have written
nm, n now rest happily in the pro-
found faith that their good friend will
bring them, from his abundant store
house all that they have asked. Bows
and girls who have grown to be men
and women are busy making odds and
ends meet for the closing of the year
balancing accounts aud putting their
. houses" in many ways, in order that
the new year may not be made to bear
the burdens of the old.
Then there IS something subtle, I'M
~deilnable in the very air We know
not just what. CTS what we feel,
but cant define" 1t is not the voupo
alone who are glad. There are many
who have climbed the hill to the noon
1 summit and i'll their dial of lifc tho
hands point towards the evening. This
recurring Christmas season is full of
| memories; days long agone come troop
, ing before the mental vision like the
=. quickly changing pictures of a pano-
. rama. Faces of long ago are before us,
G ard we like to linger, for these REM
iniscenses arc pleasant.
Some of these friends have homes in
Instant places, where in their life work
they sought fame and fortune; for some
II OF them success has smiled and waved
her n Others have not Jared
u 50 well in this mountain climb where
There is no halt, for the brave ma,
nor the coward" YEARLY they arc
s. passing down on the sunset side.
III Others there were whom the boat
man pale summoned to the shores of
H. the silent river while it was yet morn.
d, lng-time. With a goodbye clasp of the
III hand, a smile on the lips and a light in
), the ldying eyes that told of beautiful
&c visions and sweet music beyond, fear
as lessly they entered the boat and crossed
to the other side. We missed them SC
and could not understand, but toniph
II 1t seems all right that they went before
do The Star of Bethlehem that shone 81
long ago shines again, and the Beauti
n full City across the river seems not 8,
"a Tar away. The soft touch of a vanished
y hand beckons us forward and tn,
- sound of a voice that is still come
ed floating unsteady over the waters, an,
lie we are gladl Through the crisp frost,
10 air we seem to hear, too, the voices O
M the Shepherds in alteration, Peace OF
he earth, good will towards men,, Du]
care is gone, and in spirit we celebrat
,re the blrth-night of Him who brough
peace into our hearts amid this tumul
adj OF life. We have learned the decpc
meaning of this blessed Christ-child.
80. - with a heart full OF good wishes 70
all, we fain would give tangible proof
and If the list of friends is longer tina
vas our purse strings, hen a problem
'th before US. Gifts of true love arc nc
-. measured by their value in muneyJ:
up line OF remembrance, a kindly wor
a spoken or written does double duty b
making glad the givor and the receiver
Tor after all it is Glove that reall
llghtens labor, making life not alone
NJ. place of duty and drudgcry, but a plac
OF preparation and of pleasant soiourI
en- until our work here is done.
eh we must not forget the sick, n
nj poor, the lonely, nor even they tina
It are in prison. a line directing thci
an thoughts upwards, now that they hav
IN leisure to think, may change the sin
ners life to a song of praise. Then W
IN must make the children happy TO
,rs them the illusion of Santa Claus ba
not been dispelled. They listen to hea
lie the sound of the reindeer's hoof ON tn
n roof, and their eyes open wide in Til
nope OF seeing the mysterious descen
ID OF the patron saint down the chimney
We ""Tisn't silk, that little stockin'.
Ana 1t ISM much for show:
And the darns are pretty plenty
Round about the heel and toe.
he And its color's kind Of faded,
he ana It's sorter worn and old,
But 1T really is surprisin'
o. What a lot of love twill hold.
IN And the little hand that hung it
IN by the chimbly there along,
Ihat Is mighty firm and strong:
," 80, old SANITY, don't fereit it,
-. Though it isn't fine and new.
I'd That plain, little wooden stockin'
IN llangin' up beside the lue.N
e. nv, "
es This is an unusual Christmas-the