The Forrest City times., 1901-12-20
CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS *

THOUGhTS* We strive to let it's overflow touch hearts and places where joy and abundance are unknown.
 It takes possession of us, this recurring revelation of what the great birthday means Mothers, filling the stockings of their little ones beside the nursery fires, remember bare, half-frozen feet uncovered in the wintry snows, and seeing the jolly, rosy faces over flowing with delight in the light of Christ mas morning, they are glad that little grimy and .hunger-pinched children, un- known to them, are somewhere in distant quarters receiving some joy of their giving, sent by faithful hands. For this one day they have a sisterly realization of what 1t means to see a child suffer and be power less to relieve.
 The man of fashion and of the world, hap pening to catch a glimpse of tattered shoe black staring into bright shop, or a group of dirty newsboys fighting for bits of ever green dropped at church door, will feel a sudden impulse to join the workers at public Christmas tree, and for those hours will give out the charm which wins him fla vor at many a stately home, in order to give zest to the merriment of the worthy gather ing m some great hall. Something tugs at his heart, a half-formed thought awakens in his mind: Il really must do something for these poor little mites daresay few dol lars, now and then, would do a great deal for them, when Christmas IS over. The struggling embryo of brotherhood in his heart Is nearly strong enough to live, but the environment of tomorrow will stlfie It. It Is good to think, says the New York Evening Post, of the joy of the fair outside show of the holiday; all the glitter and brightness of hospitable tables with dear ones gathered, old and young, about them; 1t Is pleasant to think of the jolly schoolboy and the gentle grandmother side by side. It warns and cheers to feel the cordial handshake of a friend or receive a greeting of remembrance across the dividing sea- It rouses dear memories and touches sealed fountains to hear the old melodies familiar since childhood and ever new, as true things always are It is like reviving wine to one that Is weary to find, though absent, we are not forgotten.
 But above this rises the ennobling infu- ence which overleaps barriers and demarea tions and reaches out a generous, uplift- ing hand to those who are bound down by the hard fortune of a degraded life The spirit of Christmas is the spirit of the uni versa brotherhood of the race. It may seem a small thing for rich man to send his poor neighbor dinner, but 1t blesses twice; he that gives and he that takes Is blessed. Even though the giver's thoughts rose no higher than that he would divide his overabundance with the hungry, his unconscious act has taken first step to ac- knowledging his brothers claim Share with me is the unspoken meaning of his gift. 'I cannot be comfortable alone in my wealth We are of the same race, begotten by the same Divine Father; it is our Elder Brothers birthday. Let us keep the feast. " Christina Rosetti, whose fervent heart is like a warming flame to colder ones, sings this tender song:
 Love came down a Christina
 Love all lovely, Love Divine;
 Love was born at Christmas,
 Stars and Angels gave the Sign.
 Love shall be our token,
 Love be yours and love be mine,
 Love to God and all men,
 Love for gift and plea and Sign.
 Many a custom, firm through centuries of use, may de out; full many thing men once revered may be covered out of sight by the dust of the earth; but the more humanity seeks the welfare and the uplift- ing of man, the more true and loyal will be the honor we give to Christmas Day.
 1A