The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-12-25
THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT.

is compressed in this sentence: ut is
more blessed to give than to receive. -
The man or woman who looks forward to
the Christmas season, asking only What
will / get" will never know the hcighth
and depth and breadth and length of the
JOY that comes to the truly generous
ing in this truth while to those who love
to make others happy it is one of the
sweetest of Gods promises, a promise
that is realized at the instant that the
generous deed is performed. There is no
waiting for the happiness; it comes with
the act
have busted themselves making and buy
ing Christmas presents for their friends,
with seldom a thought Of self Gentle
fingers have piled the needle early and
late to send a gift to some one loved so
dearly as to make the labor pleasure.
Many have practised self-denial to be
able to send something beautiful to- a
loved friend. The world is full of men,
women and children who have been
thoughtful to provide for the needs of the
invalid, the helpless, the poor. There has
to be. sure, grown up with this spirit Of
forgetfulness of self in some instances
spirit of gift swapping that is the coun-
terfeit of the unselfishness Of giving
but it is not nearly so widespread or so
calculating as pessimists would have us
believe. On the contrary, much that is
called swapping is in reality but the
interchange prompted by loving hearts,
and if the motive could be OWNED, would
be found to be of the purest.
The materialism and commercialism,
the chief evil which this age has
developed, have but touched the fringe of
f'the Christmas spirit. 1t has not disturbed
Santa Claus, and has had no effect upon
that revered person except to surround
him with an additional halo of glory and
nake him the dispenser of more costly
gifts than in the more primitive age when
two figures would express the value of
he Christmas presents. But rich and
poor alike. bow down to Santa Claus and
*invoke the cheer and happiness which
sand homes in every land and cline The
! universally of the faith in Santa Claus
shows how deeply rooted is the Christian
spirit and how generation after genera
ton, instead Of repudiating his sway, in
vest him with new powers until he seems
to be invested with every attribute Of
goodness and graciousness and gener-
osity.
The child is the centre of Christmas
as it finds it's origin in the birth of the
Christ child. No man or woman grows
too old to remember the thrill of pleas
ure in the anticipation of the coming of
the raindeer and the stocking filled by the
wonderful old man who made the air his
roads and the chimneys his means of
egress and ingress.
Things don't change much after all,
Men are only boys grown tall,
is strikingly true on Christmas day. The
fond father recalls his own youth in the
exuberance of spirits Of his son, and
grandparents and great grandparents feel
he
blowing of horns and are reused from
their SAUNDERS by the merry cry of
Christmas give' from the children.
There cannot be much pessimism or envy
in the mind and heart when the child
is made the centre of the affections.
The Christmas spirit has no boundary
lines that end in the home. 1t breaks
over all walls and embraces all in its
fellowship and good cheer. Beginning at
the home, where it is seen in the glow
that makes the cheerfulness depicted in
THE Cricket on the HEARTH it diffuses
itself in all walks of life. To the rich
and well-to-do it is evinced by glow of
happiness and content, making them feel
that it is in the generous heart and un-
selfish spirit rather than in the things
that money buys. To the poor, it is the
spirit of blessing and light, giving of the
sweetness of the happy heart and cheer
full mind with the comforts for the body.
1t is well on Christmas to help those who
need through benevolent organizations. 1t
is better for the giver to go into the
homes OF the poor carrying the Christmas
spirit with the Christmas gifts, showing
that ON the day of Christ's birth there
is spirit of oneness that makes the