The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-12-30
THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT.

The true Christmas spirit is the spirit
of Love-that broad Love that drives hu-
man selfshness out Of the heart and
makes all men conscious of the brother
hood Of man. 1t is best expressed by
Charles Dickens in these words:
81 have always thought Of Christmas
time. when it has come round, as a gooo
time-a kind, forgiving, charitable time;
the only time know of in the long
calendar Of the year when men ana "o-
| men seem. by one common consent, 70
omen their shut-up hearts freely and to
| think Of people below them as II they
| really were fellow-passengers TO the
| grave, and not another race OF creatures
| bound on another journey
| There seems 10 be no gulf fixed on
| Christmas day between the artificial par
riers that have been built up to separate
mankind. The man in his furs and the
! man in his plain clothes hurry along
animated by the same spirit Of carrying
| gladness and cheer into the lives OF
others. Who thinks of himself on Christ
| mas Gay IL liz NHih "'S -"
brought no other blessing, it We're worth
all it costs to get men out of themselves
even for a short while. The cares and
RESPONSIBILITIES of life consume SO much
time and thought, the disappointn1ents
and sorrows bow down the. hearts SO
sadly. the labor taxes the strength SO
sorely, and the problem Of bread eand
cheese and kisses engrosses so large a
norton of the energies and aims OF men,
that, without being sseifishly inclined
thew grow more ard more into themselves,
forgetting the great world Of their brotn-
ers about them. Suddenly they reflect
that Christmas draws near. Tne cares
and responsibilities and the burdens seem
to grow lighter and the mind goes bach
to the old home. the little trundlc ped
The loving mother, and the little stock
ING hanging by the fireside. AS tn
busy and care worn man walks or ride!
to his place OF business, he live
in The past and recalls the thrll
in his own heart on the far ava,
otiI - AAiS+ 1oiAA'
of bed, while it is yet dark, to fin
his stocking full to the brim and running
over! The weight Of the year
falls from him as he hears the echo of hi
own glad shouts of joy an
surprise as he empties the crowde'
f stocking, and sees the very things, 0
; better. that he had been want
ing for nearly a twelve month. AS tn
!, man recalls his own boyish Glee an
: happiness over the simple toys that cos
but a few pennies, he finds his hear
warming UP to all the world, and hi
) face beams with unwonted JOY as b
surprises himself by his merry greetin
Of an acquaintance with whom he Ia
: been exchanging formal good mornings
for a year. If only the costly things {
life, perhaps now in his reach, whic
pail upon him, could give onc-tenth tn
, Joy a poor toy gave in his boyhood, wins
: would he not give for the sensation
But, though he realizes that he came
2 ever again be in the seventh heaven
delight over a jumping jack or a sma
harp, the echo Of the years long pa
v has brought a sweet melody into h
y heart. and he finds life very sweet in Il
: contemplation Of the happiness and 10,
that he has not stopped to recouI
50 Under the Christmas spell, he surpris
D his acquaintance by his generous gift
IL not only to his family and friends, b
y also by his gifts to the poor and h
interest in the happiness of the childr
t. IN homes where poverty has denied t
le comforts Of life. as we'll as the go
things which are associated with though
IA CT Christmas.
h' Christmas is "a good timc-a kir
forgiving, charitable time" a time VIII
no men dispense their good things in Q kin
ng ly spirit, when they wish for their Ell