The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-25
THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT.

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 good
time-a kind, forgiving, charitable time;
the only time / know of in the long
calendar of the year when men and wo-
men seem, by one common consent, to
open their shut-up hearts freely and to
think of people below them as if they
really were fellow-p passengers to the
grave, and not another race of creatures
bound on another journey"
There seems to be no gulf fixed on
Christmas day between the artificial bar
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 day? If the yearly day of joy
brought no other blessing, it were 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 disappointments
and sorrows bow down the hearts SO
sadly, the labor taxes the strength so
sorely, and the problem of bread and
cheese and kisses engrosses so large
portion of the energies and aims of men,
they grow more and more into themselves,
forgetting the great world of their broth
ers about them. Suddenly they reflect
that Christmas draws near. The cares
and responsibilities and the burdens seem
to grow lighter and the mind gees back
to the old home. the little trundle bed,
the loving mother, and the little stock
ing hanging by the fireside. AS the
busy and care worn man walks or rides
to his place OF business, he lives
in the past and recalls the thrill
in his own heart on the far away
of bed, while it is yet dark, to find
his stocking full to the brim and running
over, The weight of the years
falls from him AS he hears the echo of his
own glad shouts of JOY and
as he empties the crowded
stocking, and sees the very things, or
better, that he had been want
ing for nearly a twelve month. AS the
man recalls his own boyish glee and
but a few pennies, he finds his heart
warming up to all the world, and his
face beams with unwonted joy as he
himself by his merry greeting
of an acquaintance with whom he has
been exchanging formal good mornings
for year. If only the costly things of
life, perhaps now in his reach, which
Fall upon him, could give one-tenth the
Joy a poor toy gave in his boyhood, what
But. though he realizes that he cannot
ever again be in the seventh heaven of
delight over jumping Jack or a small
harp, the echo of the years long past
has brought sweet melody into his
heart, ard he finds life very sweet in the
of the happiness and joys
that he has not stopped to recount
Under the Christmas spell, he surprises
his acquaintance by his generous gifts,
also by his gifts to the poor and his
interest in the happiness of the children
in homes where poverty has denied the
comforts of life. as we'll as the good
things which are associated with thoughts
of Christmas.
Christmas is "a good time-a kind,
forgiving charitable time" time when
men dispense their good things in a kind
ly spirit, when they wish for their enc
mics, if they have any, joy, and would
love to contribute to their happiness.
Better than generous giving, it is time
when men and women seem, by one
common consent, to open their shut-up
hearts freely and to think of people be-
low them as if they really were fellow
passengers to the grave, and not another
race of creatures bound on another
journey" In this respect, there are some
how few-who possess the
Christmas spirit srom yeAr to year,
gladdening every day the hearts of their
fellows. But most of us-God forgive us!
in the rush of life and the pursuit of
its emoluments Or honors. do not show
a realization of our faith in the brother
hood of man until the vision of the
empty stocking, hanging in the howell
and in the mansion, makes all hearts
beat IN unison.
On this glad day let us, one and all,
cultivate this broad Christmas spirit
the spirit which came into the world
when the Christ child was born. The
star that stood over Bethlehem gives
cheerful brightness to every home where
the Christian spirit reigns today. AS