The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-12-22
A Plea for Simplicity OF Christmas

Il isn't often woman S gwen an 80
portunity of saying her say SAc o:f a
makes All opportunity grant you. tut
when a man III cold blood asks a aa1l >
opinion on any subject-Why show
that men are trying - Do bett1r. So-
when you request my views on Nlsas
customs l make ii once ny tow % the
editor who l. the nrs, n.au .n the State
70 come out publicly. many 10 .t pr.
VateIy) and say Let lis consult the Wo
men about IL" fastening 10 my subject.
| say with such emphas,~ and forCc As
can Let u celebrate Nmas with more
simplicity" Magazines and preachers ring
the changes fer simplicity at weddings
and funerals. / would plead Tor ! more
simple Christmas Christina shopping
mas been carried to such an excess in the
purchase OF presents without number
hat when the shops close II Christm i
Eve fail down TO worship not tho
Lord of the Universe but a Christmas
/ gilt. and the shop girl exhausted. know,
/ no better way or celebrating the day
than by giving herself to perfect rest
and quiet. The everlasting dIn and tac
crowded shop have wcllngh cost her
her life.
are not the characters of our chnlreu
too injured by this excess OF git making :
Not a few children who have popular
parents or are popular themselves. re-
ceive many gifts at this time thas
they pail on them. They grow up with
extravagant ideas. thinking everything
| comes easy. They are made selfish posi-
| bly, conceited-and certainly no happier.
| honor the mother, who studies the Wet
fare Of her child SO unsclhshly that she
requests all friends to make her no gift,
at Christmas. She values character more
than gifts. Frequently you see bunch
OF children on Christmas day actually
| counting presents, thereby creating or
rather developing pride and envy II
Christmas is to teach Us any le>son-It IS
humility. And there is no humility either
III giving or receiving many handsome
gifts at this season. The Puritan kept
Christmas day as a simple religious 90.
servance. They looked with horror o.
any merry making at this time We're
they not nearer right than Me2 Ought
it not to be kept hoIy-and the presents
or gifts be to the poor-rather than SO
many to the rich? ] do mt mean 81
neglect the rich altogether Oftentmca
think their hearts ache as sorcly a
those of the pcor for token Of sincere
love. But il | read the rich Alright they
d. not wish gifts from shops. They doubt
less guess more often than you think, thal
these are Polonius gifts. Have they not
Their heart-aches as well as the poor.
There are some things not to be bought
with money You have that priceless
gift-share it with your poor rich friend
mean that sunshine and happiness ii
your heart which viii radiate a li2at
that will dispel the gloom that shadows
many of the millionaire homes Scn1
your monied gifts to the poor who have
not even life's comforts. Send your rcf
friend-not something from the shop
but from your hearts riches telling thcn
Of real love and sympathy that mako.
YOU wish to help them bear that burden
which God gives as lie does the ran
and sunshine-to rich and poor alike.
So much for grown ups Now for thr
children When / plead for sympathy
do not wish to detract one thing frou
the halo and glory that surrounds Sants
Claus. Let him come down the chimney
as he has always done. | pity with n
my heart the child who has no chmncl
with open fireplace for Santa CIaus-au
has to receive its gifts from a tree. Th'
tree is artificial and shows clearly tia
it is the work of man. You take iron
your child that you can never give j
back-when you do not surround Santa
Claus with all mystery-and Do not reas
to him until he knows by hcart-''T
the night before Christmas. But do no
let old (SainD Nick injure your child
character by unloading 100 many gut
into his little stockings A few VIZ
chosen presents VIII make the little one
happier and better
MRS s. H. WINSTON.