The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1904-12-24
The Empty Stocking


There picture in the Inland Printer that ought to
touch every soul that it to the quick.
1t is entitled ''The Empty Stocking
1t is picture of Christmas morning. little one in
her gown has jumped out Of her umbe bed eager to
what may be in the stockings They empty! The
picture shows the poor little kid face down upon her bed
in agony of grief Her hand holds of the empty stock
ings while the other hangs limp and lean upon the wall
No with heart in his bosom could look at the pic
ture without being seized with great pity.
Never in all her future life perhaps will that child
face that shall be Deep disappointment
as keen as this of Christmas morning
She has been forgotten.
She was so full of hopes the night before. She be-
eved that Santa Claus too good and too kind to pass
by little girl that tried to be good And with trust
ing spirit she hung up the little stockings waiting the gift
the dear old saint would bring her. Maybe somehow she
had to believe that Santa Claus poor but she
pected something!
1t is only little heart that grieve and sobs in dsap
pontment. But it is full to the brm with childish
Even when that heart is larger and older it will contain
it cannot contan-mOre sorrow.
Poor baby!
To be obliged to learn the piteous lessons of
gect and heartlessness. Nothing in all the future
hurt her than this Because when her little wounded
heart is older she will have learned to brace her soul
against the gres that There is shield between
the heart of child and it's first great sorrow!
You and I, who know the world is hard sometimes
know what it is to trust and be wreched to trust and fail
of hope and hope again The child knows such failure
and rising hopes.
Is it not pitiful that child should know the
grief of an empty stocking on Christmas day?
There will be thousands such if you and not in
qustive There are homes in this cty-in every city
where Hunger shows its face homes where there not
the few spare pennies that would buy single toy
And it takes so little to make happy little child.
Yes, yes.
1t may be that the parents lazy have bad habits
they only be unfortunate But that is not the fault
of the little children Why should they find only empty
stockings!
Ah you may not know-God keep you from knowing
how the children of the very poor the ownership
of some trfing thinga cheap doll a tin solder-some
thing to and call their very own!
Can you not your duty in this picture of 'The
Empty Stocking
And can you not see both duty and delight in doing.
There can be no joy like that Of knowing that in the
brightest day of all the year you have brought little
shine to the soul of little child You have been God and
Santa Claus
All Of want beautiful souls within us. If we have
made any invoice of this mortal life have know
how vastly beautiful spirit than handsome face
or form. How can you make your soul more handsome
than to minister to these little bringing happiness
for day-and maybe for fetime-to the aching heart
of childhood!
Oh, it is pitful-
Pful that in this land of plenty and in these days of
wealth there should be anywhere the empty stocking of
longing child
How will you dare in your comfort and luxury after
filling the stockings of your own-how will you dare to
put upon the wounded soul of little child such scarf
nnIIarc mr. Man