The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-12-22

IERms: Six Months 80 cents &C "''
say there'is many mother or wife or
relative who would esteem letter
from one of theirs of greater Joy than
the costliest gifts that could be laid at
their feet. Have we such loved one
somewhere? Then let us make heart
glad,-two hearts including our own
and pen message of love to those
who we think have forgotten us, but
who, 1 dare say are waiting for Just that
letter. To us it may mean more than
happiness and peace. 1t may prove to
be the turning point in our lives.
Another way to be happy and par
take of the merry spirit of Christmas
is to remove from our hearts that old
hatred for some one which has made
us veritable slaves to sullenness and
sourness. In its place let us put a
little kind feeling for fellow man; if
possible for the one who has been the
object of hatred. We may not think
so, but such action will cause happiness.
And real, sterling happiness at that.
Now, let us finally look to the joys
of others at this time. We can gain
good share Of Joy for ourselves by
doing that. Consider how many thou
sands of young ones are happy today;
how many older ones are partaking of
this universal Love. Think of the
prosperity of our country; the abund-
ant harvests; the remarkable progress
in business, in art, in society. Where
there is sin and vice and want
and war, let us hope and pray for i'm
provement; for the love that shall
place happiness in its place ere anoth-
or year rolls its days nearer eternity.
Let us be with those in spirit on
whose hearth the fire has gone out;
with the poor in distress whose festive
board is bare. Indeed, we have so
much to be thankful for, to feel hap
py about, that we can hardly realize it
all. There is many man outside who
never thinks of ways of being SUI
premely happy. His time is claimed
by the press of business. In this, at
} least, we are at an advantage. We can
think and think deeply on these things,
and when we 60 forth from here, we
, can have in our experience thorough
; knowledge of the art of making others
happy, of bringing good will and peace
J and joy to such as there are who think
! it is not for them. Many of us will no
} doubt be remembered by the loved
, ones at home. Their hearts may feel
the solitude of our absence and the
loss of our companionship. We can
l make their burdens lighter by comfort
t ing them in our only way; by giving
| them words and messages of encour-
agement and pointing them to Hope,
!, our greatest reliance. To a great
t many men this Christmas time will be
y nothing more than an excuse for a
f general carousal. 1t may be that it
Q would have been so in the case of
l many of us here today. We can see
the folly and uselessness of such
s course. 1t ought ever to be lesson for
n the future. The highest and purest of
Q thoughts should inhabit our minds at
!. such time as this Let us therefore
t, make the most of our situation in
i this regard. May we look at the
IS Christmas season as season of forgive
d ness, a season of inspiring joy to all
3 who come into contact with us, and a
70 season when we lay the best founda-
tion for our future careers. Before
n another year has passed things will
g have changed. Are we going to be
d counted in the changer Let it be
lr hoped that we are; that change
d for the better has taken place
8. And as we approach this greatest of
70 all festivals let us remember
1t why it is we celebrate; why all
n people on this earth are happy OF
ought to be happy. If we can excuse
lg away every other reason to be merry
IN and joyous, we cannot escape the great
re est cause to be forever happy; the rea
n. son that we received into the world {
I'll Savior for all mankind whose messagt
of should be a message to us toda!
w "Peace on earth; good will to men,"
ny e. WI
DO