The news & observer., 1905-12-24
christmas gift"

'CnTlSLTnaS GIT!
How many millions will repeat that
tomorrow morning? 1t will be heard
in the palace and in the hovel-in the
bedroom, when the children first open
their eyes; at the breakfast table as
the family gather about it; on the
streeta. when friend meets friend.
and every where, it will be Christ
mas gift!'
And who can estimate the value
of the gifts that are to make glad
the hearts of the children; TO say
nothing of those larger and more
costly ones which custom requires
that friend shall give to friend? The
question is too big to think about. Mill
lions of dollars, doubtless have been
spent in the last few days for presents
the biggest half of which amount will
be worse than thrown away; the
greater part, at least, of that which is
spent in toys for children.
I think it we'll enough to make
presents; but, If given by friend to
friend, a simple souvenir, we'll chosen,
would be quite as WELL and vastly
more in keeping with the occasion,
than more costly gifts. But, with each
successive year, the idea is growing
upon us that none but costly presents
will be or should be acceptable. A boy
who, aforetime, was satisfied with a
ball, an apple, an orange and hand
full of reasons" must have a gun
now, with which he can shoot out his
sisters eyes; railroad track and a
train of cars with which he can raise
cain in the home: a sled upon which
he can coast and mash his nose; a
bunch of Chinese crackers, with which
he can annoy pedestrians and make
peoples horses run away; hatchet
with which he can chop the furni-
ture and cut off a finger, and enough
candy, nuts and other goodies to last
him a week, or he won't half way be
satisfied.
Fathers and mothers don't always
display common sense in making
Christmas presents to their children;
on the contrary, sometimes they
don't display any sense of any kind.
/ know that from experience, as we'll
as observation: hence this remark.
Our children are what we make them.
few we'll chosen presents would
satisfy them; but, parents fall into
the error that the children must
have guns, pistols. horns, fire-crack-
ers and every other thing, however
inappropriate, for which they may
happen to hear them express a desire.
1t makes me sad to think that SO
many children are to lose limbs or
eyes. or to be otherwise injured to-
morrow, by the presents which their
parents will give them in the morn
ing.
And then. turning to the grown peo
pie, it is enough to make angels
weep to see how much money, that
might have gone to help the widow
and the orphan, will be lavished
upon those, in the way of gifts, who
do not need the gifts.
But, / can't help myself, neither
will what / am writing have the effect
OF correcting a custom which is as
Christless as it is selfish A valuable
present requires a valuable one in
return; hence few presents that are
valuable are given to the poor | re-
member that the Saviour told his dis
ciples not to invite their rich nelgh-
bors and friends, when giving feast
for they could pay back in Kind ana
amount but to invite the poor people
who could not. And SO, if valuable
presents are made, upon the same
principle, the poor should get them.
because they cannot give in return.
Christmas means keeping AS holy
day-not a holiday-the natal day of
the child Jesus-born poor, raised up
poor, and who, in his poverty. spent
his life in ministering to others.
] love to be remembered on Christ
f7aS. and l guess Id feel all out OF
rts. with the world generally, did
lot receive some little token of re-
I'm brance, from some one; but un-
- the friends giving are million
:'"ls ana have money TO burn. ia
r1ther they'd not make gifts that are
TOO costly. / generally take, however.
what they give. and appreciate the
Get that I am remembered; it mat
tars not whether the gift be some
thing to read, to eat. to wear or just
10 look at.
When ] was a young man and dealt
\ sentiment, / priced book mark,
frrm m a girl. that had on it. worked
ith her fingers, some nice little mot
as for instance: God bless you!
or May you be happy" Such pres
ont would keep a fellow wide awake
till past midnight, and make him
dream dreams that would keep him in
q high state of excitement the whole
Christmas week. In these latter years,
however. a book mark wouldn't In
crease the heart beat at all; nor cause
the old man to lose a moments sleep
But to save my life / can't help being
excited when the express wagon comes
to the door and delivers a big tur-