The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-12-22
CHRISTMAS.

Christmas should be the Drlgnt
est happiest. most unseltish season
of the year. But is it? 1t is the
brightest; and to the young it is the
happiest; but is il the most unset-
ishf Is theTe anything in swapping
presents with those you love, or with
those of your social set? Is there any
thing unselhsh in gratifying your own
little children with every thing they
can think of or wish for, and then
standing by and seeing them enjoy it?
Who cares to give presents to ones
self? And giving presents to those we
love most, to the exclusion of all other
charities and kindly remem brances, is
really the most selfish sort of self in
dulgence.
How often have you heard 1t said.
when speaking of some favored ohlld
of for tune, II must give her some
thing handsome: she is SO used to
everything fine end handsome and
then of one less fortunate, ''nh, this
will he good enough for her: she will
be glad to get it. " That IS rot selfish
giving; hut it is giving TO selishness;
1t is EumorIng the selfish rich, and
denying tho unseltish moor. There Is
neither charity christianity nor love in
such giving as that. 1t Is nIggardly
withholding where the purse should he
open. and osteutatious spendlng, with
the hope of reward.
The cheerful gIver whom the Lord
loveth, is one who will give to tire
stranger who is within his gates; who
will open his purse and his heart and
the hosnitsllty 0f his home to foot sore
and tir humanity. and who will
practice what Christ came into this
sin cursed world to teach, the Brother
hood of Man,
Thank God il DOS not take money
to make one happy at Christmas time;
and thank God money does not make
one hanpy at Christres time If hap
plness could not come without buying,
what burden would be addaH to
poverty; ana if happiness could be
bought with gold. how greater still
would he the Inhumau struggle for
wealth But, antiquated as it may
sound, and OLD fashioned as it may
seem, we are still not ashamed tel
preach the gospel of Love; and we
believe that in tNe lowly thstched
cottage, where cleanliness carpets the
floor. and frugality keeps watch at the
pantry door, and Love. that divine
mama to the human heart, holds
dominion over the household, there
will peace abound; there will be no
sort of setishness which is the mean
est sort of wickedness there: ard
where selfishness is not, and love is.
there is happiness. And in these
homes scant of tinerv and fashion,
there is ofttimes wealth of love
which lives long after the dIoss of all
earthly gifts are burnt u or forgotten.
A mother or fathers love spes ks
back from the grave to the child
grown old, and warns with fond and
happy remembrances the heart scared
Ger with some sorrows and many dis
appointments The splendor of wealth
Is transient; the memory of home
abides with one always. II it is a
home where seltishness and pickering
and discord prevails, all the wealth OF
chIistendom cannot load it down with
presents rich and rare enough to drive
Discomfort away. If it is home where
Love is. its gentle ministrstions, its
holy influences, its sweet aroma OF
forget me -nots, will abide forever, to
restrain from wrong doing, to
strengthen character. to comfort even
In after years when cruel fate has laid
its heavy hand and disillusionized
Age of ali that made Youth SO bright
and happy