New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1905-12-23
THE BEST CHRISTMAS THOUGHT.


again celebrate the birth of Christ
and the work that His spirit and in
fuence have done III the world for
nineteen centuries.
Millions of men and women AND
CHILDREN will be made happy on
that day, fortunatelys
But others, while rejoicing in the
meaning Of Christmas, in the prom
ises and the hope that it contains for
humanity, will be made sorrOwful by
the sufferings Of their children affiict-
ed with poverty, or by the sufferings Of
other children.
To-day, with Christmas two-days
off, we appeal to all our readers we'll
off to think of those less fortunate
than themselves.
Think of the children that stand
outside the toy stores, looking i'll at
the windows, rubbing their cold
hands, AND WISHING.
Think of the mothers who look
ahead to Christmas Day with anguish
because they know it must mean
disappointment for their children, a
keener realization Of their poverty,
and their undeserved sad lot.
Before and after Christmas the
| thOughtless children Of the prosperous
will be telling of their presents pros
pective or received, And the poor
children who will hear WILL WON
DER WHAT THEY HAVE DONE
To DESERVE so LITTLE.
Fathers and mothers with money
enough for themselves and their own
children can always find a little to
spare, little with which to help those
for whom Christmas Day without
their help can have no real meaning.
Mothers, you are planning for your
children's happiness a week from now
You will delight in their surprise, in
their joy and their gratitude. May
your children have this year the BEST
the happiest Christmas they have ever
known.
May you think also of the other
children that have nothing.
What you do for the others, for the
poor, will come back thousandfold
to your own children in the future
Think, even in the midst of all
your work, of mothers less fortunate
than yourselves.
Think of the woman with two or
three thin children pitifully asking
the meaning of Christmas, and asking
what they are to receive.
Think of the women who is worried
about her rent, worried to buy food,
clothes, bedding. And see how she
feels as Christmas draws near to i'm
press more keenly than ever upon her
children the difference between their
lot and that of others.
Fathers, men whom the world has
treated well, it is your duty on
Christmas Day to tell your children
the real meaning of that day. You
tell them that it marked the birth of
One who voluntarily suffered, and
finally died, that He might help the
poor-especially the poor women and
children.
You impress upon your children
the fact that they only deserve hap
piness, only show their appreciation
of Gods goodness, if they really try
in their small way to make sacrifices
for others, to show appreciation of
the greatest of all sacrifices of which
we are remined by this day.
You will not fail to tell your child
rem that Christmas means for them
not only happiness, presents, but also
duty to others.
And when you have told your
children Of their duty, you must also
be able to tell them that You have
done, as the best possible Christians
present to them, that which You ex-
pect them to do later.
You should be able to tell your child
rem that you have shown your sympathy
for the poor and your gratitude by doing
something for the poor.
Tell them that you could not bear to see
them happy, to do all you have done for
them, unless you had also done something
for other children, poor and friendless,
those for whom Christ came here and
sacrificed his life.
Some of us can do much, some of US
can do little, to alleviate sorrow, disap-
pointment among children and mothers
on Christmas Day.
Every man, even the man of small
means, should do something.
1t is not hard to find disappointed, sad
eyed child on Christmas Day or the day
before.
1t does not cost much money to put hap
piness in the face that lacks it, and give to
that child joyful realization of what the
true meaning of Christmas should be.
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