Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-25
OLD FOLKS, CHRISTMAS.

Christmas time, with it's good cheer,
Its Peace on earth, to men good will y
prompts the fortunate ones among us
to provide little happiness for those
upon whom fate has laid a heavy hand.
1t opens to the poor the purse of the
rich. The captain of industry pauses
in his mad race for the almighty dol
lar to divide, for the sake of charity,
a goodly share Of the treasure he has
gathered from the busy markets of the
world. In the crowds of Christmas
shoppers the tenement dweller rubs ell
bows with the owner of the mansion.
For all of us must buy our Christmas
presents. There is no less Joy for the
widow with her hard earned stipend,
who buys few toys and pair Of
warm wooden mittens for her father
less boy, than for the ermine clad ma
iron who gives a big cheque for some
plaything to gladden. the eyes of her
first born. Its all in the giving. not. in
the gift, and there's never a time in
the whole year when we more thor
oughly realize the truth of the saying,
IT'S more blessed to give than to re-
ceiye,' than at Christmas time.
The spirit of charity that, happily,
pervades all Christendom at this sea-
son of the year, has made almost uni
versal the joy of Christmas-tide. Few
people, no matter how lowly. no mat
ter how destitute, no matter how for
lorn, see Christmas pass without q
CLINT of sunshine in an otherwise hum
drum existence. But, so general has
the custom of making others happy
grown that some of us may overlook
a most important duty and most
happy opportunity to let the christina
cheer "begin at home.'' In nearly ev.
cry house there is an aged parent or
grand parent who, through the turning
of the wheel of circumstance, has, af.
ter a life of love and usefulness. be.
come either in whole or in part. de-
pendent on those of the younger gen,
Grafton. the bread winners of today
And though support may be given
gladly, freely and as a privilege, they
do not receive or even want more
Their lives are simple and they prefer
the peaceful quiet Of the home to the
pleasures that attract the younger
blood. But at Christmas time these
worn old hands tingle to provide. as
of yore, some love token for the son
the daughter or the grandchild. Who
can tell without himself experiencing
the sensation, the yearning that these
loving hearts feel to make this
Christmas happy, as in the old days
for the children?" For, 'the chill
Edren" never grow out of childhood in
the eyes of the parent. They are "the
children still, even when they have
| children of their own and when the
silver creeps among the darker locks
and wrinkled foreheads tell of years OF
worry and of toll
A little ready money" dropped play
fully into "grandma's' hand or left al
mothers" plate just now will help tc
make merry Christmas for the recip
lent. True the present it purchases
will be found among the donors gifts
on Christmas morning 1t may be
small, but 1t will carry wealth OF
love and tenderness that fortunes could
not purchase. And buying it will be
a joyful oasis in the desert of declin
ing life.
In making our preparations fol
Christmas let us begin a few days
early and think, first of all, of those
nearest and dearest. Only one time