The wageworker., 1906-12-21
"KEEPING CHRISTMAS in THE HEART"
Richard L. Metcafe in The Commoner

"A gran rasslin match is goin' in ivry
corner v tn civylyzed globe" says Mr.. Dooley in
the American Magazine, "an' we're all in tangle,
fghtin'. quarrelin, robbin' plundhrin',
murdhrin, accordin to tastes. It's what
Hogan calls tn struggle FIR existence, an it'll
always go while there's dollar in the
wurruld a woman, a ribbon to in
coats. But on the three hundred and siXty-f1fth
day suddenly we hear voice: 'Gintemen gintle-
men, not befure tn childher.' An get up an
brush tn dust off our. clothes an shake hands
pretindin it was all fun TIL kids have come in.
Wouldn't things be changed if after the truce
observed December 25, 1906, the men and women
of the world failed to renew the fighting and
the quarreling? Wouldn't life be than worth
the living if after keeping Christmas in the
form, by filling the children's stockings on Christ
mas eve and exchanging gifts and salutations with
friends on Christmas day, We kept Christmas in
the heart for the balance of the year?
One writer gave us a hint when he said that
the kindness and good cheer generally prevalent
during the Christmas season represents the nor
NAL condition of society when it shall reach that
perfection possible among human beings. And
there those who believe that in spite of
and rumors of wars between nations, in the face
of oppression and greed among individuals we
moving to that very condition where-keep-
ing Christmas in the heart-men and women will
| obtain during all the year the inspiration and
altation they derive during the few hours of the
designated season when they keep Christmas in
| the form. And those who indulge in this bit of
optimism tell US that love is leading the way
| Well, Love knows the way; and the men and
women who follow her call will find it.
| And how to put in the entire year
| keeping Christmas in the hearth" Certainly not
| by hanging up the stockings every evening of
the year: by continual exchange of gifts nor
by making perpetual the strain and labors of
the Christmas season now observe 1t. But
rather by toning down some of the madness-or,
if you prefer to call it, the enthusiasm-of that
season, that in efforts to make showing
for ourselves and immediate friends we put
no undue strain upon the pocketbook of our bread
winner, and impose undue burdens upon the
poorly-paid shop girl. She-though we sometimes
forget it's the child of some other parents who
are just as anxious that their child be comfortable
and free from veXatious burdens we are that
our child be surfeited with Christmas gifts.
4 1t is by the use of a little leaven that
leaveneth the whole lump; by a little spreading
out of the great pile of friendly salutation, of
generosity, of good cheer and of kindly disposi-
ton that characterize the Christmas sea
son; so that without detracting from the joy of
that period, contribute to the continuing hap
piness of and to the permanent well-beng
of the world But only Love may lead love in,
to Already, to Already
One would be thought simple. indeed, were
he to ask in this day: What is love?" There
, are, ready at hand, many answers to the ques
ton and most of them plainly illustrated in
every day life.
The mother bending DER her first born tells