The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-12-21
THE CHRISTMAS SEASON.

Recurring seasons bring rs again to the great
Home Festival of the year, with its joyous
anticipation, happy realizations, religious ret
respects and softening and humanizing in
fiuences. The stern Puritan rebelled against
the celabretion of Christmas. and strong
element is making modern crusade. claimed
in the interest Of truth and the more correct
training of childish consciences against Santa
Claus, whose association with the day is in
innate and indissoluble; but the festival
whether considered 10 its religious its family or
its social relations-is SO permanently fixed in
our imaginations, our memories and our habits
that it is fair to assume centuries will pass be-
fore any impression is made against the old
observances, attractions and love of the day,
with the tender associations and fond remin-
iscences which cluster around it.
Keeping the holiday is defensible, if on the
one ground alone that of the whole year this
day is given up to unselfishness, when few are
so churlish as not to prefer others before
themselves, nor SO ignoble as not to take
pleasure in briDgingjoy and happiness to those
whom propinquity or the varied movements of
human affairs bring into contact and relation
ship with us.
In its anticipation and celebration are found
the warmth and cheer which arouse that
which is humane and divine in our own heart
and being, which drive out sordid thoughts and
selfseeking desires, bringing us, for the time
at least, to think first how much and how far
we can spend ourselves for the benefit of
others. Not in gift-giving alone This.
doubtless. is often, perhaps generally, over
done or misdrected but in allowing free scope
and sway to the Christmas spirit, which is
charitable, long-suffering, compassionate, di-
vine. 1t is the time to bind up old wounds, to
forget past offences, to absorb and assimilate
the spirit of love and forgiveness, of gentleness
and compassion, of sorrow and sympathy for
the weak, the fallen, the poor and the forlorn.
To those on whomfthe cornucopia of plenty
has been opened it is the opportunity for kind
deeds and gracious words-deeds which speak
the open heart and the melowing influence
of the time; words which, oh so often are
more golden, more lasting, more effective,
more sacred than gifts which perish in the
using.
Enjoy the good things of life, bring children
and family, friends and neighbors, If may be,
around the hearth and the table, partake of the
good cheer bounteous Providence provides,
but in doing this fail not to remember the
widow and the orphan. the sick and the dis
tressed, the stranger at the gate. Where this
cannot be with substantial offerings, then with
the cheerful look, the outspoken word, the
warm clasp of the hand. bespeaking for this
season at least sympathy, interest. brother
hood. Then, indeed, may you yourself expect
happiness, which comes after all. not from
without but from within.
All these blessings, the material things, the
kindliness of heart, the beneficence of helpful
living, the grateful emotions which do not
fail those who seek to make others happy. we
invoke for the friends and readers of THE
UNION, cordially wishing them and theirs a
Happy, Merry Christmas, full of good cheer,
kindly spirit and generous deeds.