The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1907-12-20

under the wrong impression, l am
Respectfully,
l. HOWARD WEBSTER.
Chicago, Dec. II.
AN ORIGINAL CHRISTMAS STORY.
Christmas is here, with all it's joys
and gifts, with all its stories of Santa
Claus. Weigh well the story Of Santa
Claus to the innocent little hearts who
will listen with wide-open eyes and glad
hearts to all the wonderful stories you
may tell.
Listen to the experience of a little
girl. Years ago in a Southern town
lived a little girl who had heard all the
beautiful stories of Santa Claus; how
he comes in a beautiful sleigh, drawn
by reindeer; how down the old fash
toned chimney he climbed, filling
the stockings and baskets from his
bountiful gifts. To a child I'M
used to luxuries the wonderful
times, these Christmas ewes every
preparation was made for Santa Claus.
No wonder this little girl loved him
best of all, and believed each story
told. No wonder she prayed each
night for God to bless and keep dear
Santa Claus no wonder the story be-
came a part of her life. Well, one
Christmas mOrning this little girl in
this old-fashioned town got up bright
and happy to really find that Santa Claus
had really come; to even see his foot
prints on the chimney back, and SCOT
on the hearth from his descent. Among
this little girls basket Of clothing (for
many things Santa Claus brought, aft
er %eatables, were clothing, because |
told you this little girl had few lux
uries, and 20 Santa Claus brought
mostly things needed for the winter
by some mistake was a collarette which
did not belong to her, but was intend
ed for an older half-sister of this lit
tie girl. In the dispute the mother
came to the rescue of the older sister,
and told the little one that she had
bought this special collarette for her
older sister, and so she must give it
up. Some explanations were neces-
sary, and the mother told this little
girl that Santa Claus was not a reality
but a story as old almost as time. But
this little girl loved Santa Claus for
his generous nature and his remem-
brance of her, and for his kindness to
all little folks, and can you wonder
that her childish heart was crushed
when she found she had been de-
ceived?
But remember, this little girl in this
old-fashioned town had heard another
story, nor beautiful than the story Of
Santa Claus; that for all the sins of
the whole wide world, one beautiful,
loving, sympathetic Christ died, that
he might save the world. So, living
in an old-fashioned town, with few
ways of amusement, and without the
many diversions children have in the
cities to-day, can you wonder that
these two stories became a part OF
this child's life? Do you wonder that
the casting away of the one was the
casting away of the other? 1t was
true; the little girl in that old-fash
Toned town cast out both stories a;
utterly false, reasoning that if one
was false, both must be, for the littlt
: girl had heard many beautiful storie,
told of each.
Do not make two stories of thu
> Santa Claus and the Christ. Let it b.
. one, and when the time comes 70
3 knowledge in after years to these lit
\ tie hearts, there will be only one story
O There will be no giving up or casting
out. If Santa Claus lives in tn.
hearts of children to-day, let him liv
as a remembrance that God gave hi
best gift to earth, the Christ, his onl
h Son, and so it is perfectly natura
-, that we should at this time of the yea
give gifts. And as oft as we give an
{ rs oft as we receive gifts, let us Civ
them and receive them in remen
a brance that the greatest gift was tn
|. gift of the dear Christ
JOSIE E. WELLS.
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