The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-12-24
Christmas Giving.
(succcss AAsAHgne)

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Two young girls ~sro talking rw~r
h they we're going 10 bay for
Christmas Tho Weather airl SAD
II have twenty-five dollars - spend
on my fa4iGiy how much have you -
The poorer one replied. y have tao
dollars and afty cents 10 spend. bat
not oa eur family They do not need
IL / am going 20 buy presents sor
children who have no money for
Christmas
We are apt TO think too much about
presents for our wi family. and too
little about sifta for those who have
no Christmas money to spend
Most people seem "a think that "
they have no money they cannot make
Christmas presents Hut even n they
have no money they probably have
something lying about the house or
Office they do not need half as much
as other. less fortunate than theu4-
selves and which they could easily
spare. There are plenty ~ thingH lt
many homes. nut away in the attack
as rubbish. which would be or very
great service 10 somebody.
The trouble with most OF US r. that
we are so selfish that we think Of eN-
erything In terms OF SELF We may
have clothing that We are yory sure
we shall never wear again. vet ".
cling 10 II. as we do books that we
have read and many other things
simr'- because we may think we may
want IT some time.
1t Is a good time 10 clean house.
just before Christmas. and 20 pick out
all the things which you do not real
ly need You VIII be surpr.aed - Boo
how many things You have % spare
which would chee- and help some
body
You VIII be SURPRISED. a'so 20 nnf
how many poor children there arc ltV-
ing not far from Won "a ha h4Nn pF.Vr
had such "a thing rs a doll or AIRY 9TH
or sort Of toy. Not long ago ga paRs-
Ing through a poor part Of the city. I
saw little children playing with a doll
which they had made from a broom
handle and some rags
Many people have Christmas pres
ents which they have been storing up
for years. things thaf are In the way
and or no earthly use 10 them. which
they could pass along this Christmas
to others 10 enjoy.
DO not cling 70 things simply be-
cause they were given 10 you. when
you have no real uHc for them. Those
who gave them would DO My too
Riac to know that they are making
somebody happy.
You will n packed away in Tho
basement or attic. or somewhere else
I'm your home. very likely, toys. pie
lures. books and many other things
which are not really If enough use 10
you to keep, and yet are too good 20
throw away. This ~ "a good time for
you 10 paEs them on 10 others. who
viii get from them, perhaps. as much
Joy and happiness As they gave you
when you first received them open
your heart BE generous. ~ thia
you can make happy,
II there Is any taint OF self in your
gift any Interior motive. Ike the hops
OF getting more in return. or Of vi
vertising yourself. IL will yitlate tts
spirit OF the gift.
IT. after the gift. you arc wounded
because you are not thanked or fiat
tered. or your name put In -. paper.
know then that your gift was prompt
cd BY vanity and not by love. ana you
were merely giving In order to get,
were not really giving. but graHpinw"
"Scrooge." in Dickens Christmas
Carol" never knew what Joy was an
III ne awoke from his misery selfish
dream. and began 10 love and think
Of others When he went 10 church
and walked the streets. and watched
the people hurryfng 10 and fro. AMI
patted the children on the head and
questioned the heREhrr. and looked
down IN the kitchens and up "a the
windows of houses he found that ry-
erythinR could yield him pleasure He
had never dreamed that such COM
mon things could give him - much
Illness
In unselHshiy trying 20 msfe others
happy. you WiIl double ana trebble
your own happiness
Everyone should regard Christr -
az an occasion for clearing hls heart
Of all grudgea. for forgiving all o.
fenseg. and all enemies - - q good
time 10 forget and 70 forgive. = good
time TO forget relf ana 10 think -
/ others
II you have 80 money and nothing
else - give, give yourself. the best
gift OF all