The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06


 that I have left off two perfectly good aunts and a sister-in-law who gave me lovely Cchristmas present last year. Don't you remember that m-m-m-m---
 But the name of the gift was lost to me as the name of the sister-in-law was put in her rightful place among the rela- uves to be "gifted' at Christmas.
 That makes IT." sighed Bettina from a far-away corner. T sincerely hope that
 I am not among those present." she observed.
 At this stage of the game I saw that something was going to happen. l felt in my bones that Bettina had stood 1t quite as long as one of her temperament can
 stand such things; and so I was not mistaken, for Just at this psychical mo ment she drew herself up and said:
 Now look here, Anne, this indiscrim- mate Christmas giving is all stuff and nonsense. You've got a lot of old fossils on that list that you never see or hear Of except at the Christmas season, when one of them sends you a homemade pen wiper and another a hand-made dough- nut. Now, what on earth Is the use to encourage such things? Why not stop right now and give that money to charity ito people who really are in need and who would appreciate it? It might not be much, but 1t Is not the large giver that
 does the most good, but the thoughtful one.
 Because your washermwoman happens to be needy, do not make her sort Of
 catch-alr for articles of clothing that must be patched or remodeled before they are ready for use, nor for food that to be
 made palatable requires extra care in cooking.
 Think little before giving her that little dress of Gertie's minus it's buttons and torn in the sleeve.
 Make the dress wearable. What if it
 will take the whole of that precious morn ing which you had promised to devote to , sary self-sacriice with which to spice your deed
 "These are the people who should be re- membered on Christmas day, and not the thousand and one sisters and cousins and aunts who probably have enough to buy
 and sell you ten times over, and wouldn't appreciate anything short of an imported motor or diamond tiara Oh, see you both are laughing at me; but really, girls, this Is one of my hobbies. I am a perfect
 crank on the subject, and I will speak out in the meeting, and you know it. "Bettina, I believe you could get a job in the lyceum course as a lecturer. l name the subject: Thoughtful Giving Will you consent?" I asked.
 
 While we three laughed at Bettina's solemn Christmas sermon. it sank deep into our hearts and made us think. For really this thing of promiscuous giving Is absurd and is carried to a ridiculous ex- tent. All that is necessary to those friends who are not very close is a Christmas card-a pretty calendar-anything as a thought; for, after all, 1t Is only the thought that counts.
 We made our adieus and started home and Bettina, who is very strong minded person, imparted to us the fact that in all the wide world she gave only two Christmas gifts.
 "One Is to my sister, and the other Is a check which goes to my dear mother. long ago got over with Christmas giving can't be bothered bytng a lot of things. It takes away the joy of the occasion. If anyone gives me a present 1 say Thank you, m m to the donor, very prettily, and the next year she does not give me any thing. To my mind this present giving is carried to the most outrageous lengths. It was never intended that any living creature should be worked to death for weeks before the holiday and impover- ished for weeks afterwards to give to people they don't care about. I believe in
 being independent in this. as in most things, and not in allowing custom to take one py tn6 throat ana make one QO what one doesn't wish. give to the two i persons love best. The rest of my mon- ey give to the poor"
 T glory in your firmness and determin- ation, Betttna," said I. but I said 1t
 mighty feebly, and then I went straight home and began to work like mad on the presents I am going to give my forty 'leven dozen friends and to my cousins and my aunts unto the third and fourth | generation.