Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-12-24
Entered at the postoIfice at Marshall-
town as second class mail matter.
TOMORROW IS CHRISTMAS.

/ UOmUnnOW 10 HSs
! When the morning breaks tomorrow
| there will be more universal joy ovel
| the world than comes on any Other
day in the year: for all Christian ma
tions keep Christmas and Christianity
has beer sown from pole to pole an6
| in every land about the globes cir
conference Wherever there is q
knowledge of the Christ child and
wherever there are children. there will
be happiness tomorrow. 1t is Won
derful thing to apprehend, this wide
spread Joy of Christmas.
1t is a holiday that never loses its
interest, never grows stale or old, be-
cause there are always new children
offer the new joys to those who have
"never seen Christmas yet" There is
no joy given to human kind keener or
purer than that which comes to the
father and mother when they hang up
the little stockings of their first born
for the first time Pity those who have
never felt it for they have missed
much. 1T is blessed In that it does not
fade with the years or the coming of
other children. AS the stockings
lengthell and the row beside the man
tel grows longer, the joys multiply.
Riches do not increase its pleasures.
The cheap toy, the candies in the
stocking toe and the books and hobby
stocking carry as much of pure hap
piness as the costliest gifts that mill
lions nay buy. There is no financial
classes or standing of Christmas,
thanks be to the Spirit of Christmas.
But this is time of responsibility
as well as of happiness and unalloyed
pleasure Belief in the Foundation of
Christmas carries with It, insistently,
heed 10 the admonitions and injunc-
tons Of the Christ If We have not
charity your Christmas is mocEery
of the day, a failure, lacking the es-
sence Of Christmas and the spirit of
Him. It is a time for thoughtfulness
Of the needs of others, for searching
out tie poor and afflicted and bring
ing some brightness into lives obscured
and crushed by poverty and want 1t
is personal responsibility. Money nor
the gift of money, can not relieve us
of 1T. 1T is good tol give literally. 1t is
quiry and intimate attention. If it be
true that some day we must reply one
way CIR another to the words, IT was
an huagered and We gave me no meat,
a thirst and We gave me no drink, sick
and ir. prison and We visited me not"
the question becomes vital and per-
sonal.
1t is good to know that in Marshall
town its good citizens have been for
days searching the streets and alleys
and the out Of the way places for those
who need helping hand and for the
little children whose hope of a happy
Christmas depends on the activity of
those who recognize the claim of the
poor and of children upon all mankind.
It is a splendid knowledge that men
and women who once called Marshall
town home have hurried to send their
contributions to make comfort and
hapl mess general in the city where
they began their careers and which
still holds their best affections. To-
If any in this city are hungry
or cold it is because the closest search
has Jailed to reveal them; for citizens
have personally and by various means
work ed to the end that none shall lack
the cheer Of food and warmth and
clothing and that no child shall awak-
en- t., an empty stocking on Christmas
morning. And in that hope and con-
viction we shall all go to sleep happier
tonight.
"Cod bless us, one and ALL" said
Tiny Tim. So says the Times Republic
can, wishing all and every one in the
world, Merry, Merry Christmas.