Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1908-12-23
"A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL !.


lege and pleasure to greet our friends
and readers with "A Merry Christ
mas"
And this year, more than usual,
We feel 1t our duty, as well as the
duty of every one, to send this greet
ing broadcast, to every nook and
corner 1t Is possible to reach. 1t is
the gladstone closing Of a year that
has been one of the most trying for
most OF us, especially those of mod
@ratc means. There may not be the
usual number of gifts possible this
Christmas, but of good cheer, good
Fellowship, of hearty expressions Of
love, and good will, there should be
such n sutliciency, such an overflow
ing, as to more than compensate for
any diminution in the visible tokens
fhat go to make up the annual cele-
bld'ion Of Christmas.
THE Spirit OF Christmas" is easily
within the reach Of all, the humblcst
and poorest in equal portion with the
rich. "The Great Gift" in commem-
oration of which We celebrate the
ChriStmastidc each year. was with.
out price, free to all. yet priceless.
What arc our gifts to each other
to-day, though their cost be great i'm
money, II they lack that motive
which prompted tho Great Gift
love and good will for humanity?
Though our gifts be rare and costly.
Yet hacking this quality Of love for n
motivc, how tawdry they arc. Let
us think and appropriate to our
selves more Of the spirit Of Christ
mas-Which is nothing more nor
less than the spirit OF Christ and
we will not suffer through the gifts
we give or receive, no matter how
small their value.
At thta season especially the Christ
mas spirit--thc spirit of Christ
should permeate the whole atmos-
nherc. Let us seek out, not alone
Hhosc from whom we expect to re-
E:eive something, but those we know
are unable to give, and bcstow what
is Of more value to humanity than
costly ornaments or other rich gifts
"a full portion of human Kindness
1T Is more blessed to give than to
receive, and there is nothing so
easy to give as kindness. You will be
surprised to learn how much plea
sure and happiness you will give to
Others in seeking out some one less
4 ~ 10
bestow your gifts, though they be
but trifles, If they are but accompa-
MED by few kind words of sympa-
Fhy or love, drawn from down in the
very depths of the heart. From this
kind Of giving the hearts of men
warm to each other as the great
hnart and soul Of Christ, whose birth
"e celebrate, warmed to humanity
as, at the close of his earthly career.
lie gave Himself that man, warmed
through His unuttcrable love for
humanity, might partakc of His
nature.
u our means permit Of great gifts
10 those we love, and whose love we
naAr, but those who have less need
feel no shame at the smallncss Of
IhrlI gifts, for one small gift from
The heart is of greater value than a
costly one If it be but mere for
mality-a return for a former gift,
bid for future gifts. Let no motive
Df this sordid kind prompt us in our
&IWng. Rather let us search out
some obscure one 10 help and cheer
and brighten. Expecting nothing in
return, We will find ourselves over
whelmed with a feeling OF love for
all mankind. Whatever our circum-
stances, our surroundings. let us
both give and receive with the true
christmas rit--thankfulnCSs that
we may help others, love for all man
KIND, and n desire that we may make
onrSchc. aHi others better through
an unsclfish celebration Of the birth
OF Christ--thc Gift Of the Creator to
the creature.
We hope that the poor will be re-
rncmbcrcd by those of means. Let
9ach Of us during this Christmas
holiday seek out some person less
fortunate than ourselves on whom to
t's"tow some gift, if only kind words
aid sympathetic, hearty clasp Of
Che hand.
|Dr each Of the realers Of The
Courier we wish a very merry Christ
TsSas. May 1t bring to each and every