Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1909-12-30
THE HOLIDAY GIFTS.
By ELIZA ARCHARD CONNER
Copyright. 1909. by American Press
Association

NV something new to give our
w friends at Christmas. In
like manner they lash their
brains to think Of something TO give
US. We say TO ourselves. Rich old
Aunt Rachel ought TO put up some
thing handsome this year. the old cur
mudgeon" Rich old Aunt Rachel in
her turn says OF US: Il suppose those
beggarly nieces Of milfe will send me
some fool trash they themselves can
make and expect me TO give them gifts
worth forty times as much. They're a
nuisance. Every way | turn there's
somebody expecting me to put up
Christmas present. | wish these hungry
hangers on were at the north POLE"
The whole scheme of Christmas Civ
ing has been perverted till it now
means only one of three things-either
barter, unwilling almsgiving or tip
ping. Servants, deserving or other
wise; poor relatives, charity societies,
people too lazy and shiftess to earn
comfort for themselves, all expect"
something. The effort to fill these ex-
pectations causes a drain that makes
most people look forward with dread
from one Christmas 10 the next. Sew
en- out of ten Christmas presents are
nowadays forced from the grudginy
donor just because the receivers "ex-
poet" something. Mortal mind can
sink to no meaner level than TO lex
poet" Christmas present.
oil rtI oft L..
one thing nobody ever thinks to be-
stow unless it is some man or woman,
usually woman, who has been tried
in all ways by sorrow, hardship and
affection. who has looked on this
worlds treasures and seen them melt
away and has learned there is nothing
in them. To such a true, sweet, test
ed soul has come the full knowledge
that the only Christmas present worth
while is the one the Christ Child came
to earth TO bring. Still the Christ
Child's gift is on the earth, 1900 years
after the holy Nativity. 1t is TO be
had by every human being, it is the
most precious offspring human being
can either give or receive, yet in our
80 called Christian world today naught
is so scarce as this one thing.
What was it the Christ Child came
to bring? Peace on earth, good will
TO men!" Down the centuries the It'd
ings Of this priceless Offering have
sounded. and they sound still, but now
faint and afar of to the wording
sense. For weeks the atmosphere has
a..I q
vibrations OF Christmas buying and
selling, Christmas scramble and ex-
pectancy; it is overborne and heavy
with the awful WEAKNESS of the Christ
mas makers. Who has time TO send
forth the glorious gift which is the
very foundation stone Of Christmas It,
self-peace and good will?
How would IL do alike for those over
taxed with giving and those too poor
TO give anything at all simply and
quietly to bestow the Christ Child's
gift on all mankind? After presenting
the few material gifts one really offers
for the pleasure of II. how would il do
to make everybody around us happy as
we can all day long, being cheerful.
merry. loving and helpful to every
member Of our household, thinking not
Mt all OF our own deserts or disappoint-
ments, but giving forth joyfully the
best that is in us-if widening and
softening our souls, we would weed
from our consciousness all our pitiful
little grudees against others and infold
even those we dislike most in the low
ing thought OF Christmastide?