Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1909-12-24
new
FOR CHRISTMAS.
BY ELIZA ARCHARD CONNER.
Copyright. 1909. by American Press
Association

SOpyI1BAt" 16USs Oy american FTG9S
Association
@W e lash our brains to chase up
WV something new to give our
v " friends at Christmas. In
like manner they lash their
brains to think Of something to give
US. We say to ourselves, Erich old
Aunt Rachel ought to put up some
thing handsome this year, the old cur
mudgeonT Rich old Aunt Rachel fn
her turn says Of U.s. suppose those
beggarly nieces of mine will send me
some fool trash they themselves can
make and expect me to give them gifts
worth forty times as much. They're
nuisance. Every way l 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
F; wise; poor relatives, charity societies.
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 to the next. Sew,
en- out of ten Christmas presents are
nowadays forced from the grudging
donor just because tie receivers lex
pect' something. Mortal mind can
sink to no meaner level than to sex
pect" Christmas present.
F.; Yet with all earth's giving there ia
one thing nobody ever thinks to be
stow unless it is some man or woman.
usually woman, who has been tried
III I'LL 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 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 OF receive, yet in our
so called Christian world today naught
is SO scarce as this one thing. !.
What was it the Christ Child came
to bring? *tPeace 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 Off to the worldline
sense For weeks the atmosphere has
! been confused and dashed with the
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 II.
self peace and good viii? Y :3.s n
How would 1t 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 It, how would IT do
to make everybody around MS happy as
we can all day long, being cheerful,
merry, loving and helpful TO every
member OF our house hoId, thinking not
| af all of our own deserts Or disappoint-
fneiifs, but giving forth joyfuliy the
best that Is sin tls--iiff widening and
softenfng our so1ls, sTe would Weed
from our seiousness ali Dur ttiiful
little grudg ainst hers and In9oid
even those We dislike most III the lov-
Ing thought oS Chris tInas tides