The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1909-12-24
SOMETHING NEW
FOR CHRISTMAS.
~ ELIZA Aac,sAaD CONNER

something new to give our
w friends at Christmas. In
like manner they lash their
beains b think Of something to give
~ We say to Ourselves. ~Rich old
Aunt Rachel ought to put up some
thing handsome this year. the old cur
madgeon!' Rich Old Aunt Rachel in
her turn says Of %: Il suppose those
beGsariy nieces OF mine will se0d me
some fool trash they themselves can
make and expect ne to give them Gifts
worth forty times a. much. They've .
naisaDce. Every way I 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 1t now
means only one Of three things either
barter. unwilling almsgivinx or tip
ping. Servants, deserving or other.
wise: poor relatives. charity societies.
people too lazy and shiftless to earn
comfort for themselves. al expect"
something. The effort to fiu these ex.
pectatiOns causes q drain that makes
most people look forward with dread
from one Christmas to the next. Sev.
On out Of ten Christmas presents are
nowadays forced from the grudging
donor just because the receivers 'ex.
pect'' something. Mortal mind can
ank to no meaner level than to 'ex-
pect" Christmas present.
Yet with all earth's giving there IL
one thing nobody ever thinks to be
stow unless It u some man or woman
Usually q woman. who has been tried
In all Wsys By sorrow. hardship and
a61iction, who has looked on this
worlds treasures and seen them melt
away and has learned there u nothing
In them. To such . true. sweet test.
cd soul has come the full knowledge
that the only Christmas present worth
while u the one the Christ Child came
b earth to bring. Still the Christ
Child's gift 10 on the earth. l,9OO years
after the holy Nativity. 1t d to be
had by every human being, It u the
most precious offspring human being
can either give or receive. yet in our
% called Christian world today naugh'
u 20 scarce as this one thing.
What was 1t the Christ Child CANT
to bring: Peace on earth. good vii,
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 woridling
sense. For weeks the atmosphere has
been confused and lashed with the
vibrations Of Christmas buying and
selling, Christmas scramble and ex.
poctancy: It = ovesboene and heavy
With the awful Weas1neso Of the Christ
mas makers. Who has time to send
forth the glorious gift which d the
very foundation stone Of Christmas II.
oelf-peace and good Wfllf
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 ChiId's
gift on all mankind9 After presenting
the few material gifts one really offers
for the pleasure Of 1t. how would 1t do
to make everyb41GAround us happy as
We can all day long, being cheerful.
merry. loving and helpful to every
member Of our household. thinking not
at 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 grudges against others and ineoh
even those we dislike most in the low
ing thought Of Christmastidel
The assassination of four government
officials in Europe and two in the
Orient-Wednesday of this week would
seem to indicate the commencement of