The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1909-12-16
SOMETHING new
FOR CHRISTMAS,
By ELIZA ARCHARD CONNER.
Copyright. 1909, by American Press

Copyright 1909. by American Press
Association
WYE lash our brains to chase up
WV something new to give our
friends at Christmas. II
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: II suppose those
beggarly nieces of mine will send me
some fool trash they themselves can
make and expect Inc to give them gifts
worth forty times as much. They're a
nuisance. Every way turn there's
somebody expecting me to put up a
Christmas present. | wish these hungry
hangers cD were at the north pole"
The whole scheme of Christmas CIV
ing has been perverted till il now
means only one of three tbinGs-either
barter, unwilling alms-iving or tip.
ping. Servants, deserving or other
wise: poor relatives, charity societies,
people too lazy and shiftless to earn
comfort for themselves. all expect
something. The effort 10 fill these ex-
pectations causes drain that makes
most people look forward with dread
from one Christmas to the next Sew
ell out Of ten Christmas presents are
nowadays forced from the Grudging
donor just because the receivers "ex
pect' something. Mortal mind can
Sina to 10 neaner level than to 'ex
pect" Christmas present.
Yet with all earth's giving there L.
one thing nobody ever thinks to be
stow unless ii is some man or woman
usually Il woman, who has been tried
in all ways by sorrow. hardship and
affiiction. who has looked un this
worlds treasures and seen them melt
away and has learned there IL not hing
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. 1.:af0 years
after the holy Nativity. II is 10 he
had hy every human being, il is the
most precious offspring hun9a being
can either give or receive, yet ~ our
| so called Christian world today Taught
is so scarce as this one thing.
What was II the Christ Child rame
to bring: Peace on earth. good will
TO men," Down the centuries tie It'd
ings Of this priceless Offering have
sounded, and the- sound still. but now
faint and afar off TO the worIdlin2
| sense. For weeks the atmosphere has
been confused and lashed with the
vibrations of Christmas buying and
selling, Christmas scramble aud ex-
pectancy; II Is overborne and heavy
with the awful WEAKNESS of the Christ
mas makers. Who has time 10 send
forth the glorious gift which is the
very foundation stone Of Christmas IT,
self-peace and good wilIs
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 Chiid's
gift on ali mankind: After presenting
the few material gifts one really offers
for the pleasure Of IT, how would II 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
at all of our own deserts or disappoint-
ments. but giving forth joyfu:iy the
best that is in us-if. widening and
softeniag our souls. We would weed
from our consciousness all our pitiful
little grudges against others and infold
eyen those we dislike mest In the Iov-
bag thought of Christmastide: