The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-08
EVENING CHIT
BY RUTH CAMERON

one of the most pathetic figures al
Christmas time to me Is the child VIC
has nothing 10 give
We are always having our sympathles
appealed to, for the child who has little
or nothing given 10 it at Christmas, put
who ever says anything about the young
ster who has little or nothing to givel
And yet isn't he also deserving OF SYM
pathy?
Don't you get as much pleasure out Of
what you give at Christmas as what you
receive?
More? I thought so. Very well then.
Aren't you denying child "a great dcai
when you fail TO make II possible for MIN
to give, well as 10 receive at Christ
mas time?
l believe that every parents Christmas
duty is TO make II possible for his cidl-
dren TO give at Christmas time. And
mind you. / don't mean TO make TINS
possible by giving the children a few
dollars outright 10 buy your Christmas
presents with" Even a very young
child can appreciate the farce Of having
father give him some money, with whieA
he will later buy father a Christmas pres
ent. How much Of the glorious gladnesa
OF giving Is he likely TO get under sucn
circumstances-how much or the 1t ~
more blessed to give than TO receive
No, every child should be given
chance to earn or save his Christmas
money. OF course, the child who has IN
allowance can save It from that, ana
wish all children were Included In this
category But unfortunately they are
What about the others. them Wei. IA
the name of the JOY you yourself take IA
giving. for the sake OF the unseliishnesa
you hope to see your children develop.
give them q chance to earn a little money
somehow or other
Let them go without candy, cake, but
ter or some luxury from now until
Christmas and give them an equivalent ia
money.
Reward them by an unexpected nickel.
dime or quarter for some kind or thought
al please observe that THIS us
quite different from bribing them 70 pc
good-a practice Of which / most heartily
haven't brands and tasks II necessary.
OFFER the little daughter quarter
week, II she will darn the stockings or
wash all the dishes. Let the little son
help you about the furnace.
Ii is easier TO do this work yourself
than to oversee them, you say Perhaps
So And perhaps you can III spare the
extra two or three collars that all this
means But remember. my friend. the
cause for which you are giving II. IL
necessary try to save 1t from your own
ChrisInas list Even make son or daugh-
ter a little less expensive Christmas
present.
about all this. but I don't believe I am. I
can remember that one OF the happiest
Christmases Of my own childhood, was
the year when by taking care Of a neigh
boris cat all summer. I earned enough to
give each of my family no foolish make
shift gift. but something they really
wanted Christmas that year meant not
merely opening my own gifts, but watch
ing others open theirs from me. with n
delighted anticipation of their pleasure.
Again, I heard a girl who last year
passed her first Christmas as wage
Garner say. ITS splendid 10 be earninr
money and to be. Independent all the TIME.
hut Christmas is the best OF all To real
" have some money that you earned
Yourself and not have father and mother
give you money to buy presents with
! why it's glorious. I hardly knew what
1 Christmas meant before2'
To be always receiving and never Civ
ing is a bad position even for a child II
| he accepts II indiherently. he IS develop
| ing seifishness. II he rebels against Il.
he suffers.
| once more in the name OF the 10Y Won
Yourself take in giving. for the sake ol
| ne 1nselffshness YOU want YOUR chfidre-
1 TO develop give them a chance 70 really
give. as well as receive this Christmas.