The Washington herald., 1911-12-10

Driven from tho heart of the people
the Christmas spirit left the great shops,
fled from the market places, and from
every habitat OF man until he came to
the quiet little sunlit path that runs
through the deep wood
When he was vet afar off the most
perfect Fir Tree in all the forest called
gayly TO the Great Oak at her side:
"Christmas Is coming.
YES" answered the big oak, but
there Is something wrong. See how he
hats at the end OF the path, STOPPING
as if the load OF the worlds sorrow lay
upon his shoulders. See how he comes
now with all The gladness gone from his
step"
1t was quite true.
The Christmas Spirit came toward
the most perfect Fir Tree in the woods
with llgging step. looking away through
the forest with lad and troubled eyes.
"Why. what IS the matter Christ
mas: called the Fir Tree.
There was no answer. The forlorn
little figure sal down on fallen log
al the foot Of the Fir Tree, but Still
thcrc was no answer.
Tell me about it all. Christmas. IN
litcd the Fir Tree. in d voice vibrant
with sympathy.
Been Over the Whole world.
Il have been over the wide world.
/ have knocked at the door OF every
hear, and no one has opened to me. |
am forgotten and there is no one who
loves me, he said.
EVERY heart:' questioned the tr
Tree, inCredulOusly
mo, but many, many hearts, but they
are all alike. he compromised.
Il have been in the homes OF men
and stood 50 close to them that | could
lav d finger on their naked hearts, but'
they did not stir at my touch. They
looked me >quarely in the eye, and what
tIicv said was to some woman i'll their
homes.
DO not break nc shall be
months paving the bills you are making.
christmas l. nuisance, 'ConfOund
this custom OF giving presents anyway.
These arc things that they SAID
while they looked into my eyes and all
the while my hand lay frozen against
their hearts.
Il wen, and stood beside the women
in many. many homes and they looked
through nc as though was not. One
beautiful lady | think Of now in particu-
lar Oh. wanted place in her
heart and | knocked loud and long, but
the door did not open so much as a
crack for me to enter She looked INTO
nv ewes and said 1 wonder what Mrs.
Brown paid ior that bag she gave me
last year 1t looked like a cheap thing
and | shall not spend much money on
her And again: 1t IS awful 10 just
have to make gjtrs to people YOU do not
care a thing about,
Cannot Live without Love.
"No one loves me and | cannot live
without love. and 50 shall die sobbcd
the Christmas Spirit to the Fir Tree.
"Chris,ma> has come to be Just a
big exchange desk where people give
to those whom they know will give TO
them, and grumble in the giving.
moancd Christmas between SobS
Como ccscr.' whispered the Fir
Tree. 81 have something to tell you.
The Lonely Christmas Spirit Crept
nearer and lay at the feet OF the Fir
Tree. sobbing as though he would wash
the world free of SclfShneSs with his
tears
"A woman came f the heart of the
woods Yesterday" said the Fir Tree
and with her there was another
woman.
we must tind the most perfect tree
in all the forest. for none other will
do" said he hrS, woman
"'Ncs. said TIE ,ccond woman. for
the child has no one to bring the
Christmas Spirit to her. no relatives.
no friends, 30 one TO care
They talked on and OIL until the
story OF the little crippled child for
whom they were preparing a joyous
Christmas came out. She was nothing
10 them, but she was alone and not
like other children. because she could
never walk a. long as She lived. and
- they we're going to dress a wonder
ful tree with gifts for her
Gives other Examples.
~ party OF men were walking
through the woods last Sunday" went
on the Fir Tree, Tor the Christmas :