El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-12-12
Children

{ as happy, I know, and the reflec-
ton of the beauty and sunshine they
sent into some OF the dark tenemenLs
of the poor would tighten up their own
homes, and everybody around them
would feel it. And maybe they would
not even then stop to think that II IS
the loving message, or the christ cnliu
that has found its way into their
hearts, and that that is why they are
glad Really, what more can l say 70
the girls except that I love them all
and wish them the happiest Christmas
they, or anyone. can think Of
To the Parents.
But for their fathers and mothers j
have a word 1 would very much IKE 10
say. Don't let US cheaper the holdays
with too many and lavish glIIs.
They don't help, and sometimes they
hinder Let US keep the dollar mark
from our Christmas, whatever else we
give up to It And don't ever let US
hear again a cross and tired woman
say It wish Christmas was over; how
I shall manage ii all 1 don't know
Christmas over Why, we Kept Cnrlsl-
mas in our home Tor two WhoIe weeks:
and wished it would never be over. And
as for mana ging-in every house there
was a hearty welcome for every friend
and no one thought Of managing any
thing except to shake hands an around
and be glad that we were alive, ali OF
US. And I know that We children were
happy all day long, II the only toy
Santa Claus brought US was monkey
on a yellow stick.
Christmas is for all the children, the
little ones who are children in years
and the older ones whose hair may be
frosted with silver, but who are still
children in their hearts. as. thank God,
We all of US are, though we sometimes
seem strangely to forget. But 1t is all
a mistake. AS children we came into
the world, as children we must go out
of it into the presence Of our Father.
or He will not know US. He has said
1t himself. So let US make merry to-
gether when the bells ring out the glad
tidings that Christ is born. not in the
spirit Of the rich fool who said for
tomorrow we die" but just because to-
morrow we live, if we have really lived
on earth. That is what the bells would
tell US and that is their pledge. which
we can only break by not being willing
to believe it.
The Worlds sorrow.
Or, worse, by shutting out their JOY
from some other soul, through the
thoughtless seIfishness that is the
worlds great sorrow. All through the
city in the homes of the poor,
are Wretched men and women on
Christmas morning to whom the mes
sage Of the bells is one Of wrath and
nate instead Of love. They are the shop
girls, and delivery men Of the big stores
who for weeks have been driven to the
limit Of their endurance and often
enough beyond it, by the holiday rush /
that could be so easily avoided if shop
pers would buy early, early in the
month and early in the day. II there
We're no one to buy at night, the stores
would not be kept open, Of course.
Every woman can make someone. whose
life work if is to minister to her needs !
happier at Christmas by shopping early
when the stores are not crowded And
every man can do his share by paving ]
before Christmas all his little bills at
the small stores where they live from
hand to mouth, even if the big ones
have to wait I know a man who does
that every year, and he is absolutely 1
the happlest man Of all my acquaint-
ance, though he is what you would can /
poor.
Caring for the Birds.
Ont IN my garden where the flowers /
nave Just gone to sleep, knowing so /
surely that they shall wake again in 4
the spring, three families Of starlfngg !
i've IN little houses which I have builf ]
5o e, them IN the trees. For they are the 4
DeIoVed friends Of my bOyhood who
nave come lately, how 1 don't know
and L am too glad to have them to ask
many questlons- They are the most /
y ~ ulnan Dirds L know Of, they stay by
their nests al the year round lust like
people In the winter they eat AT NV
table which I spread for them on tbe
snow, and they pay me with their
sWeetest song. On the bleakest davs
"nen sunset touches the western slcv
with pale gold as VITA promise tbaf
the sadness shall not last always tbe-- {
come and sit in the tallest tree tons
Use toseIher al the little spites and (
lghts or the day forgotten. and 7 hear
ne sweet little whistling note that tells
ne Ihey are care free and trusting and !
gao, however Jack Frost goes blister
ng through the land. One reason WV
love the starlings is that thav saeT
% me 10 be keeping Christmas All ~
ear ear round What If we were to do AZ
icy uO- move up close and be friends
III Of US? Can anybody think Of q be1a
DER holiday than that? And ubero
men would be the strife and ciarooT
nat rings through the land: in bust
lsss ana In everything else? Why VIII
ne last echo Of the Chrfstmas bs III.
{ would vanish as if it had never 49,,
-nd peace and good viii would abi5a
= te IN WY not begin it, right now. each
ION the bells tell US of is within 15s
must bring 1t, or it will never coT1e