The Washington herald., 1911-12-29
BY JULIA CHANDLER MANI.


We were talking of our Christmas
sgifts, my neighbor and l. when she
asked me which one of the remem-
brances l had received I valued the
most.
Guess I said.
She went over them all as they lay
on the big table, admired each gener-
ously. and finally selected a handsome
handbag.
No; not that I told her. as hunted
among the things for small white card
that had come to me through the mail
a few days after the great day of the
: Christ-child's birth.
When / found it l handed it quietly
to my neighbor.
Across its smooth white surface was
written:
I'VE read your Christmas day story
on the gifts that are worth while, and
: it was one most precious Christmas gift
for it pointed the way to a great hap
piness to US. my husband and 1.
This is just to say to you that Your
work is appreciated by US. and points
the way TO the lighted path many and
many a time.
The name of reader of the HeraId's
Page for Every Woman was signed be-
meath the two sentences, and that was
all.
My neighbor read the message several
times and looked from the card to the
big table covered with gifts and 1 could
read her thought in her manner.
Did she send you anything" she
finally asked inc.
4 Precious Gift.
The best of ali the gifts that I have
received during the holidays" l said.
And l spoke the truth.
Gifts Of silver and OF gold, gifts of
every material thing had their price.
their moneyed equivalent. but no human
soul can buy MS felow-man's apprecia-
tion.
The Christmas spirit in my heart was
subducd by illness for few days, and
in the midst of these DAYS came nice
message from stranger, as the world
counts strangers. just to tell me that
] WAS appreciated
Like rush of splendid music, the
Christmas message flooded my soul and
brought back the happy Yuletide spirit
and with it came the memory of little
old lady / met year or two ago, away
out in the country.
Each day she rose before the sun came
up. and all through the hours she per-
formed all the hOuSely duties attending
life in a farmhouse. The little old man
who had CompaniOned her through life
went about his never-endinG tasks with
the same cheerful spirit that character
lied the little old lady
Day after day it was the same, and
afte" while I began to wonder If they
never grew weary Of the mOnOtOnOus life
that had no reCreative outlet anywhere.
The Answer.
Whil,. ] was wondering, the daughter
came home from the city, the brilliant
professional daughter, whose name was
known over the land, and loved where
ever it was known.
why, | could never have done all that
] have, but for my mother she told me
one day. and | was more puzzled than
ever. for how on earth could the little
old lady in her wOrk-a- day life help the.t
big. splendid. ColleEe-bTe woman who at
tributed her success to her mother.
There have been nights when ] have
gone home ready to give up the fight"
the daughter told me. discouraged to
my very marrow. when ! would find a
letter from my mother filled with her
belief in me. so imhued with her apprecia-
tion. that / sped on and on to success on
the wings of her dear faith.
Il have often wondered what would
have been the outcome if my mother had
failed to express her faith in me. Shr
might have appreciated my work. you
know. and just gone on like thousands of
people do. taking ii quite for granted that
] did not need to he told.
Just then the little old lady hustled
cheeriIy into the room. and I went away
20 think of the meaning of her quiet
>vork-a-day life. going on and on day
After day in the same monOtOnOus path,
Nut sending out a strong white light to