The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1912-12-20


sea. or 10 the south.
where the blast n not tempered. For
Christmas island Hes straight In the
way Of the honest mariner. and the
stream which runs az river through
abe sea hath warmth and fragrance,
whereof the shores of the island give
pleasant evidence Now. the gales that
sweep tho island sweep westward
npon the approaching pilgrims, and
eastward upon the departing sails, 40
that the stay within the gracious port
~ but a part Of the Joy Of that sea.
And as the shores came out OF the
horizon. a llftie child called, Christ.
mas Isies Christmas Isleln--ao clear
e the afr of these parts 10 infant
eyes. And the older folk aboard we're
Joyful too, for on the west coast Of
Che Island, which those who have
nhafted these seas call tho Shore OF
Memory, fragrant breeze began that
minute 10 blow. though of these
Esames ! cannot be sure. for the child
had book OF bis own wherein this
shore Maa named Anticipation, And
now the journey meant few more
dnwns aud sunsets ore a landing could
be made, but with each league onward
the mellow fragrance was more mark.
I'D. SO there WAS great dispute among
the elder folk 70 say Just what made
up the pleasant assault upon our
sensea, some saying It was composed
mostly OF this. and others OF that
II Ii lavender" aasd an old lady.
Lavender and apruce and burning
candida. remember the night tho
new dress was taken from the Ghost,
and We danced beneath The candles,
sud there was mistletoe. my dear,
that WAS how met your grand
father. Yes, the breeze from on tho
shore o. the isis Ii lavender and
spruce and burning candles"
Hol TO met cried d blur and
hearty man. III ID The good smell Of
Nellwarmcd horses on the snow,
with the moon making double team
of them And II IL the good dry smell
0f popping corn and cooking apples,
ah. yea. and viii BIO saying there's
aae brown turkey In II. too. And tho
nell OF q lantern IN the barn when
we SO out to get the horaes after tho
dance.
All. aaid an0ther--and an | looked
! saw he waa habited as a priest. 1T
IL the incenae. tho Christmas incense.
which goes In ghostly columns to the
darAened roof OF tho great church
~ the Tires Wise Men 81 In process.
sionup the aisle attended BY aeolytes
and hooded nuns to do homage TO the
babe az the altar. Easter | know by
the lilies which smother the Incense.
but Christmas is incense and music,
u IL that which makes the breeze so
deilghtful 70 you. my good people,
NO" said another. "No, no. All
now know what II ID. Ii Is back
in the hill kirk that We are, whore
the foot-warmers keep as alive
through the Christmas. and It's the
faint Seorchlng OF honest leather and
She faint singsing Of homespun that
the brceze Is bringing YOU"
tits candy! It's varnish on siedsl
tts perfume on dollai It's oranges.
and eyergfeens. and the smell OF the
No0d IRE 10 the fireplace. and the
smell Of the cold on mothers furst"
cried the child.
And know not to what lengths the
talk might have gone. but the sailors
we're calling -Shorei- and there was
great motion among the pilgrims.
Now. the island Is ruled BY a saint
whose names are many. but Ia all
tongues and races they have one
Kneansng. which Ii GOOD WILL. And
Ais name Is the law of the isle. For
he holdeth that II man hath Good
VIII DC lulfileth all Law; aud Ii be
have not Good win no law can put
u within him; but II he have II he
cannot but give proof of Il. So that
there Is great giving Of gifts in the
island called Christmas. tor Good
WIN Is Itself gift which forever
branches and blossoms and sets to
fruit OF It's Kind. And Il Is the Gus.
tom Of the saint TO meet the pilgrim
ships and give those who call upon
him the choicest gifts, and when a
man hath received any one OF them
he f. forever a citizen OF the island
called Christmas. with all the rights
thereof.
Now. the gifts are hung upon tree
which Is called the Tree OF Life and
they shine with a wonderful light and
give on = sweetness which In good
time VIII sweeten the world. Indeed.
al all pilgrims know. the reason that
shores Ear distant from the Chrtstmas
Isle are hsbitable al NIL is that pill
grims have come back bearing their
gifts Of sweetness and light.
And the Grst gift IL the Gift Of the
Good Thought. whereby one may
break the hold OF narrow seraclty
which chains him. truthfully enough
but all too unwisely. 70 the faults OF
HIS fellows. There are neither riches
nor power comparable 10 the Good
Thought, which comes of the Good
Sight whereby men have discovered