The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-24
By FRANCES sHAFFER.

Christmas time again! And may It be
the happiest Of all that have come and
gone since the romping, crowded days OF
eager childhood.
They were long ago, those days when it
seemed an endless time TO wait from
Thanksgiving to the wonderful Yuletide
that was certain to bring at least some
of the many, many things for which we
sighed. Can't you remember the last sea-
son when the chIld-spirit was really part
of you, all the delightful blend OF excite
ment, expectancy, and pure joy in the an
ticipation of gifts that were to come drop
ping from the Kris Kringle pack? For
We were quite material little Riddles, and
we wanted a host Of things
And can't you remember the time when
the Merry Christmas" as you heard It
and as you spoke It, began to take on
softer, more meaningful tones, finally to
merge into the wish of the heart, a very,
very Happy Christmas
Because, as the years speed away. with
the haps and the mishaps that the years
dole out, we fined that We can more
easily dispense with the material gifts
on the great Christmas trees than with
the mystic. wondrous gift of happiness.
For happiness, the kind that lasts. never
comes done up in the glory of fine tissue
paper, OF ribbons and festive holly; II
slips in by way of love.
Many Sorts of Gifts.
Some folk will find a diamond tiara
or a crisp, eloquent bank note stuck
away down in the tip of their bullying
stocking or hung on the tOpmost branch
of the tree. Some will have every ma
terial desire of their hearts fulfilled, and
others will be just comfortably "remem-
bered." And some will be glad indeed If
only their tables are well spread and the
wolf is kept away from the door.
We may wish for the diamond tiara
or the great bulk or money. may wish
for a hundred and one other royal things.
but the chances are they will pass on to
some other home. As to what we may
receive on Christmas Eve or morning, It
may be little or big, or it may be moth
ing at all. But there are some wonder
full things that We can give. things that
cost not one cent in money, yet leave the
most pleasure of all.
We may give OF our cheer, give 1t out
freely on Christmas morning, may resolve
that 1t shall last the whole year through.
We may give of our courage, our faith.
and our hope, and may give them so roy
ally that our whole family and little cir
Gle of friends will feel and know that
they have received something worth while.
just Think for n Minute.
Suppose there is a home where there is
no such thing as the Christmas spirit, the
kind that spreads to every day in the
year. Suppose it is sort OF gloomy, sort
OF cherries, with nobody making an er
fort to get 1t out of its ugly rut. Suppose
there are no pleasant greetings in the
mornings. no warm. tender words at
night, and suppose the charm and real
meaning OF home are gone.
Then suppose a new Christmas morning
dawns, with a Happy Christmas'' in the
very air. Suppose just one person, maybe
a son, possibly a daughter, or perhaps
even the father or mother. determines to
turn about and set an example of bright
ness, to make Christmas a merry and a
very happy day and to see that the
Christmas spirit. the spirit of loving aWd
OF living the part, carries down the
years
Cannot you imagine what a perfect gift
that would be, more glorious than all the
tiaras that ever were bought?
1t is not always so easy to be brave
and hopeful when there is worry or
a bit of fear Juggling away at the heart
not always simple to give from
a fund that need Strengthening itself
But if it once entered our heads what
choice, choice things We might tuck
away into somebody's Christmas stocking, !