Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-12-20

will be here: only a few more days and
the day that marks an event that all
OF Christendom uses as the marker for
the years viii again bring more wildly
10 our consciousness the fact that a
Prince OF Peace came to this sinscarred
world centuries ago; only a few more
days and the birthday of a little child
viii be celebrated. a babe whose COM
ing was foretOld for centuries and whose
arrival was celebrated by a choir OF an
gels singing words that for nineteen
hundred years have echoed in the hearts
OF the people and have changed the
views OF millions.
This year has been in many ways
remarkable and in nothing more so than
the green December that has been
ours in Georgia. Last night as / looked
at the stars I'm a sky that seemed more
like the arched dome Of some vast cathe-
dral than nature herself. 1 thought of
that faraway land and the shepherds
who watched their uOcks by night"
and were the first 10 hear the song Of
the angels. With a heart in tune with
the heavenly visitors they arose ana
looked upon the young Child and His
mother and did not fail 10 accept the
tidings. as alas! 50 many Of us now fail
20 do. The Wise Men saw the star and
followed it. theirs were the first Christ
mas presents And this brings me to
the old, old subject OF Christmas giving.
Words are wasted from about the first
OF October until this season is over. We
hear all sorts OF resolves concerning the
habit OF giving. So many declare that
they are not going TO do blessed
thing" that gift swapping has grown
70 be a nuisance and the spirit Of the
season has become commercial Don't
believe a tenth Of il; those people are
probably Iamenting, in their hearts, their
inability to do as much as they would
like See them begin to buy. or TO
make their gifts and their expressions
are anything but sour. There are some
who really cannot afford TO buy pres
ents and when that sort has frmness
enough to rise above pride. false pride
! mean, and only write notes or honestly
explain the fact. they rise a hundred
per cent in the estimation Of their friends
for every one knows what a sacrifice
II must be not to send something.
Have you ever stopped to think of
the difference in the laws Of the world
since
The dawn rose red DER Bethlehem. the
stars shone through the gray.
When Jesus Christ. our Savior. was
born on Christmas day?"
Then the law was IAN eye for an
eve. a tooth for a tooth"
Then the neighbor was one Of the
same tribe. OF at least one of the same
race.
Now. our neighbor is whomsoever we
may be able 10 help. and the least in
the world may be greatest in the king
changed SO that forgiveness unto seven
~ times seven may not be the limit and
no man can show greater love than by
giving his life for a friend. Every
year we come nearer the ideal; there
have been all sorts OF heroic deeds done
some on the spur of the moment and
many after mature deliberation; the
record is long one and many will not
be known until that Great Day when the
record is spread before the world. Some
times I hear Of one that seems to me
ahead OF all others and my heart thrills
with admiration. Among that sort ]
count the act OF the young man who
gave q tremendous amount OF his blood
70 try to save the life of a young
wcman that re had never seen before.
For a long time skilled physicians had
done all in their power 20 save her life
and this was their last resort. They
went 10 Young Mems Christian assO-
citation and asked for q volunteer Two
were Immediately on their feet. The
doctors took the one whose blood seemed
best for the case, for strength was what
they were after.
Do you imagine IL was the work OF
few minutes? II was the work OF
hours, the heart OF the young man
pumped II into her veins. from his
wrist into hers
Then many OF you read OF the news.
boy who gave so much OF his skin that
death resulted His remark was. q
am glad / could do that. for she has
folks 70 love her ana am just a Grip
pied neWsie- Everything possible was
done TO save his life, but there were
complications undreamed Of
Don't you know that when that boy
reached the city. whose maker and
builder IS God. that angels met him and
astOnished him with their welcomel
Christmas giving. an yes, let il 90 on
Not always the things that can b,
bought in the stores. not always the
thing that must he saved until the 25th
or December. though / thoroughly ap-
prove OF a time for all things and an
sure that our date for Christmas does
Just as well as II we were positiv.
Jesus really was born that day.
DO not make IL. as some express IL. I
time OF exchange. IL is your fault II 4
becomes that. for there is nothing NOR,
contagious than generosity and good
cheer.
The world moves so fast these dav,
that many have never even heard o.
Dickens beautiful Christmas story. Thi,
assertion is not made in any III will
nor 10 cast any reflections on scholar
ship and culture. for the making o.
books seems endless and not TO be up {,
date with ones reading is an awfu
thing in the eyes OF some. Consequent,
there are other books by Dickens NOR
widely read than that beautiful story
but ! wish you would look IL up ans
read st. The Christmas Spirit" we heal
so much about would come TO stay 4
that were more popular.
Ills not the weight OF jewel or plate
or the fondle OF silk or fur:
It's the spirit in which the gift is rich
AS the gifts OF the wise ones were:
And we are not told whose gift wai
gold
or whose was the gift of myrrh."
See TO IL that yours has the tru'
spirit and let nothing else count II
many there will come disappointment
and sorrOws and even heart aches, bu
take IL all as becOmeth one whose low
IS set on more than this world hath
Rachel mourned and her little one wen
because Herod felt that he had beef