The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1912-12-27

from whom the man has gone away.
leaving the woman to fight single
handed against the wolf. The effort
there to keep up heart and to hold
together the children in the home.
with the handicap of the lower wage
which Is melted out to the working
woman, seemed even more desperate.
The little ones looked hungry; the
Christmas tree had shrunk TO a tiny
sprfg OF green; there was little light.
and 1t was. oh, so cold, and the tiny
babe on the mothers arm was the
only soul that smiled. And this at the
time OF plenty, when all should re-
1oice! Is the mother at work at a
time like this? Yes. In spite OF all
the world has to tell us of sacred
motherhood" the woman with the
babe on her arm Is not exempt from
this harsh demand. and at work she
must be. even on this day OF days. or
risk the dole which is all that stands
between her children and the wolf.
And deep in the saddened eyes OF
the Christ I read the condemnation
and the question: He that loveth not
his brother whom he hath seen. how
can he love God whom he hath not
SEEM"
Is the rush OF the gift-buying a sign
either that there is plenty in the land
or that we really love to celebrate the
birthday of the Christ? II you think
so, listen to the groans OF the over
burdened father Of the family when
approached with the request for
Christmas moneys; hear what weary
women say to each other in passing
concerning the unwelcome necessity
OF exchanging gifts" with so many
people who look for something from
you" What of the original spirit of
Christmas Is there left in this lex.
change" this giving in the expecta-
ton Of return in kind? Thousands
upon thousands OF gifts are lex.
changed" by people who bought them
with the money which was really
needed for the daily uses OF their own
households. bought them grudgingly
In servitude to custom and without a
particle OF real Christmas spirit ac-
companying the selection or the Civ.
ing.
But this is not the worst OF It: the
children, even. have come to know In
many families that the gifts to those
outside the family circle are given not
because OF loving desire to give. but
In the spirit represented by that
wicked dollar" which Emerson said
was given In order to save himself
the unpleasantness Of refusing or the
trouble Of investigating some demand
made upon him. Which has the bet.
ter claim upon the time and the purse
OF the man OF small means-those
dear to him who actually need CON-
forts. or the richer friend who in no
sense needs the thing sent and who
In turn will feel obliged to make a gift
to keep his record clear? Shame up
on the weakness which forces the
exchange" Of what should be an out.
pouring OF good feeling or else has
absolutely no raison d'etre.
But IL there any righteousness IN
the feeling Of SNUG comfort In the
homes Of the well-to-do at the Christ
mas season? Ii the full table and the
Joy OF ones own household q fair
Offering In honor OF him whose COM
ing we are supposed to be celebrat.
ing?
While we are pretending to be
Christian community what are we do
ing to the weak and the helpless!
Can there be any greater wrong to
the children Of any community than