The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-25
4 REAL
 CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

] T hate Christmas time!n The words
 make you shudder when you see them in cold black and white print, do they not?
 Yet, how often have you heard them during this month, which is not yet old? | How often have you yourself made d | renark-thoughtes and unintentional | perhaps-that sounus equally sinister?
 asks Mary Champion in one of her
 fr.sndly chats.
 1 To hate Christmas time To hate the season of good will and friendly remem- | brance-to hate the day which brings
 back childhood and all it's happy mem | ories-to hate the recollection of absent | friendsi
 1 IL is mere coward selfshness that hates Christmas time, with it's associations of merry making and present giving. l Nou may feel yourself shut out from the l brightness. the gaiety, the joyful spirit | Of it. Hard circumstance may condemn | does condemn too many-to be an onlook- CT a cheerful family gatherings at home
 and abroad-at shopping excursion, party
 and play But you need not be skele- ! ton at the feast
 All the world is making it's preparations
 for iollty-do not let yourself be eX-
 cluded! Insist upon your full share in l thls wide spreading spirit of good will! |
 This world in the main is made up of
 two classes of people-those who give, and
 those who receive. For some happy indi-
 vduals the giving and receiving is mixed 1 in fair proportion, but the two great 1 classes remain.
 l Perhaps you who feel so aloof. so alone and never more than now-perhaps you
 have been waiting all this time to be
 given things, when God intended you to be one of the givers-a sharer in the divine
 sacrifice.
 Do not wait any longer! Ii was quite | a mistake. This thought may sadden you | for an instant; it not intended that l you should be given much in this world,
 and when gifts are brought you they ! are never quite what you want. | Learn from this at last the lesson eX- perience has been teaching you all these l years: it is your part in the divine plan ! to go about seeking others in greater need-to bring them gifts of happiness, | joy and love--to startle them with de- | lighted surprise-to give yourself, if you
 can afford no lesser giving. Ii is a beautiful paradox, is It not2 l No matter how poor you are, 1t is in your | power to bestow a present in which the | richest millionaire cannot outvie you | yourself: your interest. sympathy, per ! sonal service. That is better than use
 less bit of jewery, a treat to the over | surfxted; expensive toys for a blase child! l Are you not expecting happy time
 this Christmas? I am so sorry-I would
 make it the happlest you have ever known | ie could
 Perhaps, however, l can show you how l to find so much pleasure in it that never ! again will you repeat those whetched words-"I hate Christmas! l The saying means you are lonely. Well, 1 such lonely folk as you are wanted badly 1 if the scheme of this world is to work
 on smoothly, without jolt and stoppaSe.
 l am sure you know a poor family where the mother is so overburdened with her
 many incessant, daily cares that she can nos make any special preparation for 1 Christmas, even were the money avail able
 or, for poor old man or woman-let i this Christmas (the last. maybe) prove, a happy one! A packet of tea or 'baccy, 1 and a chat beside the fire (why not your own fire. with cheery meal added2) is all that is wanted to raise the poor old sou for a brief while to the seventh l heaven of bliss,
 | And then do not let the recipients of your kindness alone again-altogether | Why not spread out your Christmas of
 good win to last all the year round? | Looking about among your friends, do | you not know some woman or girl whose | Christmas this year will be destitute or 1 gaiety unless you step in and make the | day pleasant for her? Set your wits to
 worl1-l know you are an undeveloped in-
 ventive genius! Make her happy somehow l-l cannot tell you how to manage 1t,
 not knowing her-but you will find out seon enough if you try.
 Is she alone? Let her join your family ! party. Or, are you two alone2 Joln
 forces. and find a third, and a fourth, and amuse yourselves in company in-
 stead of induging in solitary, moping 1 retrospectien.
 | Christmas is time for happy not sad, l remembrances. Do not let the presence l of an empty chair bar your hearth and youi' heart against love and kindliness. ] No love is lost, unless we wilfully decree
 that it shall be so in letting our hearts grow cold. and hard and dread. Again l say-if you do not expect or want a happy Christmas this year, look l about you for someone who does. It is
 the merest plattude to say that in cheer l ing her you will find your own joy.