The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1913-12-18
CHRISTMAS A HOLIDAY,
A HOLY DAY, OR BOTH
From Mothers Magazine


The Christmas season is upon us.
4 What shall 1t mean for the childrenf
A time of excitement and consequent
weariness-a time OF foolish extrava-
gance followed by vain regrets. A time
many OF us have come to dread be-
cause of our wrong Interpretation OF
ftf Or shall we remember that we are
commemorating the birth Of Christ and
make It for the children the time OF
holy rejoicing pause when small
waiting hearts may hear as Of old.
Tear not. for. behold I bring upon o
good tidings Of great Joy"
But what of the children'a merri-
ment5 Should they not have a good
timef Certainly 1t is theirs by right.
| Lead them to see that the day we cele-
brate is truly a day OF days-one to
be OVERCOMING with Joy. mirth, happi-
ness and singing. The Christ child
came into the world while angels sung,
men rejoiced and the world was filled
with thanksgiving. So through JOY and
happiness the children must prepare
n be prepared for Christmas day
having a part in the work as well as In
the play Of the season. They. should
be led to feel the spirit OF the day and
an understanding Of his spirit OF
Christmas Joy must follow.
The idea that parents must surfett q
child with pleasure at Christmas time
In order to make him happy. Is a very
great mistake and the cause OF untold
sorrow.
A little girl whose mother toiled
early and late to give her the pleasures
rs well As the necessities OF iife-in-
sisted that this same mother should
not buy for herself q much needed
dress Because next month will be
Christmas and you will need money to
buy a doll for me" This little girl had
10 understanding Of the spirit of the
Say. We must help children to realize
what the day stands for-self-sacrt-
ace.
Civ the children the "old, old story"
always new and full OF indescribable
Interest.
The Christ story has been retold and
rewritten many times by people who
have done 1t we'll, but the story given
In the exact bible language, simple and
beautiful, a never been equaled. It
may even be taught to the children,
asked to have a real bible story read
to him from a real bible" expressed
more truth than he realized.
Children prefer the truth In its
purest truth and are apt to be dis
trustful OF adaptations of their loved
spiritual truth more readily than a
grown person IL 1t is given to him with
out comment or interpretation.
The child Jesus is always an inter-
est1ng personality to the little people,
Y they are permitted to enjoy him. It
- best not to burden him with doc
trines.
"A delightful as well as profitable
Christmas occupation is to Illustrate
the story Of Jesus with pictures. Copies
Of the great masters are the only ones
to select and these may be had for a
sman price now in print shops. Let
the children study them and compare
these pictures as they mount them.
Carl Miller's Nativity" (the little Lord
Jesus, asleep in the hay), Sinkel's ma
tiytty," and Correggto's Hold Night"
all tell the same story In a different
way. U In each Is seen the beautiful
light about the Christmas baby.
Study the same subject as d~elineated
by different artists: 1.-THE Holy Fam
NY" THE Alteration of the Magi,'
The Alteration Of the Shepherds"
The Flight into Egypt" and many
others, comparing the pictures and
noting their beauty. Just as much Of
the Christmas story as you care to tell
may be illustrated. In this way the
pictures may then be put INTO scrap
book form and will make a beautiful
Christmas gift.
A little girl Of my acquaintance and
her brother made three Of these books,
spending hours Of the days before
Christmas working over the selection
OF pictures. They were truly happy
In the work n their scrapbook gifts
were full of their own love and thought-
full labor. A frieze may be made OF
the more beautiful Madonnas' pictures
or a gift collection started. RaphaeIs
Madonna OF the Goldfnch" and 'The
Sistine Madonna" Titian's Madonna
of the Cherries" and THE Gypsy Ma
DONNA" The Madonna and the Child
with Angels" by Giovanni Bellini, may
be selected. Put each in a strong en-
velope. Paint on the outside. For your
collection" Any child can do this and
the gift is his own work.
Learning to give as Christ did, un-
selfishly, is perhaps the greatest les
son we must teach children at Christ
mas. Children are, as a rule, happy / n
giving of thernselves-it is we who
make them selfish. They are very In
experienced and need encouraging.