The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-14
The Art Of Giving

Giving and gift--thcy arc two beau
tiful words fraught with meaning. and
embroidered in and out with golden
thread of good cheer Haven't you
ever noticed that. after n particularly
rush Christmas season, when you have
digrcEsed entirely from the real mean
Ing and spirit of the Yulctide, gather
ing bcauteous things for yourself and
YOUR own, distributing others in re-
turn. there comes q rcyulsiou Of feel
ing toward the whole idea One sad
and lonely day YOU sat with hands
folded ana with downcast eyes, per
fcctiy miserable. but having carried
your point OF giving no .ift that
year. 1t was terrible day. Never.
no, for ono hundred times tho trouble,
would jou spend such another! Aud
so IL wns that in this swinging OF the
pendulum backward. YOU rushed mad
~ out among the very poor. in order
that YOU at least might SEQ the hap
nincss that your gifts brought to
others. Oh, unkno~ heart. YOU can
not DO 1T alone and unaided. of villa
good TO Distribute velvet cloUkH 10
family starving TO- Tread?
Ana. again, in our failure. We come
back TO the beeinnin. once more To
search for The real way Ia help and
learn tho rentle art Of givine. where
tic most goOd may bc accomplished
,Nc are vain, all OF us, aud We cannot
resist tho jog OF descending all un-
hcraidcI ana AL unannounccd upou the
doorstep II Il Experimentation house
hold 10 say with fun hearts. Hear me,
look up. ! have brought the Christmas
to you" II Is all me" and - and
mine Ana TO you know that that
particular family has need, or Is
worthy. Or that Eour gifts for ,hcm
are even in tho least suitable We
must 60 back 70 tho beginning and
md the answci--organlzed charity.
There ~ q foolish story told in pic
'Trc Of some recent fiction. 4 hand
sOmciy dressed woman Is standing uI-
On the stops II a wretchcd tenement
house speaking to tho woman who
i'ss Just left her wash tub TO talk to
her Acncnlc. illkerpt children
sprawl about tho floor. aud the charity
worker drawing her furs about nor
says in her hast manner. My good
woman, i% your husband at home?
We'll. Wont you toll him that a beau
iiful young lad, called and asked him
10, TO drink. that Is. mean only 20
niue light vines aud champagne win
his dinner"
Absurd, you Say? Of course. i, is
absurd, but that Is about all the idea
tina, half tho world has OF helping tic
rest of IT. You want To help where it
Is going to dc the most good and
have the most lasting eject There
arc some very good Store. put NJ
about this time OF tho year ana with
Yery good results, too. II YOU want,
70 give, If YOU want TO bring 4 real
Christmas caro-! i'm the heart ~ some
one. who otherwise would not sing. 20
80 some orgNui2cd charity and ash
them 10 Ei.c YOU n family, OF Il child.
~ person. whom you may aid, and to
tell YOU the bcst way TO do i,
II people have in their minds FAM
lies az children. Tor whom they arr.
anxious u do so'Ioihine. let them send
10 the Nurses settlement and md ou,
u others have not these same En- mind
RMS VIII prevent overlapping which
uvcs abundance % some and barren
ness for others. The people who ar.
IN this work all the year round can
tell YOU exactly which families live by
he tale tha; they tell and Il begging
rom door TO door. and Just which ones
really need your assistance.
In our great longing To help on. fell
iow man. who has need OF US. In our
vide desire TO divide the loaf that we
nave with thos. Vho have not, lot US
40 so with seeing eyes and discretion.
Indiscrminate giving 10 the shiftlcss
ana unworthy poor may bc small
ain that YOU dream not of TO confront
,ou on the page OF your Judgment
since YOU are your brothers. Keeper
md even q gift may harm. We follow
sidney l.anier's little stream. "fain TO
water the plain" aud we know that
N service ana sharing with others lie
ne welfare OF The nations OF the
"arth. Give, but give with thought.
nat good may come Of it. They must
be merry hearts and true. tina, dance
his Christ CLilds Day about our
+rcat Christmas tree OF gifts for ali
BRENT WITT
"rnndmother's WORT.