Connecticut western news., 1914-12-17
True Christmas
 Gift Found In
 Every Stocking

A STORY is told by one of those
 N rowing Scots, to whom the "A whole word is patrimOny, of
 two old immigrants in the highlands of Argentina who had left the old world for the new so long ago that they had almost forgotten their native tongue. But one Christmas eve, when the shrill wind blew about their windows and a silver veil about the moon held threat of snow to come, they slipped back into the language of the land of their birth and began to put into words those endeuring thoughts which. In all countries are prefaced with Do you rememberg' Thus they recollected the day when her hair was like spun flax and he was a notable wrestler; the day when they were married; the days before the tirst of their children was born-the chil- dren who now had sought far distant homes of their own. n"And do you re- member" said she, 'how in the old land put out my shoes one Christmas eve to see what luck the fairies would bring meT' =" He remembered. and-for they were growing sleepy. these old people-there was long si- lence. 'I have the shoes still," said she, And out of some drawer she brought the wooden shoes that she had worn on the Christmas eve when they were betrothed. Shall. we put them out again?" she whispered. Whats the use?" said he. Perhaps 1t might bring back-who knows?" urged the out the embers she opened the door cautiously and set the two little shoes on the threshold. And when the old people woke next morning he went half expectantly to the door and presently returned rather ruefuliy. Look" said he. Heres all the luck we've got" The shoes were filled with snow. '''
 But that was not forgetfulness of fortune. The gift that came to the old people had reached them the night be- fore, and presently you will guess what 1t was, Their case is the case of all of .us-the young, the middle aged. the old. .". 7
 We each of us put out our shoes. hang up onr stockings. expectant of the presents Santa Claus will bring and forgetful of the truth of experience that we are more likely to receive the gifts we deserve than the gifts we ex- pect. That Is not so, should not be so. with the children. Santa Claus softens the cynic regulation for them. and in the hospitals let us hope that the thrill of Christmas morn makes the dwellers in the cots forgetful for a moment of the trouble which has brought them there. ', Indeed, it does, and even if you filled their shoes with snow they would find a welcome for it. It's cold and slushy outside" sald visitor to a-little girl at the hospital. You're warmer here" *s' "Ah, but" said she. "I like the snow: I'd like to see it, accom- in down." Nowhere. indeed, is the coming of Santa Claus so firmly believ- ed in as 1t is in the children's wards of the great hospitals. for there is among the poor simplicity of faith which tends to get worn thin under circumstances when the round of hap piness is more easily attainable,
 Content-perhaps that's the thing. better than the cracker surprise, bet ter than the first prize at the club. but content is the hardest gift for the fair ies to bring. You hear of 1t in stories. Even in the story of the Princess Glenn entina. who loved the Chevalier Wo- gan and knew it when he carried her over the snowy stream, we are given to understand that the lovers were solaced in their parting because they parted for duty's sake. But the prin- cess, we know, died in a convent. and her true lover died lonely man. for his princess never came riding into the city of his dreams. But perhaps he had something instead of content. something which dies only with life it. self. It is that which the old people found in the shoes. You will now have guessed what 1t was, and we wish you all no better gift, for the snow was hopQ-