Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1914-12-18
THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT;
A CHRISTMAS FANCY

habitat OF man until ne came 70 Tue
quiet little sunlit path that runs
through the deep wood.
When he was yet afar of the most
perfect Fir Tree in all the forest called
gayly to the Great Oak at her side.
"Christmas is coming!"
EYES," answered the big oak. "but
there is something wrong. See how
he halts at the end Of the path. stoop-
ing as If the load of the worlds sor-
row lay upon his shoulders. See how
he comes now, with all the gladness
gone from his STEP"
1t was quite true. Christmas Spirit
came toward the most perfect Fir Tree
In the wood with tagging step. looking
away through the forest with sad and
troubled eyes.
"Why, what is the matter, Christ.
mas?" called the Fir Tree.
There was no answer. The forlorn
figure sat down on fallen log at the
foot of the Fir Tree. but still there was
no answer.
"Tell me about it all. Christmas" in
vited the Fir Tree in voice vibrant
with sympathy.
II have been over the wide world.
have knocked at the door Of every
heart and no one has opened to me. l
am forgotten, and there is no one who
loves me-" he said
"Every hearth" questioned the Fir
Tree incredulously.
mo, but many, many hearts. and
they are all alike" he compromised.
II have been in the home of men and
stood so close to them that ! could lay
q finger on their naked hearts. but they
did not stir at my touch. They looked
me squarely in the eye. and these are
the things they said to some woman in
their homes: Don't break me- i shall
be months paying the bills you are
making christmas is nuisance.
.Confound this custom Of giving pres
ents anyway!
these are the things they said while
they looked into my eyes. and all the
while my hands lay frozen against
their hearts.
II went and stood beside the women
In many. many homes. and they looked
through me as though l was not One
beautiful lady think Of now in par
ticular. oh. wanted a place in her
heart, and knocked loud and long. but
the door did not open SO much al q
crack for me to enter. She looked into
my eyes and said: Il wonder what Mr..
Brown paid for that bag she gave me
last year. 1t looked like a cheap thing.
and I shall not spend much money on
her. And again. 1t is awful to Just
have to make gifts to people you do
not care q thing about
mo one loves me. and I cannot live
without love. and 50 I shall de-" sob
bed Christmas Spirit to the Fir Tree.
"Christmas has come to be just big
exchange desk, where people give to
those whom they know will give to
them and grumble in the giving"
"Come Closer" whispered the Fir
Tree. II have something to tell you.
"A woman came to the heart of the
wood yesterday" said the Fir Tree.
"and with her there was another wo
man.
1--WE must find the most perfect tree
in all the forest, for none other will
do said the first woman.
ayes said the second woman. for
the child has no one to bring Christ
mas Spirit to her, no relatives. no
friends, no one to care
''They talked on and on until the
story Of the little crippled child for
whom they were preparing Joyous
Christmas came out She was nothing
to them, but she was alone and not like
other children.
"A party of men were walking
through the wood last Sunday" went
on the Fir Tree, for Christmas Spirit
had stopped sobbing now and was lis
tening intently.
Zone Of these men was telling the
others about bis aged father, who
worked his fingers almost to the bone
In years gone by to give his boy an
education. Now he Is very feeble. al.
most down the western slope. and his
son-who will always be just little
boy to the old MANS going back to
the little country village to spend
portion Of the holidays with him and
lift the veil of loneliness from his soul
He has planned some wonderful sur.
prises for the lonely old man away
back there In the country" ended the
Fir Tree.
'Oh, has her exclaimed Christmas.
no longer q forlorn little figure, but Q
happy, happy spirit
II am going away next week to be
decked for the little crippled child"
laughed the Fir Tree when Christmas
Spirit stopped mid his mad dance Of
joy. "And am going across the whole
world, and l shall knock so earnestly
at the heart of every human being that
no one can fail to open wide the inner
doors to Christmas Spirit" called the
little figure Of Christmas Joy as he
danced away toward the edge Of the
wood and the cities and towns beyond
Julia Chandler MANI in Buffalo Ex-