Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1914-12-19
THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT;
A CHRISTMAS FANCY


quiet little sunlit path that runs
through the deep wood
When h., VAS yet ufar or the most
perfect III Tree IN an the forest called
gayll to the Great Oak at her side
christmas Is coming
yes. answered the big oak, but
there Is something wrong See how
he hnlts nj the cud Of the path. stoOp
ing rs II the load OF the worlds sor
row lay upon his shoulders See how
he comes now. with all the gladness
gone from his step
II 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 al the
foot OF the Fir Tree. but s,ill there was
no answer
Tell me about II all. Christmas In
vitcd the Fir Tree In voice vibrant
with sympathy
Il have been over the wide world. !
have knocked at the door OF every
heart. and 10 one has opened to me. /
nm forgotten. and there Is no one who
loves me" he said
Every hcartT' questioned the Fir
Tree incredulously
40. hu: maHy. MANY hearts. and
they are all alike" he compromised
II have been IN the home OF men and
stood 80 close 10 them that could lay
q finger on their naked hearts. but they
did not stir nj my touch They looked
me squarcly in the eye, and these are
the things they said to some woman In
their homes Don't break me l shall
be months paying the bills you are
making christmas Is u nuisance
'Confound this custom OF giving pres
entS anyway"
These are the things they said while
they looked into my eyes aud all the
while my hands lay frozen against
their hearts
~ went and stood beside the women
In many. many homes. and they booked
through me rs though ! was not one
beautiful lady think ~ now IN par
ticular Oh | wanted place In her
heart. ana ! knocked loud and long. but
the door did tot open 81 much rs II
crack for me To enter. She lnnkcd into
my eyes aud said I wonder what Mrs
Brown paid for that bag she gave me
last year II looked like n cheap thin:
and shall not spend much money ON
her And again. 1t is awful TO just
have TO make gifts 10 people you do
not care thing about
mo one loves me. and ! cannot live
without love. and So | shall die" sob
bed Christmas Spirit TO the Fir Tree
"ChriStmas has come 10 hc just q biz
exchange desk. where people give to
those whom they know will give to
them and grumblc 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
I'VE must find the most perfect tree
In all the forest, for none other Will
do said the first woman
Eyes. said the second woman. for
the child has no one 10 bring Christ
mas Spirit TO her no relatives. no
friends. no one To care
They talked on aud on until the
story OF the little crippled child for
whom they were preparing a Joyous
Christmas came out She was nothing
to them, but she was alone aud not Ike
other children.
"A party Of men We're walking
through the wood last sunday, went
on the Fir Tree. for Christmas Spirit
had stopped sobbing now and was lis
tenlng intently
"One OF these men was telling the
others about his aged father. who
worked his fingers almost 20 the bone
In years gone by TO give his boy an
education. Now he Is very feeble. al
most down the western slope, aud his
son-who will always he just a little
boy TO the old MANS going back "a
the little country village To spend q
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 he" exclaimed Christmas
no longer furIorn little figure. hut a
happy happy spirit
Il AIN going away next week TO d,
deckcd for the little crippled child.
laughed the Fir Tree when Christina
Spirit stopped mid his mad dame az
JOY And nm going across the wh"l,
world ana | Shall knock :" earnestly
nj the heart ~ every human l"ng that
10 one can fail Ia open wide the inn"'
doors To Christmas Spirit called ia,
little n.ur" ~ Christmas 10y rs u,
danced away toward the edge Of ia,
vood and The cities and towns hey uud