The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-12-17
81 cSa s sss ts as!sSSt s.: :;i
True Christmas
Gift Found In
Every Stocking,

Every Stocking
;;;ss, ss;;ss s;a s. 49, ss;ss vi :s;sss
/ A STORY is told by one of those
"a rowing Scots, to whom the
~ whole world 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 silver veil about the
moon held a threat OF snow to come,
they slipped back into the language Of
the land of their birth and began to
put into words those endearing
thoughts which in all countries are
prefaced with do you remembers"
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 FIRST
SOf their children was born-the chill
dren who now had sought far distant,
homes Of their own "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 me?" He remembered
and-for they were growing sleepy,
these old people-there was a long ST.
Hence. II 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 usey' said he Perhaps it might
bring back-who knows?" urged the
old woman. And SO before he raked
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 ruefully
l"Lookr' said he. "Heres all the luck
we've got" The shoes were
filed 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 it was Their case is the case Of
Iall of us-the young. the middle aged.
the old.
We each of us put out our shoes.
hang up our stockings expectant Of the
Ipresents Santa Claus will bring and
forgetful of the truth Of experience
that we are more likely to receive the
lgifts 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 forgetfu for moment Of
the trouble which has brought them
there. Indeed. it does, and even if you
filed their shoes with snow they would
find welcome for it. Its cold and
slushy outside" said visitor to little
girl at the hospital. You're warmer
here "Ah. but" said she. Il
like .the snow; I'd like to see it aeon,
in down. Nowhere, indeed. is the
coming Of Santa Claus so firmly believ.
ed in as it is in the children's wards
of the great hospitals. for there is
among the poor a simplicity of faith
which tends to get worn thin under
circumstances when the round of hap,
3piness is more easily attainable.
A Content-perhaps that's the thing
better than the cracker surprise, bet
ter than the first prize at the club, bu,
icontent is the hardest gift for the fair
les to bring You hear Of it in stories,
Even in the story Of the Princess Glen.
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, TO,
his princess never came riding into tn.
city of his dreams. But perhaps he
had something instead of content
something which dies only with life 1t
self. 1t is that which the old people
found in the shoes. You will now have
guessed what it was. and we wish yoC
all no better gift, for the snow was
hope.
~