The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-12-15
(By William T. Ellis.

20. An Unsclfish Lire" Poll.
2:1-11.
(By William T. Eiis.)
The core of Christmas is the truth
spirit that i%rradiates all the
earth is the day Of lavish pouring out
of self. Somebody cares is written
large over every Christmas gift and
Christmas plan. 1t is the day of TAX
ing thought for other persons. Then
it is that kindly friendliness proves
its hinship with the spirit OF this
festal day. Christ in Christmas means
love-the love of God for
man and OF men for one another.
Old Thomas Attempts. VINO WIS so
wise in the things of the human heart,
pierced To the center Of the subject
when he wrote, Know that the love
OF myself doth hurt still more than
anything in the world"
One word spoken by the Christ
whose coming made Christmas, is
written over all true keeping Of this
high feast day, the word '~lnasnuch."
To do lewly service, and especially to
little children. is to prove loyal to
Christmas. We make this the day Of
days for childhood because the child
ome to his own at the Bethlehem
manger. 4 legend concerning this has
been gathered into verse:
when the shoemaker Of Antwerp
came to die,
And in fear and trembling faced the
Lord most high,
To the question stern anu awful,
What hast hou
For the King of earth and Heaven
done beloW?'
Lord he answered, 'OtIers serve
Thee, | alOna
Thy throne;
Only this one thing to Thee, Lord,
dare I tell;
II have pleased the children, and they
loved me Well
Game the sudden %wondrous shining
Of II smile that lights the
skies,
As the King of Heaven answered,
'Laborer in My vineyard, rise!
Though thou did'st it for the children
thou hast lone it unto Me.
While a child on earth is living, thou
its living saint shall BEL"
AS q brilliant star makes a cleal
path across the water from the very
feet Of the man standing by the sea
shore. SO the Christmas star shine:
a straight course to truest greatness
SO simple is it that the reader may
fiSdain it as mere preaching. None
the less, the profound truth abide:
~eternally, that real greatness come
through steady service. Not every
body may serve conspicuously, ant
there is no warrant hat recognition
will come TO the serving one; bu
we are not considering the fame Q
o~yEo h,,S tIo Cr~n1fp0Co n II cArxin
Patiently. tirelessly. a1ertly, to seei
out ways OF being helpful is the on
divine mark of the truly great char
acter. Not only does greatness com
by service; out service proves great
ness. a petty person cannot rise t
this conception Of pouring out hi
powers in service that is not tanned b,
any tinge Of self-seeking. Whoeve
lives to serve find himself in tn
train Of that Greatest Of men, VIII
cried. y am amoDg Q IS n tina
seryeth.'
Loves candle is a better light t
live by than genius electric flash.
> The gift Of being able to give
: rich Christmas laTgenesS. Some on
; unknown to me has put it into vers
: Look on all His gifts around thee
CIllS lIlAt 1lldhC IL JOY 70 llNc,
Best OF all, O royal kindness Il
= las given the owe to give.
: He has filled thy hands with blessine
which He bids thee scatter wide;
Calls thee friend, and not His seryar
e friend to labor at his side"
e Looming large upon the Christina
e horizon is the figure OF Mother Mar,
She e~Inbodies that mother-love which
q until her o was born, wa earth
Hottest ideal and example Of unselfis
love. What sacrifices mothers al
making h world around to crea1
'e Christmas happiness for others. !,
Us lay q Christmas wreath CT red. r
love, and Of green. for memory, upc
the nane of motherhood TO-DAY.
II Every Informed observe CT Of ci,
life knows we'll the pathetic spectac
of men and women who have grow
old amidst fortunes favor. and yh
often. have done notable work. i'm -