The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1914-11-25
Tie HOLIDAY !! |! A! SPIRIT.
4 CHRISTMAS {; \ | n A! J FANCY N J

EIVEN from the heart Of the
people. Christmas Spirit left
~ the great shops: fed FROM The
f.N market places and from every
habitat Of man until lie, came to the
quiete 'ittlcgl s,,nlit path that ruins
through the deep wood 80
Wien he WAS yet atar Off the most
perfect Fir Tree in all the forest called
sayly to the Great Oak at her side,
"Christmas is coming
yes" answered the big oak. but
there is something wrong. See how
lie llAlts atithe end OF the path, stoop'
ing rs If the load OF the worlds sor.
row lay upon his shoulders, See how
he comes now, with all the sladness
gone from his step"
1t was G;iitc true. Christmas Spirit
came toward the most perfect I'ir Tree
in the wood with Tagging step. looliln.
away through the forest with sad and
troubled eyes. q
why. Whit Is tho matter, Christ.
mass" called the Fir Tree.
There Wis no answer. The forlorn
figure sat down on q fallen los ut the
foot OF the Fir Tree, hut still there, WAS
no answer.
Tell me about it all. Christmas III.
vited the Fir Tree in Il voice vibrant
with sympathy.
II have been over the wide world. J
have Knocked at the door OF every
hcari. and no ono has opened to me.
am forgotten, ana there is no one who
loves me" lie said.
livery hearth questioned the Fir
Tree ncret1ulously.
NO. hut many, many hearts. and
they are MI alike he compromised
II have been in the home of men and
stood so close to them that could lay
Il finger on their naked hearts. but they
did not stir at my touch. They looked
lnc Sduarcly in the eye. and these are
the Thugs they said to some woman in
their Homes: Don't break me- i shall
be months paying the bills you are
making.' christmas is Il nuisance
'Conionrd this custom OF giving pres
cnts anyway"
These are the things they said while
they looked into my eyes, and all the
Willie my hands lay frozen against
their hearts.
81 went and stood beside the women
in many. many homes. and they locked
through, me as though was not. One
beautiful lady think Of now in par.
ticular. Oh. wanted Il place in her
heart. and Knocked loud and long. but
the door did not open so much IS. II
crack for me 10 enter. She looked into
my eyes ana said:rl wonder what Mrs
Brown paid for that bag she gave me
last year. 1t looked like 4 cheap thing.
and shall not spend much money on
her. And again. 1T Is awful 10 jus;
have to make gifts 10 People ron do
not care Il thing about
NO one loves NE. and ! cannot live
without; love, and so, shallSdic." sob.
he'd Christmas Spirit, to the FirlTrPc.
"Christlnas has cone 10 b. just 4. big
exchange desk, where people give L"
those whom they know will give ("
them and grunble in the giving" ,.+' A.
Come closer" whispered the Fir
Tree. " have something to tell,you,
"a woman came ~ the heart Of the
wood yesterday" said the FIR Tree.
land With her there WAS another wo
man.
I've must find The most Perfect tree
in all the forest, for !ione other will
do said the first woman.
"'Yes,s said the second woman, for
the child has no one to bring Christ.
mas Spirit TO her. no relatives, no
friends. 70 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 ont. She was nothing
to them. but she was alone and not like
other children.
IN party Of men were walking
through Tue WOOL !lSC SuIutN. went
on the Fir Tree. for Christmas Spirit
had stopped sobbins now and was liz.
teninG intcnRly.
zone OF these men was telling the
others about his aged father. who
worked his fingers almost to the bone
IN years gone by 10 give his hoy III
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 man.-is going back to
the little country village to spend Il
portion Of the holidays with him and
lift the veil OF loneliness from his soul.
lie has planned some wonderful sur.
priscs for the lonely old mnA away
back there in the country" ended the
Fir Tree. ''T|"
oh. has he" exclaimed Christmas.
no longer forlorn little figure, but
happy. happy spirit.
Il am going away next week to be
dccked FOR the little crippled child
laughed the Fir Tree when Christmas
Cp;rtt ctnnpol NTH bfs ,,lnH sl1ncn ~