The river press., 1914-12-16
Christmas Giving Should Be
Prompted by the Heart.
Religion in the Orthodox Sense Not
Necessary to Appreciate Finer
Qualities Of Great Christian
Holiday.
BY PRUDENCE srANpIsH.

AFRAID at the glory Whlch SHINES about
them. Clothed in binding light, the
angel speaks; the heavenly host that
crowds suddenly about him sing OF
glory in the highest and peace and
seen his star in the East, kneel and
spread their gifts of gold and myrrh
and frankincense without question.
The miracle of 1000 years ago is
still new and glad and lovely, for,
10. in all Christendom bells peal and
sweet choirs sing the message given
by the binding angel and the crowd.
ing host:
For behold bring you tidings OF
great JOY which shall be to all people.
Glory to God in the highest, and on
earth peace, good will toward men,
This is the message of the Christ.
mastide, yet the bigger half of Chris.
tendon makes the period the pagan
festival it once was at the time OF
the winter solstice. We give gifts
for sake of the gods of custom and
merriment, forgetting entirely that
they are for sake of the great spiritual
Joy (which shall be to all people,
The gold and myrrh and frankincense
Of the heart are withheld-we give
gifts because we've got to, and keeI
our hearts as much closed to the
Christmas child as was the inn. We
have our own selfish ends to gain, the
rich patron to cater to, the friend tc
appease. We heap little children with
dazzling toys, and light the starry
lamps Of their fir trees because it is
the fashion, and we do our small
Christmas charities because 1t woulc
seem mean not to do them.
We have forgotten the joyous an6
sublime meaning of Christmas. One
does not need to be religious in the
orthodox sense to appreciate the finer
quality of this great festival for what
is known as Christian feeling has
come to be a moral obligation at this
time-a point of etiquette. in truth
for the heart and mind.
In point of mere etiquette-what
the social world thinks on the sub
ject Of Christmas gift giving--it is
thought bad taste for person of mod
est means to give presents of value
to others of wealth and influence, for
this savors too much like currying tc
continued favor if the giver is already
under obligations. But some knOWl.
edge of the helpful friends existence
is necessary, and this may take the
form OF pretty Christmas card with
an appropriate greeting; or knot Of
flowers or winter norries may be sent
with note expressing warm Christ.
mas wishes.
That the servant who hos given her
bodily strength and hearts best inter.
est TO the home must not be forgot.
ten, goes without saying; but it is
certainly bad form to make the poor
servitor's gift an inexpensive trihe
when something better can be afford.
ed.
Then what woeful want of taste
it shows for us to defer buying
friends or sisters present until we
have found out what she means to
give us, and so make the exchange
quid pro quo. The gift that goes to
friend or relative is above all one for
love, and it is undoubtedly better
taste for the recipient of the simpler
gift in the exchange to appear as
pleased as if she had received some
thing ten times its value.
But, then, what matters the nature
of the gift after all? The spirit is
the thing-and does not this silly pic.
ture or cushion. so unbecoming to the
parlor. mean that the friend or sister
has thought of us?
AS for the little children, so much
are their feelings painfully strained
at this time that | would like to write
a book on the subject. | beg every
mother not to threaten the poor little
heart that misbehaves sometimes with
the eternal word that Santa Claus
won't come if YOU do that any more"
The dear kiddie who fOrgets to be
good knows better after year or two
of this narrowing threat. which makes
you out story teller. Meanwhile
there is the little heart staying awake
there are the sudden storms of bitter
tears, with all the glory of Christmas
sunk in the bottomless pit Of absolute
sureness that Santy-dear. abused
good old fat gentleman-won't come
We remember the poor and drop
few pennies gladly for tie blind chill
dren.
But, why do we do it--why? 1t is
because wide. sweet star has stopped
over stable in the far East, because
the church choirs are singing o.
peace on earth ana good will toward
men.
So let us never lose sight of thai
fact with our gifts, whether our hand.
tender or receive them: for the hear1
closed to the deeper significance o.
Christmas may truly be likened tc
the inn that held no room. Let US
send with each gift some of thu
49,, 1.s,