The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1915-12-23
away through the forest with sad an,

away through the forest with sad and
troubled eyes.
| why, what is the matter, Christ
masT called the Fir Tree.
| Ihere was no answer. The forlorn
figure sat down on fallen log at the
FOOT of the Fir Tree, but still there was
no answer.
Tell me about it all, Christmas" I'm
vited the Fir Tree in a voice vibrant
with sympathy.
Il have been over the wide world. l
have knocked at the door of every
heart, and no one has opened to me.
am forgotten. and there is no one who
loves me-" he said.
Every hearth questioned the Fir
Tree .incredulously.
mo. but many, many hearts. and
they are all alike" he compromised.
Il have been In the home of men and
stood so close to them that could lay
a finger on their naked hearts. but they
did not stir at my touch. They looked
me squarely in the eye. and these are
the things they said to some woman In
their homes: Don't break me- I shall
be. months paying the bills you are
making Christmas Is a nuisance
'Confound this custom of giving pres
ents anyway!
These are the things they said while
they looked into my eyes. and all the
while my hands lay. frozen against
their hearts.
II went and stood beside the women
in many. many homes. and they looked
through me as though ! was not One
beautiful lady think of now in par,
ticular. Oh. / wanted a place in her
heart, and l knocked loud and long, but
the door did not open so much as a
crack for me to enter. She looked into
my eyes and said: Il wonder what Mrs.
Brown paid for that bag she gave me
last year. 1t looked like cheap thing
and I shall not spend much money on
her, And again. 1t is awful to just
have to make gifts to people you do
not care thing about
mo one loves me, and l cannot live
without love. and SO l shall die" sob
bed Christmas Spirit to the Fir Tree
Shi mas NOdiC " bC just biS
exchange desk, where people give to
those whom they know will give to
them and grumble in the giving"
"Come closer" whispered the FIJI
Tree. 81 have something to tell you
"a woman came to the heart of the
wood yesterday" said the Fir Tree
land with her there was another wo
man.
1--WE must find the most perfect tree
In all the forest, for none other will
do said the first woman.
ayes said the second woman. for
the child has no one to bring Christ
mas Spirit to her. no relatives. no
friends. no one to care
They talked on and 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 and not like
other children.
"a party Of men were 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 to the hone
in years gone by to give his boy an
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 q
portion of the holidays with him and
lift the veil Of loneliness from his soul
He tras planned some wonderful sur
prises for the lonely old man away
back there In the country" ended the
Fir Tree.
"Oh. has her' exclaimed Christmas
no longer forlorn little figure. but
happy. happy spirit
81 am going away next week to be
decked for the little crippled child.
laughed the Fir Tree when Christmas