Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1916-12-20

next Friday morning in the court
house.
Last Monday the English w. class
wrote essays in class about Christmas.
The following story is an example
chosen by Miss Emmy and Miss Jen-
ness as the best.
THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT.
What is Christmas? Such an odd
question to ask, why everyone knows
what Christmas is. Yes, of course,
but really what does it mean? Is
there any single definition which can
be given to such word, word which
covers such an unlimited territory.
Echo answers no. Christmas may be
defined as the celebration of the birth
of Christ but that only touches on a
little corner of the meaning, its signif-
icance. It may be termed the twenty
fifth Of December, but that is only a
date as any other date is. What then
can we call Christmas? l like to call
it and think of it as time when the
people forget about the worldly things
which make up so large part of their
life and dwell for a few days on the
higher and nobler ideas Of life. It is
a time when old friends meet and re-
new acquaintances, when families are
reunited to worship a common Father
and when everyone feels that every
one else is just right.
It seems to me that Christmas sig
mites the beginning of new freedom
of a new life, Of something so much
higher and more noble that one can
scarcely conceive it, yet at Christmas
time it comes to one so much strong
er, so much more beautifully that it
changes the outlook on life and on
years to come.
At Christmas time one loves to look
back over the past seeing what good
things have been done and then to
look into the future, wondering what
joys or what trials are in store for
him in the days and years to come.
1t is the time to commune with ones
own soul and Judge whether the life
of that soul is worthy or selfish.
AS I sit here up above the roofs of
the houses, up above the noise of the
streets, and look down upon tens and
hundreds Of homes, all covered with
a white covering Of snow, a picture OF
Christmas comes to my eyes. In the
background is a large open fireplace
with a large log burning merrily on
the hearth stones. On the mantle
above. it are numerous packages, all
white and tied with red and green rib
bons, while on the floor are several
bulky parcels of suspicious nature.
Now a door opens and comes a laugh
and %, Daddy, isn't this the beauti-
fulst ever!" with girl behind it.
Then comes daddy and mother and
another little child, boy, then two
more boys and girl, older. They
take their places about the hearth,
Mother and the boys in the big settee,
and Father and the girls In a dig
chair.
Soft murmurings of Joy and delight
come to me and then hear the father
telling story of shepherds who, many
many years ago were watching their
sheep on an evening when the stars
were bright and the moon was full.
They had dropped off to sleep, when
suddenly they were awakened by a
giant chorus of voices and rubbing
their startled eyes they beheld a
bright star, very much brighter than
the rest and then the chorus sang the
glad tidings, "Peace on earth good vii
to men," My eyes were growing din
and as the story ended far away
heard a voice say, 20 Daddy, isn't il
wonderful" and then as ages seemed
to pass, l heard voice whispering
out of the darkness say, eyes, m!
darling, very very wonderful"
Everything was dark. l became
startled, l did not know where l was
or what had happened. However,
did not worry long for before me ap
.. peared a trench which knew by tn
red mud and frozen water and blood
to be in France. Then an opening
: appeared on one side and rude hu
built out of a fir tree trunk had bee
covered with dust formed itself.
Soldiers began to assume shape
and soon 1 was beholding a trench y
the battle front. Some Of the me
are firing, others are reading and
few are bent over much fingere
Bible. They are reading In the st
chapter of Isaiah and are very muc
engrossed at the story told there.
can hear only the thunderous poun'
INK OIL CduuOu, "AACA AOoAAy OAO'0 IL
mad. It is Christmas eve, and the
are sad. 1 noticed a rather faint lu
in the thunderous bombarding seen
ing to start from the guns which WEI
miles away and it grew more omnfor
as it became more marked. The me
are also disturbed by the unu
ual proceedings and not little frigh
ened. Suddenly an officer comes ru
| ming in from the communicate
trench with an order. He races to Il
officer in charge. The command
tears open the envelope and hurr1e
" glances thru the page. Slowly
removes his helmet and says, boy
N we are thru; listen, suspend oper
ton, peace and good will to men.
Things grew dark again and hea
III family the men saying. lis not it VIC
derfuir' My eyes cleared and I fou1
myself again looking at the snow &C
cred roofs Of the now silent and pea<
liz ful town. But my idea OF Christm
- e.