Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-12-15
DECEzIBER.

Gone are the summer hours. gone are
the autumn haze and autumn flowers
Now has come grim winters reign, now
has come the snow again But we need
not these regret for the days are flying
fast. and we need not sigh. nor yet think
that winter long will last Hour by
hour old Time deals out things yhat God
thinks best for US Let not pain, nor
fear.snor doubt minsle with the norsh
winds fuss. Mother Earth IN robes ~
white keeps the rOoIieJs snug and warm.
Just as sometimes come 10 Us good
things in the guise OF harm
DEFENDERS SHOWS and rains and cold
have also a precious gift that Chaldean
men OF old learned would be the worlds
uplfft. and the centuries as the pass
have not failed each year 10 give tribute
to that natal day when with men Christ
came 10 live
The sun is shining. the air IS bracins
and all nature calls Us, but there are
some OF US that have not finished our
Christmas gifts some OF US nave not
even the money 10 buy them Some have
not the time 10 make them And 10 ev-
cry one OF yCu 4 want 20 say that III We
look into our hearts and really see that
we have done our best, Jheu We may
try 10 console ourselves with the IDEA
that angels can do no more than their
best
But don't De selhsn. 1 knew a man
VINO posed as a good man WHO never gave
his vile a present in all their married
life The thoroughly selfish, he was re-
puted 10 De a good prOvideT, but she
knew that nothing was bought Tor the
table that did not appeal 10 his palate
- i
mental trash In his eyes So am
writing this 10 remind some of you who
have let the habit lapse TO look about
YOU and see III you cannot once more re-
new the joys that should come from
Christmas giving-not from swapping
things at Christmas Jime-there IS sucn
q difference in giving and in exchanging.
And. right here / want TO ask now many
OF you VIII promise yourselves TO drop
that disgusting habit OF writing Xmas
for Christmas / feel sure that wher'
a member OF the church uses the term II
is ignorance OF a very careless habit ac-
Guired through hearing others say, %
write it.
Would YOU speak Of Christ as Y? Dc
YOU celebrate ChrisJs birthday or the
day that Christ was crucihed2 The
Y was originally intended for cross,
the Roman cross And in the days OF
persecution was fitting sign for fellow
sufferers 10 use in making themselves
understood when among their persecu-
tors But in this age OF sO-caiiee
Christian enlightment IL III becomes any
OF US 10 write Merry Xmas for there
IS no such thing as n merry cross sea
son" or occasion. In my years as
head OF this department, and the one IN
the Sunny South. IL seems 10 me thas
have marked out that y and nave writ
ten Christmas a million times
You may open your eyes and say that
a million is many a time, but you must
remember that from now until after
January there will be occasions 20 use
the right word, or wrong sign, wnich
are YOU going 10 choose2 Will you cele-
brate Christmas or Good Friday, Tor
Christmas comes nearer that sad time.
This is not a long Chat for there are
some good letters that must so in this
week
What would please the wife more
than for her husband. or boys TO read
the helpful letter from Mountain
Woman and let her suggestions supply
the IDEAS TO be materialiZed in the homes
needing Just such things There couldn't
he a better Christmas present than
a cellar or some closets in a house with
out them Remember that he who gives
gets the blessing.
Faithfully yours,
LIZZIE o. THOMAS,
Tuscumbla, Ala