The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-12-22
CHRISTMAS GIFT
 HOUSE DESCRIBED BY THE BUILDER
It Is the Spirit Alone Which Counts, Not Size, Shape,
 Or Cost.
By Noble Foster Hoggson, President,
 

NBy Noble Foster Hoggson, President Hoggson Bros, Builders.)
 It seems to me that if were able to make some one a Christmas gify of noble proportions, I should like it to be a house. I should not care whether it were a country house or a town house, so it had enough of space about it, and trees aplenty to hold the snow when the house. warm- ing should come. For that would be the last beautiful touch in Christ mas gift of a house-a real, old-fash- toned house-Warming
 It would be fine to break ground for this Christmas-house in time to have it under roof by the first frost of autumn. It would be fine, too, if one might take a great deal of time to put the finishing touches to walls and decorations under the mellowing influence of artificial heat. For, a Christmas-h house should, of all things, be done lovingly. So, if 1t might be enclosed by the earliest touch of frost, and cozy and friendly within might be added by the heat of fires in the big grates, one might have grounds for the hope that something of the pre- cursory warmth and cheer might glow within the walls as long as walls remain.
 Of course one cannot define a Christmas-house in terms of shape or size or cost. But one may readily define the spirit of the house, for the spirit alone counts. It would be a tragedy to give a Christmas house to one with whose personality that house did not harmonize. So fl would be refined cruelty to confine cne's beneficiaries in the presence o1 decorating and furnishings that mear nothing vital to the recipient. In 2 word, the house must fit the dwell ers-it must be the joy of their heart! ard the reflection of their beings, al cutter garment for their delectatio1 through the years.
 And having such a house, let u lave our house. warming. Let us bit
 those who are dearest to him tha
 gives, and to them that receive. Le
 there be no "duty calls,'' nor ye
 duty invitations" and they wht
 come must be thrice welcome, for 2
 house-warming must first of all be
 heart-warming Let us bring in tn
 holly and mistletoe. Let us banl
 high the window hooks with ever
 green, splashed with red of Christina.
 berry and blossom. On the sills shal
 burn in golden invitation such can
 dies as shone O Christmas night
 in grandmother time. Let us built great roaring fires in the grates, un til the new house hreathes palpitat irgly, in its great chimney threats. Bring on the roast pig with tn apple in it's mouth! Bring on tn
 goose, stuffed with such savory thing
 as become this most foolish ant most succulent of birds! Stir tn
 punch, somebody! And when we'v, done justice to those at the table whick groans in the good old way there'll be Jonathans and nuts ant cider. Clear the floors, too, for { Virginia reel, none of your moderl limitations done by a girl from Kie7 or Yonkers in a raucous Broadwa. cabaret, but the genuine terpischor can inspiration that comes trippin, freely from toes tingling with the yer! joy O life.
 Let. us tonight be the orthodox O. the orthodox! Let's take our joy il great gusts, like those that roar III the old fashioned wide-mouthed flues Lord, folks! It's Christmas eve its a house warming, and it's wortl fifty years of travail to give houst awaVi