Norwich bulletin., 1920-12-25
CHRISTMAS AND rR1ENps.

My Dear Social Corner Editor and | Sisters: This letter was written for Dec. l Is but, somehow it was mislaid. Aunt | Mary picked up the subject and wrote so near my very thoughts I thought I would send it right along and make an excuse for being late. I am most all ways the last on the list, so when you get through reading the crowd of letters you can take time to read mine. It is just a talk between ourselves on Christ mas and friends, giving and receiving.
 For nearly two thousand years the world has been peculiarly accorded with the spirit of Christmas, and with the manner of celebrating the coming of the Saviour into the world. That it is bet ter to give than to receive will be ern- phasizei more or less solemnly in every Christmas sermon.
 But how many who hear the familiar words will pause and consider their deepest significance and meaning? And this is what I wished to add to my letter last week. How many of os dear read CTS (for know that Mrs. H., Mrs. Y. Mrs A and several other readers of the Bulletin will see this le.ter) realize con sciously that the old, old saying might | be condensed to the one simple little word-service and had you thought of that7 Now that is what I wanted to l talk about to all who are interested in | reading or the SOCIAL OOTHeT lelleTS Probably no word in the language is 1 more important for us to remember and give prominent place in our Christmas | thoughts. To serve faithfully and ear Restly in whatever direction one may be striving is not only to give, but is all ways to receive" something in propor- tion to the service rendered. q wish l were an editor while writing this letter that l might be able to explain this in | hot iuhf
 meaning fully. The law of gravitation
 Is hardly more certain and dependable. l. Is, of course, not given to everyone
 to render pre-eminent service in any di-
 rection but it Is in the power of every
 reader of this letter to render honest
 and helpful service in doing earnestly
 whatever is undertaken.
 Not many moons ago one of our
 friends-a very observant woman review.
 ing q recent journey she had made ir
 Europe, remarked that she had beer most impressed by something that one ot the great toy makers of Nuremberg hat , said to her vast numbers of the bes toys that Santa Claus brings to Amer ca as you know used to be made in Ger many.
 We apend more time and take nor : pains in making toys for the Christina trade in America than we do for an 3 other country" the toyrnaker had de clared.
 "Why?" she had inquired curious'y. Because" was his answer, America
 boys and girls for years and years hay j. demanded the very best of service "
 could render in toy-making. What U the result? Your leading merchants con back for Nuremberg toys every year b. |: cause we try to give them such servic
 as will always please the children, ar
 SO 1t is the Nuremberg toy-rnakers hay
 gone on making g host of friends
 far off America, simply by understandir
 the meaning of service and by livir ,: up to the conception of the word. t. Every Friendship that we possess aI Id highly prize, is firmly based upon m a tual service, though oft times We rs le our friends by accident, circunstanc is are always bringing people together D
 circumstances can do no more. If ty d natures do not respond to each other re k. friendship Is impossible, however close s, individuals are thrown together in eve D. day life. They may respect each ot ct CT, they may count upon each other f t. certain practical things, but there is m real sympathy between them becau ns they have no point of spiritual conta s. Having once formed a genuine frien ed ship one is, indeed. foolish who does n r. ensure against it's loss. People neith T remain friends simply because they ha of the spirited quality necessary for frien xe ship. On the contrary, there Is no a so easy to break as that of friendsh
 and the affection and love and synlp
 thetic understanding of years may
 utterly destroyed in a moment, and O ,r en is Friends are those who can
 wise and to whom we can snow our re
 selves ito whom we can talk freely wit