Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1924-12-10

J how it comes I do not know, but
think we should see to it that the re-
| ceiving station is in order and go
about our Fathers business as usual
AS a child, December was a magic
/ month in the calendar to me; the sky
at sunset was different, and the
/ frosted window panes were Christ
mas pictures. The great event was
when the schooner came to harbor
with holiday goods for Bunker's
store. Then, if by luck, one pos
sessed a dollar, gifts could be bought
for all ones family and ones friends
! Git could be done with less). Then
The candy bags of net, sewed with
bright yarn, through which showed
the wonderful contents, and the
Christmas cakes which came in a
magic box, have never, to my mind,
been equalled as gifts. l have al
ways aimed to have the cakes each
them, but they looked like my hearts
desire, and so satisfied
/ have never felt the Christmas
spirit in any crowded emporium as |
did in the little shop by the side of
the road when l went to buy bit of
ribbon for the homemade gift.
What gave it l do not know. Even
now I can feel the thrill which came
with Mrs. Lydia Smiths reciting
THE Night Before Christmas"
l remember one Christmas eve /
lost the trail. l had gone to the hall
expecting to smell the balsam frs and
gloat over the peeping packages, and
saw two cedars-and no magic was
= hiding in their skeleton branches. In
later life, one dark and gloomy after
noon before Christmas comes TO my
mind. The weather outside seemed
much like the conditions inside my
home. A box was left at the door,
and it was full of branches of hello
trope in bloom with a heartening
message do not think for me, but
for the blind aunt The house plant
must have been stripped of it's bios
rsoms, hui it set the Christmas bells to
ringing in their stead.
Again, zone Christmas eve, i was
tho utterly tired in mind and body
to take interest in ny gifts. A box
WAS handed to me containing a very
SIR all gift, $out it was tied with red
ribbon on which a branch of holly
was tucked from which the snow
flakes had not melted. l caught the
message anu happily urned to my
gifts, thankful for the love and
thought back of them.
AS this is i. personally conducted
tour of my experiences with the true
Christmas spirsl as they have come to
me since thinking of this paper, Il
have one more. The years that
was in the postolfice and store during
the holidays, the material side quite
GvershaGowed the spiritual, when it
came close up. Ia 1915, | had long
vacation and went so California, leav-
ing on the return trip December 2.
| IN Used my travelling companion of
the trip out; l was miserable ever a
new route ON the Mexican border;
sick of the desert, and generally
grumpy VIII you bGiieve it, al my
travelling companions seemed dppli-
Gates. Even the train sot balky, and
| ! did not get to my brothers in Kan
sas until A in tae morning, wheE /
should have arrived at the prevS-
Gus evening Two happy weeks with
I pre-Christmas doings started me in
good humcr on Monday before
| Christmas (Which came on Saturday,
for the last lap. l determined to feel
pleasant and show that did. and it
was really uncanny how beautifully
it worked out The Christmas spirit
was in the air.
| We have gathered to-day in
neighborly and helpful spirit to
make plans for His birthday of whom
/ it was said "and the government
shall be upon His shoulders, and
His name shall be called Wonderful
! Counsellor, the Everlasting Father,
the Prince of Peace" With Him
! for guide, may we be led to bring
into expression the true Christmas
| spirit in this town. But no doubt
| Won arc SAVING che hoe not toId IN