The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-12-25
CHRISTMAS SPIRIT.
(By John r. Manella.)

Christmas is near. The spirit of
it soothes our tired nerves, and
brings back many pleasant mem
cries. Many of us rejoice over the
toy that we first remember, over
the shining objects of childhood,
end the sitting before photographers
FUR Christmas photographs.
AS the years float by we look
back with a tinge of sadness over
cur lost pleasure and joys of Christ
mas. We all love Christmas nor,
but it has a different significance
It has more meaning, more under
standing; it has grown more lovely.
There are now other children to
make happy. Whether they ar. our
own or the children of strangers.
AS We awoke in eager anticipation
on Christmas morning millions of
other children now awake with dis
appointment, If finding an empty
stocking is as great as the joy of
the more fortunate ones in finding
a full one.
Did you ever see a little boy with
patched shoes, ragged coat and a
much too old cap, looking longing
ly into a toy window? Did you see
his blank stare when he arose on
Christmas morning and found his
hung up stocking empty? If you
never have, look for one.
"The happiest Christmas of my
life," said a friend of mine, twas
35 years ago, when l was a little
chap of six. Ny father had died a
few months previous, and mother
vas sick in bed" One often hears
that children cannot be sad. / have
e.ways disputed that. East side of
New York is a crowded place." he
continued. Usually neighbors are
%engrossed in solving their own prob
lens. So no one came to see US on
Christmas day. / was restless, lone
some, terribly sad. / heard a knock
at the door. Uncle Pietro walked
in, a bachelor about 40 years old.
Older boys idolized him and he ac-
quired a title of uncle.
"His smile and embrace was so
sincere that l was Immediately
IA ansported from a sad to a happy
atmosphere. He gave me candy and
brought mother a steaming hot meal.
While mother ate, he sat me on his
knees. ! can still hear his voice in
broken English, and the story about
the seven brigands who had a little
boy imprisoned in the castle at the
bottom of the ocean, and a fairy
with a golden key came to his
rescue.
"As he was about to leave, he
told me to close my eyes. You can
imagine my delight when I stared
into a shining metal nickeled toy
trumpet.
81 have had many gifts and loved
many people since, but no gift has
been equal to the toy trumpet and
no love has equaled the love Of
C.rcle Pietro."
The world should have
Uncle Pietros. Our Christmas gifts
to less fortunate people should be
n ore sincere. Instead of sending
the maid, the hired man, or the
chauffeur, we should go ourselves.
We should forget the others posi-
ton, standing creed and race, and
get into the sublime Christian spir-
it. The best part of our nature
should perpetuate. For after all,
what is the toy if given with a
frown and rot a smile?
1t isn't the object nor the value
o: the object that matters. It is
the sincerity of the giver, that
makes a token priceless. The babe
that was born in a manger on
Christmas day, it was intended that
with him should be born love,
faith, understanding, kindness and
sincerity. Let us all just for that
day forget prejudice, cast aside hate,
hypocrisy and suspicion, and greet
with all sincerity, our fellow man.
Wish him peace and a Merry Christ
mas.