Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1937-12-23
GETTING DOWN TO
t'UNTO THE LEAST OF THESE

Whether in the turbulent war
one waters of the fangtze river,
he bullet-ridden battle fields of
Helpless China, I'm the idol-worship-
ing countries of uncivilized peo-
lies. or in nations of highest cul-
ure and refinement. the one day in
he year that is universal In OBJ
kervance is here-Christmas. You
gould almost think that the ordi-
harry adult would get used to Christ
mas, after all these years; would
get a little case-hardened. so to
peak, so that the day would lose a
title of its special, magical appeal.
Bomehow, that never happens.
christmas is forever new; even the
most sou and grabbed people, like
Charles Dickens old ~"Scrooge," are
apt to find themselves mystically
made W. by its Influence, if only
or a day or two.
For Christmas is, among other
Kings, a kline of spiritual rebirth
hat restores the freshness and ex-
pectancy of childhood. 1t is not
without reason that its common
symbol is a jovial Santa Claus, bear
Ing a pack of gifts for children.
Above all other days. Christmas is
children's holiday; and the grown
up who a pass through 1t without
At least partly entering once more
he stainless and u%nforgotten world
Of his W childhood is a hard and
Esolated soul indeed.
A little girl Of eight or nine
frudged into the writer's place of
business the other day. Clean. but
poorly clad, she and the little neigh
borhood playmate who accompanied
her, gave mute evidence of unfor-
funate and poverty-stricken homes
Of which they were a part. From
beneath a much-worn atmosphere
radiated an expression of childlike
hope and a smile of good cheer. On
the back of each was a sack of old
rags, all spotlessly Numbered and of
selected quality, to be certain to
meet the inspection necessar3 10
prove useful in a printing establish
ment. II want to buy mama and
my little brother presents explain
ed the little girl, who had caught
the real spirit of Christmas, and
added, Il guess they might not nave
any unless l do"
1t was a genuine pleasure to buy
those rags. Their weight was record
ed generously. How about you
asked, land what do you want
from Santa Claus " Her eyes, radi-
ant with expectant hope, almost an
swered the query as, unhestitatingly
she would "only like to have a doll''
to replace MARY Jane that had
lost a leg, couldn't "go to sleep any
more" and was just worn out
"Of course" she said. "if it could be
a Wetums doll, I'd like it better, but
just any kind of a baby doll would
be fine" After departing with her
Cherished Christmas fund" she re-
turned with a forgotten letter to
Santa Claus, which she wondered if
we'd mail, for 1--WE didn't have a
stamp or the money to buy one at
home" Santa Claus will visit the
home of that little girl Christmas
morning; she's going to get her
doll, and | wonder who will be the
happier-the little girl or Santa
Claus
That's only one of thousands of
just such cases all over the country,
typical of what has come to be the
real significance of Christmas-the
spread of good cheer and happiness
through little children. Hardly a
community which does not have Its
Santa Claus, sponsored through civ
ic organizations, bringing into real
ity a carefully organized and sys-
tematic plan of giving that finds
expression in every home where
there are hearts of little children to
be frightened on this day of days.
And If adults have failed to catch
the true, Christmas significance OF
Christmas through their readings
their culture, or their associations.
they cannot escape the inspiration
or fall to share the joy of an limo
cent and expectant child over a
much-cherished doll or toy. For
"even as we have done it unto one
OF the least of these. We. have done
1t unto Me-"
It's quite right that Christina!
should be the children's day. 1t!
infinite significance, born of tina.
divine event in far-away Judea, il
something we must never overlook
Continued on page five