The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-12-11
CHRISTMAS HAPPINESS
IN THE HOME
By NJ. LOUISE c. HASTINGS

Christmas is on the way and no
matter how tragic a state the world
is in, no matter how difficult the home
problems happen to be, we mothers
must strive to keep the little world
around US happy and sane. FEELING
strongly the spirit of goodwill toward
others is one means of preserving this
tranquility. 1t becomes means OF
character growth for all who enjoy it
There are different ways Of doing
good in our small corner of the world
One is through services of love. Nc
matter how young the child is, little
lessons of kindness and helpfulnesi
are always in order. The happiness
that results is it's own reward.
We who are parents give OF our
selves in spite of ourselves every day
of our lives, yet little folks must have
special experiences along these lines
otherwise our sacrifices may increase
their selfshness and mean for then
"me, myself, first, last and always
which when developed is a difficult
attitude of mind to change.
1t is simple thing during the
Christmas season to teach the joys o1
thinking of others. When even the
| tiny children make trimmings for the
| Christmas tree they can be made tC
understand that they are serving
others. But the preferences of diff.
ferent members of the family must be
considered in order that this con
sciousness may be reached: Mother:
should allow the children to share il
trimming the tree. There is happnes;
for the adults, it is true, in seeing the
surprise and hearing the exclamation!
when the tree they have trimmed il
first seen, but sharing is the keynote
of "home togetherness." Children
who do not share in this way mis-.
something beautiful.
| think the mother should Away
plan to have the children make som'
of their gifts at Christmas, or els'
provide gifts that mean a sacrifice o
/ some sort. Going to the woods ant
gathering baskets of cones for grand
|
time and work If the cones are shell
lacked and busted with driftwoo,
powder (sea-fire it is sometime
called) it means more time and work
but how grandfather will enjo.
watching the colored flames when tn
cones burn, and how he will love t
think that hsi little grandchildren too
the trouble to prepare such gift fo
him.
If you and your children go to tn
woods, or stop in your car by a wood
road, with basket and shovel and di
up tiny ferns, some partridge vine
and several stalks Of wintergreen vii
its berries, and then make grand
mother a pretty little dish garden, sh
too will appreciate the effort tina
made the gift possible. 1t will Civ
her great deal Of happiness.
One delightful as well as educa
tional feature which our childre
should have an opportunity to shar
is giving the birds Christmas feas
Every experience that children NEE
is recorded i'm their subconsciou
mind, and each experience does it
part in laying the foundation stone
of character. Feeding the feathere
friends during the cold Christina
holidays will benefit the children quit
as much as the birds.
A little tree decorated with wire
popcorn and cranberries is one sul
pestion for this project. Melted sue
nodded in muffin tins, wound wit
wire and hung up in the trees, wi
delight chickadees. Suet fastened
the tree trunks will be food for til
woodpeckers and nuthatches. TT
empty skins of grapefruit with VIII
handles may be filled with prepare
wild birdseed and hung for the seet
eaters.
We are always happy when W
make happiness for our friends-a
the birds are among our friends
whether we are grown-up, or only fiN
| Il