The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1944-11-23
meaning of Keeping Christmas"

fear among men just as there is today. At
that time, innocents were being slaugh-
tered. Yet in such time the magic star
appeared. And no doubt to most people,
peace on earth, good will toward men"
seemed as far away then as it does at this
moment Yet people rejoiced at the good
tidings 1t was proof that love is stronger
than hate and must triumph in the end.
Surely it should not be hard to see the
brighter side of Christmas as we remem-
Der that this Christ-child, born in Bethle-
hem two thousand years ago, has forever
since been the symbol of love, faith and
hope. There has been and will be no
blackout of Christmas It must still abide,
shining and glowing.
In our homes we must make ready for
this celebration. It is fitting that we re-
member our friends and loved ones with
gifts of love and devotion, expressing the
true spirit of the Yuletide. If you are
puzzled over the Christmas spirit I would
like to give you a part OF an explanation
once written in the New York Sun by
Frank Church, in answer to the inquiry of
Virginia Hanlon, little girl, who in 1897
wrote, asking, please tell me the truth;
is there Santa Claus?
Church wrote the following:
"He exists as certainly as love and gen.
crosby and devotion exists and you know
that they abound and give your life it's
highest beauty and joy"
These are the things we should remem-
Der in times like the present.
Thousands of Americans as we'll as
others, are now fighting that we may have
"Peace on earth, good will toward men,"
We cannot let them down by failing to OBJ
serve Christmas in the proper way.
Last year about this time we received
letter from a relative in service and we
quote parts of it here for we believe it is
typical of many men who will not be able
to spend Christmas at home:
'"The ocean, some several thousand
miles, and the important job of helping to
defeat Hitler will keep me from coming
home this Christmas. But I'll be thinking
of the family back home the smell of
roast turkey, the spicy taste of fruit cake
and all the other fixins the exchange
of gifts under the Christmas tree =. gath
ering around and singing carols going
to midnight church services -. reading all
the greeting cards. like to think that you
will be carrying on as usual; and the
thought of what l am missing gives me
double incentive to hurry up and end this
war and get back home to celebrate Christ
mas. But don't get out of the habit of
celebrating just because have job here,
from which there will be no holiday until
it is finished"
This year, the same young man wrote
the following:
GAS you know, l won't be home for
Christmas this year, either, but we are
nearer to returning than we were last
year. Keep on observing Christmas in the
good old American way and one of these
days, when this job is over, I'll be back,
along with lot of other Americans to en-
joy it, but first we must make sure of
peace"
Let's be generous in our observance of
Christmas. Remember that being gener-
GUS does not mean extravaganza; this
we should surely guard against in war
time. But we must. remember that there
are probably more people who need cheer
ing up this year than ever before and that
there are practical, useful gifts that bring
good cheer. Gifts of beauty will add to
the JOY of Christmas And, of course,
there is "the present with future"-war
bonds and stamps
Keeping Prices Down