The Wilmington morning star., 1945-12-24
BY PAULINE SMITH
North Carolina State College

North Carolina State College
This will be the most significant
Christmas in the lives of this gen
Grafton. 1t should be humanized-
the spirit of the Christ applied at
home and abroad.
In the United States more serv-
ice people will be at home for
the first time in four years. What
preparation is being made for
them?
y In foreign countries, many faml-
lies will never be united; those
who are together will be cold and
hungry. Do we appreciate our COM
forts, our country? Are children
taught to appreciate their country
and to enjoy few toys? I wonder
If so, let's make this our first
Christmas in peace time, Christ
like. Let's throw our support with
those organizations which are try
ing to get food and clothing to the
devastated war areas. Wouldn't
you enjoy the family gathering
around the fire more if you knew
that some hungry family were
better clothed and fed?
There is a time for al. things.
Christmas is family time, friendly
time-a time to make people hap
py through simple gifts and friend
ly gestures. Time for carols and
the family likes; for old dishes;
the customs like hanging up stock
ings, have you forgotten the thrill?
like hanging the old Christmas
tree decorations, each with sweet
memory; for gay plantation Christ
mas trees with christmas gif',
Civ to me-, which I heard so
many times at my childhood home.
Don't let your decorations be a
silent advertisement for a COM
mercial concern! Have decorations
simple. A we'll made cedar wreath
tied with big red bow, or a box
wood ball is more distinctive than
all the commercial designs. A
spray of magnolia caught with a
clump of Nandina berries, lovelier
than any silvered evergreen. This
is a plea for simplicity, old fash
Toned food, and less commercial
ism. The birthday of the Christ
is so commercialized that few peo-
pie think of the real significance.
Christmas time is a real oppor-
tunity to select garden gifts; to
plant trees and shrubs for each
member of the family; an cppor.
tunity to make improvements Of
interest to all the family-improve.
ments so needed now both in town
and country homes.-New porches
lawn furniture, paintings OF ever
green and berried shrubs.
Have you thought of making
home improvements rather thar
the usual exchange of gifts? An
appropriate tree planting or shrub
planting ceremony to make the oc'
casion important as it should be
with family members having q
part? Or perhaps tree planted
as a memorial to some outstand-
ing community worker, such as
that planted, on the Wilson Library
grounds in memory Of Mrs. A. H
Williams, who gave so untiringly OF
her time to make Wilson County
more beautiful part of the world.
These should get the community
or the family in the spirit
"Christmas in yo' bones" as Nam
my Sallie used to say.
Our homes speak to the hundreds
who pass just as they do to the
lesser numbers who are permitted
to glimpse the interiors. What is
your home telling?
And what is needed about the
grounds? Go down the street or
road and look at the places with
the eyes of a stranger, as objec'
lively as possible. Make careful
plans before you select garden
gift or make any changes. Perhaps
some shrubs should be dug up. OF
fertilization and pruning all that
is needed.
First of all the entire place should
be orderly, house in good repair
and painted, outbuildings, fences
and gates repaired. And why not