North Carolina Newspapers

TRUE SPIfM DAY Christmas Giving Should Prompted by the Heart. Religion in the Orthodox Senss Net Necessary to Appreciate Finer Qualities of Great Christian Holiday. ' By PRUDENCE STANDISH. I NCR more t'ue Chrlstmastii! and its beiutiful meaning i with the world. Again t!i shepherds, watching their flocks by night, are sort afraid at the glory which shines about , them. Clothed In blinding light, the; angel speaks; the heavenly host thai i rovds suddenly about him sing ot ; glory in the highest and peace ami good will. The wine men who have ; Been his star in the East, kneel an ; spread their gifts of gold and myrrh and frankincense without question. j The miracle of J. 000 years as;o i: still new and glad and lovely, fo lo! in all Christendom bells peal an.i sweet choirs sing the mo-ssa;;) given . by the blinding angel and the ctowd i Ing host: "For behold I bring you tidings o. jrreat Joy which shall be to all people Glory to God In the highest, and or; fcirt!: pvacc. ood .vt:! towarJ men " Tl.it, is the niebbu,; ol tl.e elms-. , 0iar-tide, yet the bigger half of Chris- J tendora makes the period the pagan festival it once was at the time of the winter solstice. We give gifts. for sake of the gods of custom and i merriment, forgetting entirely that they are for sakj of the great spiritual Joy "which shall be to all people." The gold and myrrh and frankincense of the heart are withheld we giv. ptfts because we've got to, and keep our hearts as much closed to tin Christmas child as was the inn. have our own selfish ends to pain, the Tloh patron to cater to, the friend to appease. We heap little children wit It dazzling toys, and light the starr lam pn of their fir trees because it is the fashion, and we do our small Christmas charities because it would seem mean not to do them. We have forgotten the joyous and sublime meaning of Christmas. One does not need to be religious in the orthodox sense to appreciate the finer quality of this great festival, for what is known as Christian feeling has tome to be a moral obligation at this time a point of etiquette. In truth.; for the heart and mind. , In point of mere etiquette whati the social world thinks on the sub ject of Christmas gift giving it is' thought bad taste for a person of mod-; est means to give presents of value to others of wealth and Influence, for f this savors too much like currying to eonticued favor if the giver Is already! under obligations. Hut some knowl edge of the helpful friend's existence. Is necessary, and this may take the, form of a pretty Christmas card with' an appropriate greeting; or a knot of flowers or winter berries may bn sent with a note expressing warm Christ-1 mas wishes. That the servant who has given her bodily strength and heart's best Inter- est to the home must not be forgot-i ten, goes without saying; but it is J veriuimj uhu lurm iu inane me poor servitor's gift an inexpensive trifle when something better can be afford ed. Tben what a woefnl want of taste N shows for as to defer buying a friend's or sister's present until we karve found out what she means to srtve as, and so make the exchange a qwtd pro quo. The gift that goes to friend or relative Is above afl one for i.love, and it is undoubtedly better teste for the recipient of the simpler gift in the exchange to appear as pleased as if she had received some thing ten time Its value. Bnt, tneiii, what matters the nature of the gift after all? The spirit Is the thin? and do not this silly pic ture or cushion, so unbecoming 10 the parlor, mean that the friend or sister has thought of us? As for the little children, so much are their feelings painfully strained at this time that I would like to write a book on the subject. 1 beg every mother not to threaten the poor little heart that misbehaves sometimes with the eternal word that "Santa Clans won't come If you do that any more." The dear kiddie who forgets to be good knows better alter a jeur or t., of this harrowing threat, which makes you out a story toller. Meanwhile, there is the little heart stnyin? awake at night with its dreadful anxieties; there are the sudden storms of blttrr tears, with all the glory of Christmas sunk In the bottomless pit of absolute sureness that Santy dear, abused, good old fat gentleman won't come. We remember the poor and drop a few pennies gladly for the blind chil dren. But, why do we do It why? It Is because a wide, sweet star has stopped over a stable In the far East, because the church choirs are singing of peace on earth and good will toward men. So let us never lose sight of that fact with our gifts, whether our hands tender or receive them ; for the heart closed to the deeper significance of Christmas may truly be likened to the inn that held no room. Let us ffnd with each gift some of the heart's true gold and frankincense blad it with the cord of some memory of , Bethlehem, Let ns receive each and every one of our gifts as tidings f great Joy. .a:ii:iji;:i!!;.i::nii;i!!!!!iiii!ai!ii!iir, Bmxiii (ElattsJ ;:n;i;;r ii'i. I rtftltl? I iiim-tt! iiii: i;' J A face wreathed in smiles is lettrr than a, mns:cn wreathed in holly. Bftter broken toys than broV;n hearts. J Never look a g.!t object in the price lag. J Sarta Clr.us by ary ether n ",e would cost as much and Le worth it. tj Do net te satisfied with wh.hing people a "Merry Chnstn.a..;" he.p mai e it one. l Lots of men put on long white u hiskers ai d think they look iiKe me whtn they loo mote like a goat and perhaps they a:e. J If Willie wants to see what Is inside the drum, for goodness sa.e let him. You are living in God's own country. V.hat more do you want for Christmas. J It is a wise Santa who keeps his whiskers away Irom the rand.es. t Keep up the "C 'ed wiil to man" part if it right through until next Cr.ri.tmaa. tj It is more blessed to give than to receive, except in tiie matter of offense. j Fortunately for most of us, we won't get what e oeserve on Ciiri.ilnias. tj WhenChrlstmasglvingbecomes a r.cce: sity it ceases to be a virtue. There Is more joy in heaven over a ton of coal given to tne poor than a ton o( diamonds given to the rich. Song of the ChristmasTree By Gene Morg an lowers of Hit ;.!. I. .us l.v there run .. writ. Ilt!!l i. in nt ray .:lllll. i-Pt path i t renting. lllilll hilly. tlroi p and die nor How, Anilil lilt tliey wither, oodluml lully. i .-.AH From every branch, sad tears I drip In rainstorm's flerrc endeavor. The flowers may ron , the flowers may 1, But I nm gren forever. Now hark! the woodman's ax Is heard! A Ulster tne h-'a f-!lnit. Whiit ean this eruel clertrurtlon mean? The winter wind la telling: "Tin not lipmnan tliy tnntirriful fate, Tho' axmen wield with madness. Bedei ked In tinsel, iniirlit anil flue. You'll soon bring children Klmlnegg. "Thou ( Hnst not die. iililinugh thy trunk, Harsh hatchet blows in.-iv Hevr. Within the Utile clilldr. n's bonrt.s Thou wilt he erren forever!" Origin of Christmas Tree. The Christmas tree Is supposed by great numbers of people to have orig inated in Germany, but from a re liable source we learn that the Christ mas tree came in the first Instance from Egypt, and its origin dates from a period much earlier than the Chris tian era. The palm tree is known to put forth a brarch every month, and a spray of this tree with 12 shoots on It was used In Egypt at the time of the winter solstice as a sym bol of the completed year. SEASONABLE PRICES. Now doth the Christmas shopper With '..opplnme elate. Buy something that wax fortv-nlne, Marked up to ninety-eight. Ei ijnnunmmiinRiaiimmiuiinwinniiciiminunimiiinmiimfiinnHiiiimina j 1 3 ! . ... 4 Si A Vagrant Christmas Gift Vy AIB.-.RT EDWAIID CONVERSE (Copyright by rrank A. Munaey Co.) It. and Mrs. Jackson Smi'.E understood cuu other perfectly on the Christ mas present proposition. This satisfactory state til affairs did not come about the first year of their iSf weaaea lire, nor even mu VKJ'V second. Tha third Christ mas was almost at hand before Mr. Smith discovered accidentally, but to his intense joy, that Mrs. Smith rel ished his selection of ltirs, gloves, t ur tains. rugs, and so on. no more thau .lid he her choice of smoking-Jackels, cravats, mufflers, et cetera. That their friends could not be taken in on the combination was. however, a thorn in the flesh of each of them. 'The worst has happened." Faid Mrs. Smith, Interrupting Mr. Smith's perusal of the paper Christmas morn Ing. "A messenger just brought a pres ent from the Snlvelys. and T forgot to put them on my list. It's a book and we've got to send them something " "Well, what are we going to do about the Snlvelys?" growled Mr. Smith. " lack." said she In a moment, "I've '.id rt.t inspiration. Why couldn't we -end ihe Snlvelys the book that Cous in Lucy sent us? Neither of them will ever kt.ow it." "Hy George! We'll do It." said Mr. Smith, after considering the propo sition. "Where is Cousin Lucy's hook?" "It's on the desk." said Mrs. Smith "lust put our cards In the booli and wrap it up neatly. I'll call a messen ger boy." Half an hour later Mr. Smith hand ed a package, addressed to Mr. Snlve ly. to a messenger boy and saw him depart with It. Me was luxuriously stretched out on a davenport when Mrs Smith came Into the room a fow minutes later. "Jack," said Mrs. Smith, holding a book In her hand, "I thought you were going Id wrap this book up." "Great Scott!" exclaimed Mr. Smith, jumping to his feet. "I did wrap up some book The messenger has already been here and I gave It to him." "How long has the boy been gene?" demanded Mrs. Smith. "About ten minutes." "Get your things on. De quick, and maybe you can reach the Snlvelys' before the boy and get that dreadful book away from him! How could you have been so careless?" Mrs. Smith was almost frantic. Down to the nearest street car tore Mr. Smith, fairly consumed with rage. He had arrived at the down town district when, with a thrill of Joy, he spied the messenger boy. Without waiting for the car to stop, Mr. Smith jumped off and started on a run for the boy. At the same moment the messenger boy saw him, and, without knowing why he was being pursued, be obeyed his first Impulse and ran too. In a moment a doxen bad joined in the chase. Down the street came the poor messenger boy, frantically straining every muscle to get away from the mob pursuing him. Sud denly two men from a cross street ran In front of the boy. One threw his arms around the fugitive, hold ing his fast; the other man seized the package the boy was carrying. "Why, Snlvely! This package Is ad dressed to you!" he exclaimed. "Vw.y, it!" sz'.Z llie nian v. ho had caught the boy. In a moment they were surrounded by a crowd. A policeman rushed up and took charge of the boy. "Hold on there, offcer, the boy's all right!" cried Mr Smith, who had arrived upon the scene by this time. "What do you know about this af fair?" said the pollcinan respectfully, us he recognized Mr. Smith. liut Mr. Smith was r.tntidlng as one !i!ycd. He had caught sight of Mr Snlvely with the book under his arm. "Hello. Smith," said Mr. Snlvely. "I just now caught this boy, and found hhn carrying a package ad dressed to me, so took charge of It. Do you know anything about it?" "Why why er yes," stammered Mr. Smith, trying to collect hlo wits. "Ycu see, I sent the package." 'Well, why were you chasing the j boy?" asked the policeman, a little im patiently. The perspiration stood out on poor Mr. Smith's forehead. . "I I was afraid I hadn't given the boy the right address, and was trying to stop him to find out," he blurted In desperation. The policeman looked at Mr. Smith curiously. He was convinced that he was lying, though with what object he could not imagine. "The package has come to the right fellow anyway," said Snively, laugh ing. "I'm going right home, so I'll take it along with me." "Oh, I couldn't think of allowing you to do that, old man!" cried Mr. Smith. "Just give It back to the boy; i; II ti.ke it Id th liv.:-" for ou." ' :t light package nm! 1 Cin't !i.:nd i carrying it u, particle." ' I Mr. smith gro.md his teeth with 1 r.-.-e. How was he to get that book away from Snively? j ' Snively," said hi. my offlce is only ' a few doors down i '.-.; struct. Come : tip and bmohc a c!u-r with me. I've ' got some good ones." i A few minutes luur Mr. Smith ush l orod Mr. Snively into his otticj. I "Sit down here, Snively," faid he, offering his guest a chair. "Let me have your package; I'll put it over iiere on my desk." : J1j took the book eagerly and put it ' on his desk out of sight. As he I smoked and talked, he racked his brain for a scheme to get Snlvely out , of the room without his book, j "Good morning, gentlemen. Merry I Christmas." It was Smith's partner, Perkins, who thus addressed them as he came out of his private office. Suddenly a brilliant scheme took shape in his mind. He proceeded im mediately to put It into execution. "By the way, Perkins, 1 have a Christmas present for you." As he spoke, he picked up Snively's package and, holding it so that Snively could not Fee it, walked over tho Perkins and handed it to him. "Hut but " Perkins protested. "Take It and keep your mouth shut, or I'll choke you!" whispered Smith fiercely. "Oh, thank you very much." said the astonished Perkins. "Well. I must be getting home. Good morning." After talking a few moments longer, Snively rose to go. "Can I trouble you for my package, now?" he said. "Oh. yes," said Smith, going to bis Searching First Calmly and Then With Apparent Annoyance. desk and searching first calmly and tben with apparent annoyance. "By George! It Isn't here," be an nounced in a surprised tone. Suddenly be sat down and began laughing uproariously. "Do you know what I've done?" he said as soon as he had his mirth some what under control. "I gave Perkins your package. I forgot that I took his present home last night, and my wife sent it ever this morning with a pres ent for Mrs. Perkins." "Oh, that's all right," said Snlvely, laughing. "It doesn't make ft particle of difference." They parted, laughing goo.l natured Iy over the blunder. Smith arrived home soon after, eon gratulating himself on his generalship. "Oh, Jack," cried Mrs. Smith, as soon as he stepped Into the house, "I hope you haven't had any trouble!" "Well, I've had Just about the most strenuous time I've experienced In many moons." cald Smith. "I came out all right though." "I'm so sorry," said Mrs. Smith. "Now I hope you won't be angry. Jack, but you hadn't been gone but a few moments when I discovered that you hadn't sent Mrs. Snively's book, after nil. I found her book lying on the ."cnr by the center-table, where, In Kime way. It had been knocked off. The only book that Is missing Is the one that Mr. and Mrs. Perkins sent its, so that must have been the one that you spr.t to ft- Hvelys." Mr. Smith collapsed into the near est chair. "Dlng-a ling-a-IIng," w ent the tele phone. Mr. Smith, still in n dazed condi tion, rose and answered It. "Hollo. Is that you, Smith?" said a voi-je. "This is IVr'tlns." Sml'h braced hlmslf for the worst. "I didn't quite understand about that present you gave me down at the office. When I got borne I found ihrt It had Snively's name on it." "Oh." "I thought there must be some mis take about it, so I didn't open it." "You say you didn't open it?" "No." "Thank Heaven! "What do you say?" "I said that you did right. It was Just a little Joke on Snlvely." "Is that so? Well, I'll bring the package down to the office with me In the morning." "Thank you. Oood-by." "Thank heaven." said Smith as he 'lung up the receiver and once more fettled himself In comfort, "Christ mas comes but once a year!" SSI Ills A CHRISTMAS CONSPIRACY How Grandmother's Heart Was Glad dened by Remembrances From the Children. ' Crandiiiotln r Jessup!" Stella's tone wjs distinctly ac cusing; it was evident that grand mother had something to answer for. Grandmother, from her Invalid chair, locked across at the girl who stood at her bureau drawer. She had en dured years of pain and weakness; but they had not succeeded in quench ing the spirit in the frail figure; her voice was as saucy as a girl's. "Not guilty what is it?" "It's your handkerchiefs. How many dozen have you?" "Seven or eight. You see. I have seven of the dearest grandchildren in the world. It's queer, isn't it, that your nose should be so especially honored when you grow old?" But Stella's gray eyes forgot to laugh back at grandmother's. Some thing had disconcerted her. She put the handkerchiefs back, ade some trivial excuse, and ran up to her own room, where her sister and cousins were holding a Christmas conclave. "I wonder," she burst out, "that grandmother can endure Christmas at all!" "What under the sun do you mean?" Coiinne and Isabella ex claimed together. "Corinne, what did you give grand mother for Christmas last year?" "A box of handkerchiefs. Why?" "And you, Isabella?" "An embroidered handkerchief with little weeny Initials." "Mollle?" "Two handkerchiefs," Mollle con f 's;:r'l. "There didn't seem to be anything else except slumber sllp l.ers. and Aunt Maria always knits those." "And I.aurle and I gave her hand Kerchiefs. We always give her hand-Ke'-ihlels because she's old, and they're tho easiest thing to think of! (.iris she isn't old she's as young as any of us down In her heart, and she loves pretty things just as much as ever. This year let's give her the biggest surprise of her life a Christ mas that will make her really happy." "Hut how what " Corinne stam mered. "What do we like best each of us?" "Jewels!" "Books!" "Hand embroid ery!" "Candy!" "Silk stockings!" The answers came In a laughing shower. "Well. then, why not? Grandma'd love a bit of Jewelry from us chosen Just for her. And books not 'Thoughts of Cheer,' as If she were melancholy, but love stories thnt end well. And why not embroider her something? And If not silk stockings, then a pair of slippers with tiny vel vet bows. As for candy, she'd love to have it to pass round, even if she couldn't eat much herself." "And let Bob .and Archie send her their absurd Jokes as they do to the rest of us? It doesn't seem respect ful." "But grandma doesn't want to be seemed respectful-to," Stella declared. "She'd Just love to be counted in with the rest of us, little vanities and Jokes and all. O girls, try it once and see!" And that was the way the Christ mas conspiracy started. Grand mother's eyes on Christmas morning were proof of its success. Youths' Companion. "Some generous person," said little Socrates Bulglnbrow, of Boston, "hus been kind enough to send me a copy of Mother Goose's lyrics for Christ mas. Do you know, the theory that a representative of the bovine genus at one time leaped over the chief luminary of the night leads to Botne Interesting calulatlons as to the mus cular development of the cows of that time. I havo ascertained that they must have been endowed with strength proportionate to that of the flea of the present day." THE JOY OF SHOPPING. By Wilbur 0. Nesblt I love tn so and shop for thing's To send as ChrlBtmna sift to friends. For then my fancy girds on wings, I feci the Joy that never ends. O, what a rapture 'tie to stand And be stepped upon, bumped Into, Joggled, Jostled, pushed, squeer:d, shoved, frowned at, scowled upon, trampled, bruised, slammed, rushed, hurried, ?jlted, and finally get up to the counter and discover that you are at the wrong one! SAID LITTLE 80CRATES. LITTLE MBS 01 SAfflA 0AUS ILBURDISBIT M ih mammy say dat Sandy Claus u. Ter good U'l boys. En l.rliiK er ho'n en er b; red dnin. Kn yutlier toys, lint why white chltluna Rets tlrm new I caln' on'atan'. I Kiiess I knows whtit Sandy CUui fa. He sec'n han' man! Las' yfah he clomb down eiiah stovpli W'enst I's ereleep. En fetch some oynges b ut half rlpe- En th ee toy sheep. En one dese jump' Jacks broken, dougfc. But on, my lan'l 'Rout dlshyere Sandy Claus 1 dea know He eec'n han' man! 1 as my mammy ef Sandy Ctoui ln' Done know des how Ter men' dem toys, en' fix 4ey ptiat, Kn she say: "Now, Don' worry, chile, 'bout de white folks. Hit's de good I.awd's plan." So I gurus dat mah Mlstah Sandy Claut He sec'n han' man! REFUSED TO RECOGNIZE DAY Puritans of England Made Chriitma Illegal and Declared It a Mis demeanor to Be Gay. Knglish Puritans of the seventeen century guarded against looking spon the rosy side of life. Because Christmas is really a vlval of the Celts' Yule, and is not the actual anniversary of the birth of Christ, they refused to eoentertsnce Christmas festivities. Not only did they refuse to recognize the day, tut they made laws to that effect The parliament of 1614 passed u act ordering all law abiding cltisene to observe December 25 as a solemi fast, to be spent in silent atonement for previous Christmas days tbst hJ passed in riotous living and merrt making. Naturally the community did share In these hard and feat role and many a turkey was surreptltloor ly killed, and many a plum puaois quietly boiled. But woe betide Ik unfortunate offender against the were he luckiest enough to be covered. Soldiers were sent to search U houses of those suspected of bsrb Ing such delicacies as mince pW etc., and many were the pitched W ties between disagreeing section! M the public. UNDER THE MISTLETOE To ask a girl if you may w before doing It is an insulting " of laying all the responsibility her. i In a man's opinion a kiss is as en that JustlScs cny means. You needn't be afraid of kiss. Thousands are exchanged u.' by people of the highest reputation- e e The kissed girl fears no mistleto j A kiss Is as good as a snll-M a good deal better, too! . The Ideal Was la we never given. e A kiss too soon may be toll In the tale of love. The child who doubts 1 t.'iaus nas iubojuui. - - . believes has a good nights re.