December 13, 1946
THE LEXHIPEP
Page 3i
The Hobo’s Gift
—Mary McLendon
The six-thirty train to Fairview
Pome sped by, awakemng riorace. He
picked nimseit up on the ground be-
mna me stack oi railroad ties
stretched, and stamped out the em-
Ders of last nignt’s tire, which the
dew had not extinguished.
It was Christmas Day, Horace re
membered. But what was Cnristmas
day to him? it was coldest at that
time of me year; and housewives were
always an easier touch then; but out
side or mat, it meant’ nothing. He
nad no part in the loving spirit oj.
t/nristmas. He gave noming; ne haa
nothing to give. Ah he received were
guts or pity, not love.
Horace ponaered all this as he made
his way to Fairview Point and the
ricn section of the city. Horace was
espetiauy adapted to me life of a hobo
A IS sixth sense told nim just where he
coiud make the qmckest and easiest
teuen, and he never lost time getting
there.
As Horace came to the outskirts of
the City, welfare groups were already
distributing baskets to the needy. He
stopped to watch one group knock on
the door of a particularly shabby
house. He saw a tired, thin woman
come to the door, take the basket
ana express her thanks. As she closed
the door and returned to the needy
little ones within the house, Horace
started on.
He remembered how as a boy that
tils family nad oeen Drought such
Daskets. They nad always been glad
to get them, out it had wounded tneir
priue and made them wish that they
too had some gift to give.
Horace turned back down the road.
When he came to the shabby little
house, he went to the door anc
knocked. When the same tired,, thin
woman came to the door, he said
“Can you spare a bite to eat for a
beggar?" The woman invited him in
in her most gracious manner. She
shared with him and her children the
contents of the Christmas basket. After
he had eaten a little, he thankee
them and left.
Horace could tell by the happy
smiles on their faces that they didn’t
feel quite so poor as they had when
he had first seen them. Horace walked
right past the rich homes and the
good smells. He didn’t stop at a sin
gle door; for though he was far from
lull, he knew that he could force no
food past the lump in his throat.
The Song of Christmas
—^Mary Eleanor Gray
The true spirit of Christmas is made
possible by music. Music can inspire
a person’s feelings when nothing else
can. Just think of the beautiful hymns
written to inspire the true spirit oi
Christmas. When I listen to “Silent
Night”, the most beautiful hymn oi
them all, i think of a silent night
long ago. The night gleamed with
many stars, and one star in particular
gleamed birghter than the others. The
star shone down through the window
of a little stable. There the light
flickered, and I saw a mother holding
a small child in her arms. The light
formed a halo around their heads. The
baby slept in heavenly peace, for He
was the Christ child, the Son of God.
On this night of His birth, silence
prevailed, for this was Indeed a holy
night. Then from out the sky voices
of the angels were heard singing glory
to the new-born King. The shepherds
heard the angels singing, and came
Joyfully and triumphantly to see their
new-born king. The message of His
birth was sung throughout the land.
’Then the music stopped, and I saw
Christmas Traditions
—Enid Ayers
This Christmas there will be many
happy homes due to the fact that
the war is over. The whole world
will again raise their voices in unison,
singing Christmas carols.
Christmas did not originate in the
United States. Many centuries before
Columbus even thought of the new
world, Christmas was being cele
brated in the different countries.
In the pagan days the Druids re
garded mistletoe with reverence only
when it was growing on an oak tree.
The mistletoe today is hung in an
appropriate place so that a girl might
walk under it.
The burning of the yule log which
the Northern States use more thar.
the Southern States, was handed down
to the English speaking countries from
the Scandinavian countries. The legend
is that the larger castles of the Scan
dinavian countries would drag in these
yule logs and have minstrels sing tc
the log. When the log burned down
a small portion would be kept to light
the next year’s yule log.
The lighting of the Christmas tree
is claimed by many countries. T
might go back to the medieval custom
of welcoming guests with trees stud
ded with candles. The Christmas tree
today is used by England and the
United States as a symbol of Christ
mas. It again lights the world in
peace.
The Christmas carol, which wae
sung before the fourteenth century
has obtained popularity through the
centuries. Every Christmas many
young people gather together to sing
chese carols. They go from one house
to another singing these old Christmas
melodies.
These are only a few of the tradi
tions of Christmas which are observed
each year. Christmas this year wib
be able to draw the people of the
world closer tc^ether through these
traditions which were handed down
through the generations.
,9
another night many years after that
hrst Christmas.
It was Christmas night on the bat
tlefield of World War I. All day men
had been thinking only of war.
could see that the Doughboys were
heartsick and weary. All around them
lay the dead and the dying. The
hated Germans were within a stone’s
throw of the American trenches. For
a while there were no bursting shells:
all was quiet. As the smoke cloude
overhead slowly passed away, a stream
of light from a new moon floodec
the snow-covered fields. Then from
those hated trenches across the field
came men’s voices softly singing
“Stille Nacht’’. I saw an Americar
captain look up as the soft melody
filled the trenches—a song of Christ
mas. I saw tears fill his eyes, and I
knew that through his weary mind
ran thoughts of home, and the songs
of children at Christmas. The same
songs he loved were also loved by
those on the other side—^his enemies
All is calm, all is bright,” sang his
own boys beside him. Far into the
night the soldiers sang. I knew hatred
for tITe time being was forgot,
heard two armies of men chanting
together the songs of the new-born
Christ, songs for peace on earth good
will toward men—men the same to
day as long ago, men who need tc
keep in their hearts and lives the
songs of Christmas.
Down through the ages men of all
tongues have been heard singing the
Christmas carols that gladden the
birthday of Christ. And today we
welcome His birthday by the glad
tidings of church bells, and by the
happy glow that is seen on the face
of, every little child. And in every
one’s heart there is a Christmas song.
CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
—Margaret Finch
O Christmas Spirit, burning bright.
Endue our hearts with your light.
O Christmas Spirit, burning low.
Reveal to us that we may know
’rhe joys and beauties of this 'earth
Its happiness and its mirth.
This time comes but once a year.
The time, perhaps, we hold most dear.
For Christ is born again today
in Bethlehem’s manger on the hay.
Could We forget the star so bright
And all the happlnes of that night?
Let our souls to heaven be lifted;
With this season we are gifted.
Let our hearts be opened wide.
So that charity may live inside.
Give our blessings in His name,
For ’twas on this day He came.
He died for us upon a cross.
So that our souls would not be lost.
He still awaits to give us rest
When our hearts are sorrow pressed.
O Christmas Spirit, burning bright.
Endue our hearts with yoiir light.
HOLY NIGHT
—Bonnie Leonard
The shining snow lay everywhere;
The sky was filled with white.
The chill of winter in the air
Gave quietness to the winter night.
It seemed to give the whole wide world
A spell of something far away;
A land of snow, a holy night.
Peace and a perfect day.
And through the snow I heard a chime
From the steeple tall and stern;
A word of hope, a word of rest,
A lesson for the world to learn.
And from a little flowershop
A stream of bright light poured.
While in the church the choir sang
And the Preacher prayed, “E>ear Lord.
We thank thee for a Christian faith
In which we do believe.
And may Thy blessings be on us.
Upon this Christmas Eve.”
Christmas Revelations
—Mary Anne Hunt
The air is crisp and cool, and the
snow is gently falling over the earth,
making all objects seem alike under
a mantle of white. Yes, the dream
Of a white Christmas this year is really
coming true.
A trip uptown for a few last minute
items elevates my spirits, for I see
signs of Christmas everywhere. The
streets are decorated with colored
lights strung from every lamp post
with clusters of pine here and there.
The melody of “Silent Night” drift.'
through the air, its source some un
seen record player. The shop windows
are dressed to their utmost capacity
with all sorts of Christmas gifts for
the enjoyment of the poor as well as
the rich.
One window in the heart of town
displays the manger scene. The sim
plicity and beauty of this display
seems to draw a crowd. Amid the
hustle of these busy people this one
scene seems to stand out, and the
crowd looks on in silence and wonder.
There is no doubt that they are re
membering that first Christmas when
Christ was born and also the true
meaning of Christmas. As the people
leave the manger scene, there seems
to be a glow on each one’s face. Their
STAR OF BETHLEHEM
—Margaret Finch
O Star of Bethlehem, shining bright.
Renew within our hearts the night
When Christ in a manger lay.
His head upon the fragrant hay.
Let us see the shepherds as they fed
Their flocks wherever they were led.
Let heavenly voices anthems peal
Prom angels, as they reveal
The birth of Him who came to save
The world from a lasting grave.
Let us see the Wise Men of the land
Bearing gifts for the Son of Man.
O Star of Bethlehem, do shine.
Take tis back to the olden time.
THINGS I LOVE
—Myrtle Smith
The mystic sky reveals so much,
A. twinkling star, with a moon un
touched.
I love the feeling that twilight brings,
And all of God’s wonderful things.
Silently unknown, this slips quietly
away.
To bring wonderful things on another
day:
The busy town and our friends tc
meet
We are thankful to Thee for friends
so sweet.
A realistic feeling of a musical show
Makes my heart want to shine with
unceasing glow.
An appetite, smell of supper with po
tato pie
Are the things I would not want to
deny.
Quiet meditating around a big evening
fire
Brings another night with dreams of
desire.
Then I clean and wash and brush my
hair
Ready for bed, putting aside every care.
To a dreamland that takes us from
this world, above.
We are thankful for these things, and
a God of love.
hearts are warmer and are full of
thanksgiving and good will.
On my way home from town, I see
a group of boys standing on the cor
ner. They are all bundled up in
warm clothes, and they are singing
the familiar carols that we listen to
every year. These boys are singing
with great fervor and much feeling
My heart warms at the sight of these
strong high school boys who are cele
brating a part of their Christmas In
this way.
As I approach my home, I see the
family gathered by the fire, and the
Christmas tree seems to hold out
welcoming arms to me. Yes, this is
another Christmas with the same cus
toms and habits that will never grow
old, for the real meaning of Christmas
will live on forever.