People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 27-25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1896 — Skeleton of a Lay Sermon For Christmas. [ARTICLE]

Skeleton of a Lay Sermon For Christmas.

First.—Young women who are thinking of giving Christmas remembrances to their pastors should remember that the straight and narrow path is not an easy road to travel at all times, and therefore stout walking shoes may be more appropriate than embroidered slippers. Second. —Measure the value of the gifts you receive by the motives of the givers, and not by their intrinsic value. Oftentimes when the proper standard is used tho humblest gift, costing but a few cents, is found do be of more real worth than the richest, most expensive present. Third.—ls you have made up your mind to give So-and-so a Christmas gift just because you think you are going to receive one from that quarter, you would better abandon the idea altogether. Christmas gifts prompted by anything but a desire to confer a real pleasure upon the recipient had best go ungiven. Fourth.—lt’s a good thing to eat the old time Christmas dainties at Christmas time —the rich black plum pudding, the boar’s head and the juicy baked goose—just the same as our forbears did. But if you have indigestion tho next morning do not grumble. Go out into the sunshine and walk five miles, or, better yet, hunt up an ax and a log of wood and make the chips fly for an hour or two. It is a law of nature that whoso will not physically labor shall not overeat with impunity. Fifth.—lt’s a good thing to remember that the recording angel is likely to make a bigger entry to your credit on his books because of the gift of a half worn overcoat to a shivering fellow man or a dinner to a half starved and possibly grimy urchin than because of a costly jewel given to a favorite of fortune. Sixth.—Christmas is the day of all the year on which tho unlovely traits of your character should be smothered, and it would be a great thing for you if you were to manage in some way this year to get rid of those traits altogether.