Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 6, Number 26, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 24 December 1875 — Page 1

Page PDF (7.88 MB)

Back to issue view

Vol. 6.—No. 26,

THi MAIL

A P.vrfeu ton THE PEOPLE.

SECOND EDITION.

TIIK CUMlNti WAN

IS TlIl'RR XO .V 4-VT. I CLA USf Tw*i 11»«* eve before rbrliiuniiK: "good•iluhl" hod been said. Ami

Annie mi'l WIJIi' l#i«l crept

For to-night their

That they Miould retire precisely at seven, instead of lglit for they troubled him

With question* unheard of than ever be-

tom

lie had toid them lie thought this delusion a sin,

Nowi'-h thing asa"*snta Clans"ever had b»«-n, And h* hoped, after tlil% he should nevor-rawr.-luur, How he scrambled down chimneys with presents cnch year. A ml thin Witt (too n.tMit that two little ou their soft, downy

hinds rmtlemly towed toiwl** Eight. nine, and the clock on the steeple totted ten Not a word hud l*en *joken by either till Wb«n XVlIlle'ssad face from the blanket did And whlsjwred, "Detir Anuie. Is yoo tost (inllt-p "Why, 00, brat her Wtlile," ikweel voioe reptl«e,

I've tried In vain, but I can't shut my eyes For, somehow, It makes m» so sorry because 1

HMtr papa has said theru was no 'Hanta Clnu*.' ... Now wij know there is, anil it can I be denied, Tor he came every year before mamma died Hut, then. I've Ixeen thlukiug that "be used to pray, AndOod would h«"*r every thing I hat mamma would wy. And perl»r|m him tosend Santa ('[litis here, With tbe full of present* h« brought every ywr."

Well, why taut *f pay desl a* mamma did 1 hen. And ask him lo m» k1 hint wi presents adeu "I've been thinkingso,U«». Attd wiUinot a word niorv Four little hare flw1 houfcrtWI Out an the floor, And four little knee* tt»#»o« .nr|*-t pis*a, And two Hoy hand* vert* tluspid rtoan «a«h li iiwl.

Now. Willie, you know wv roust rtrwly bfllrv'e That the presout* we a»K far w»'r« surw to iwlve ou must Willi Just as sUil tiU 1 say the

'A met*,'

Ami by that yoa will know that your torti has eom** then." »l*ar JnMts, took (town on knthsr and AraT^rtmt us the w« an* asking of the*' I wan! it wu* doll, a trn-%*. iinu Mig, Anil M) vN*ny wt a'••en that shuts with a «wint Ulna napa, ilrnr awl ea«se him to Tttal HjiUm Cluus love* us Ur better thai he l*ath»tUlmftrtfr*tmia®«laofO-aj*!n Atde»u brotlwr «Ml'l-tunt Am.se. Amen." plraw I'-su*. rt H^ma I so* turn down i«* A» 4 b#»Mt W» Be pnwiiu Inwm* It Is want He swdd tflv a olrt

lltfv#

ml.

With xhlntti' ywcners, :i#l *11 paint-

ni vol

A bos tull of ntn v. a ouok, anl a tor, AUMTO.aud tii« n. 1» »u*» 111 be adoo*! lioy TH»lr p*%« ri K*-- ended, Uv» mtsosl up their head*,. And wlih It* .t#SHl eh-*rft»l, "o»in

MMXht tHPir »t Tbtt krtr srW list tit witmM.boili P«smvn»l Mil iWsfK An4 wi»h f«l'1«» :n d»* Am»ae w*i* roamin ta sj «*p» KI^U ntik and ll«h» Vrat^h rMt had •I ruck tEit Ihv istlwr S.tmX Uim#I his eblMmt Hf imn Mf Wll'i« Aftitfr1*S^UatpprtHAn4tu«# tli» l«an i4aa«l In wttl|«*» Mo* -1 k«M»h wlUt *UtU«pk Ha iiMOtal ly said,

And hottld not t««\ them so W But Own I was t«,»ib*«l -my fartta** Mttod For^Molt stnek to-day M» »w daws lea riwirw thafV* tlf«fr troofci** are tkt«, Au4 that I th»m tlriee^wM B«t^Ja to make nu*. 1*11 sical up to Uvetr tart iw«!**harA t« wyrta«lin|**•

W.»M t»Ha|tM door U* hf« Wtli of

Moiajtqt And »nh«l »t Mis ll» taara. And WtUlrli fnn |*«D#tMk «m*l kiseaf% .. a*"St»i»iS*, strase* IM ml* be ^tig ttgh.

Haw I l»as«4- *kti ta %a«« ittrtaMaM 4row bl«h 1U atoiM tor my faaariMMar lw iawnliT

By aasw*rlai Uwlr pram* 1 tit^i la aur bed. Thaa lw tnmsd la tfaa «alr» and snfttf Threw aff vaivrttfcppars a*td atUt AnmOm •own— ftoaaadi ha*.ooa: aad boots ana w*ni«M la

Um Mntl.

Billionaire Mai lb* e»M, rfelriw *st, -ill f-, «fe. *r -jf i** W

111

Stor stopped he on

thing,

tcore

he had bought eveo"*

From the box full of candy to the tiny gold

lie

Indeed!

kept adding

nineh to his store,

That the various presents outnumbered a

Then homeward he turned with hi* holiday load. And with Annt Mary^ help In the noraery 'twas stowed Miss dolly was seated beneath a pine tree. By the Hide of a table spread ont for her tea A work-box well filled In the centre was laid. And 011 It a ring for which Annie had

ttw:

pray-

A soldier In uniform stood by a sled, "With bright shining runners, and all painted red." There were balls, dogs, and horses, book* pleasing to see And birds of all colore were perched In tlio

While Kanta Clans, laughing, stood up in the top. As If getting ready more presents to drop. And a* the fond father the picture surveyed, Ue thought for his trouble he had amply been paid And he said to himself, as he brushed o(Ta tonr. '•I'm happier to-night than I've been for a v«nr I've enjoyed more true pleasure than ever before What care I If Kink stoek falls ten per cent more! Hereafter I'll make It a rule, I believe. To have Santa C'laus vi«lt us each Christmas eve." so thinking he gently extinguished the

And tripped down the ."lain, to retire for the

"i?u ok

the beams of the bright morning

sun

Pnt the darkness to flight. arM the stars one by one, Four ilttlo blue eyes out of sleep opened wide, And at the sume moment, the presents espied. Then out of their beds theysprnug with a

Isxtiid,

Into

bod

There were t«-ur* ou their pi!l(w4, and tenrs in tlielr eyes, And l» little* bosom wm hesvy with

sigh*-

utei

And the very gifts prayed for were all of them found. They langhed and they cried in their innocent glee. And shouted for "papa" to come quick and

What pres- nL-* o'.d .Santa Olaus brought in the night, (Just the things they wanted), and left belotv llgbu

Aud now'' added Anule, In a voice-soft und low, You'll iHrlleve there's a Mnnta Claus, papa,

I know

a father command*

b*d been glv :i,

While dear little Willie climbed upon his

kt!C€«

Determined uo secret between them should Aud tohl, lu sort whispers, how Annie had said That their dear, hlewed mamma, no lontf ago dead, ... Used to kneel down and pray by tho side of her chair. Aiul that Ood up In heaven had answered her prayer!

Then we dot up aud prayed dest as well as we tould, And Dot I answered our prayers, now wasn

Hedood?"

"I should say that He was, If He sent you all these, And knew lost what presents my children would please. ,Iw, (Well, Well, let him think so, the dear little elf Twould be cruel to tell him I did ltmy-

Blind father, who caused your stern heart to relent? And Ute hasty wonl spoken so soon to reTwos'Vlie Being who bado you steal softly up sta.lrs, And iniMla you 1IU ngentto answer their

pruytrs

Christmas Notes,

Tb all a Merry Chriatuiaa. Great «urpri»oa are In store. Hang up yoar little stockings.. Have yon got those slippers ready?

Twaa the niRht before Christmas." You'll nee things to-morrow you never saw balbre.

Tbo l^tle people will be the earliest riders lo-morrow. Tim Gertnaos call CbriiitmMi. "tho ehlldr in's featlval."

OwHajr Is the gnat toy mating nation of the world. France dliaatils Chriattnaa trees. They are of German origin.

The atreota are ftill of bnndlea and people this afternoon. An interesting Christmas story will be found on the second page.

Don't let any little stocking be ftrasd empty to-morrow morning. Tuppar says "JPolky conoaelet ha gi ft, given wisely and it season."

Otristmas comiag on Saturday, this week's Mall ia iasaad on Friday. $ Un««ny lies tba little head to-night— thinkiag of the oomlng morning,

Santa Ctaaa? lAtdtw are ImpattaaUy pawing the ground with their hooflk Now darn your stockings and get them ready to bold p«-anotaand slipper*.

Striped stocking will look weil whan ftllrd with diamond earrings, seal skin oapsandoaram*!*.

Make aonia ol the poor happy tor a day at leas*. Tbelr misery ta hiurder to bear than ever at Christmas tixaa.

In knm dtiea ft t* the enstoas of tht haebaad to racaivs hb Mends on Christmu day and the wtAi an New Teas.

Fathers, vra command to yoor reading the beantlfal poem, entitled "Isibere no 8anta CTwaT" printed on tkfa paga^|f

A OhriatauM ti«a «st» Bttla and far* ttlahea great anjoyinent I* the Bttte Svarj family ahottld have ona.

Above all LhiasK Iwep in a good hnon Christmas, hllwii and msihaia. lid noUiieg dtaftnr1» the e^ojnieut of the day.

TIN now that John Henry dpbeii hp hit poaslbte aorpitaa tor C%fkUBM, and wtmdeia vagnaljr what Marla,s exp««tattonanra. P' 1 r~m-

Wo bad arranged for a half page Christmas illustration for this issue, but the work of the artist fell go far short of our expectations that we doomed it too severe an aflliction on the patrons of The Mail, to prodnee it.

The general custom of demrating the ••hurches and houses with evergreens is descended from the Druids. They believed that sylvan spirits would dwell in the evergreen boughs and garlands until spring, and protect the house from evil spirits.

The Puritans,-of New England, in their opposition to all church pastimes, forbade tlio general observance of Christmas, and oven to this day the Middle, Western, and Southern States indulge more unrestrained festivities than tho dwellers in Yankeeland.

Thero are, sometimes, touches of sadness hanging around Chiistmat, as well aa those of joy. It ia the grand anniversary of tho year, and the remembrance of friends beloved and dear, who have gone to the better land, come to us thtn with renewed sharpness.

Christmas is a day which every good citizcii should chcriah and teach his children to honor, look forward to, and romeuilx'r with pleasure. You shoiild leavo tho world with Its caros, its persistent creditors, and its dilatory debtors, and make tho day truly one of calm eiyoyment.

The first authoritative command to keep Christmas time holy is attributed to Clement, a coUaborateur with St. Panl and mentioned by tho lattor in tho Epistle to the I'hilippians. Clement says: "Brethren, keep diligently fast-days, and truly, in tho first place, the day of Christ's birth."

Nearly every, country has Its own mode of celebrating Christmas. In Italy fensting and singing is the order of tho day, and, as the shades of night fall upon their lovely towns, numbers of musicians go forth to celebrate the oae who has most merited their esteem arid approbation during the past year.

It was an old English superstition that at midnight on Christmas evo every living creature of the animal'kingdom involuntarily bent the knee, and even at this enlightened day the idea finds many believers. It arose from the medliBYol fanev that the ox and the ass that were stabled ia the manger at the birth of Christ fell upon thoir knees before the Iloly Babe in adoration of His divinity.

All "good children" are hereby notified that Santa Clans has determined to make bis annual visit to-night and they are earnestly invited to hang up their stockings, or some other suitable receptacle for presents, in the chimney ocrner or on chairs or other snitable places in some room not securely fastened. The old obap is bcooming grey and bent with age, and he ia highly pleased when he does not have to hunt all over the house for the atockinga.

In the Northern countries Christmas Is a season of more festivity than in tbono tropical lands where palms bask in the sun, and gorgeous flowers aro the story oft lie whole year. Comiag just as winter has commenoed his Icy reign, the inner warmth and glow and oomlbrt make a deeper Impression on the aQul, moving It to thankfulness and rejoicing, and branches and wreath* of evergreen form a more fitting decoration in hottor of our Savior's birth than all the wealth of tropical flowers, which biosaom only to wither and pariah in an bour.

Chriattnaa ia the ohildren'a holiday See to It kind render that the little ones are made happy with the old, old day, and Ita blwassd memoriea, and that no pain or disappointment eomee to the young hearts with the Chriattnaa dawn. See to It that Santa Qaua puts aoasething, however aim pie, in each gaping stocking, and tot the tittle ones think kindly aa long a* they can of the Christnun fiction. For wlian the time cornea that they step out of the world honnded fey anrh jolly, kmable, old hadlea Krtas Kittgk, they are adrift forever on a world so real and practical that nothing seems half so brigot or good aa the simple dreaaas of their trusting childhood.

With slow gaag atepa for the yoong, and so radidly tor thoaaonoe yoong that bat yesterday aaema a yaw age, Ml approach*! ita eod, and we cry, "All hail the natal day of the Son of Ood!" CtsrUtaiaa ia partial in ita gifts. It briaga no joy to those who nerrer know joy. With the rich their riches are more than ever dear, with the poor thalr poverty mora than aver galling, And yet everywhere some rsy of the Christmae eonahino moat penetrate* The bright namovlea a# the day are with aO. It ia a ttssa when mm ahow their better aalvee, whan we feel that If with its the wotkl has dealt wtfl, we can, and will, for one d*y least, make Jqyoua the Uveeof tilbeis lass toftnanta. WMh the lHUa ones of Incky biith Chrielmse mean* but pleasure. They haw waited for it ao los| awl an iaspalientty, and now thai it Is hare at last, it Mora than keeps the prowls— held ont for it. With

TERRE HAUTE, IND., FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 24. 1875. .»i Price Five Cents

tboee to whom Christmas had eome with lightning tread, the mind looks far back to merry Chrlstmasses long agono, and one wonders if be shall ever see the Christmas sun rise sgain.

In all the civilixed world tbcre is no spot so secluded, and, perhaps, no heart so dark that the sound of Christmas chimes fails to awaken in it a sense of joy and exultation. Round And round the earth rolls the grand sympathetic tnelody, calling on rich and poor alike to put aside for a day all disputes and jealousies, and over and above all trouble and perplexity swells the sublime reiterated strain Peace and good-will, good-will htUl peace

Peace and good-will to .-ill wuuklnd.

.'5

For a Saviour

'.:.u

born Into the world,

Tlieflasof the Prince of Peace is uofurleU: All over tbe earth, all over the sen A star of the most dazzling brilliancy Is pointing to lielhlehtms low mnngi-r, Where to-nl«ht

born a royal stranjjer

Tnen rnl«e on high a a a

I a Awake! my lyre, a Assist the choir To chant his praise. The angels siin» is The a 11 a ring With pure delight a in A a O a a That's born to shine From spheres above Throughout all time With peace and love. ••To men good will." To earth great y. a 1 1 a

Town-Talk

"CHRISTIAN TIMK3."

The jolliest,.happiest, saddest timo of all the year has come the time for feasting, for fuu, and 'for tears. The joyous season wherein warm hearts glow with love, and break with bitter grief, has rolled around onco more. The blessed anniversary of a Saviour's birth into a world which abused, persecuted and crucified hitn, is at hand again. Tbe time when family ties draw closest and friendship seems raoet holy and when, alas! the unfortunate and tho friendless feel their loneliness the most. The time when home Area burn brightest, and the homeless freete when the fortunjate feast, and the miserable starve when dainty atockings are stuffed with sweetmeats, and famishing children cry for bread when Prosperity is richest In^all blossiugs, and Poverty pinches sorest when Man ia in his gentlest mood, and Nature seems mflst harsh and cruel.

It is here—tho Christmas time! tho beginning of a holiday which laughs an old year into its grave, and welcomes the birth of an untried new one. And we laugh with it laHgh At the dying old year with its sorrows, iti troubles, its disappointments, and its blessings, withal and are eager to bnry It ont of our aight, and anxloua to prove the unrealized hopes which already have been transferred from it to ita successor.

Yet not all of us will feel thus. Not all will aee the old year pass away without a pang, or thp the new one enter without a tremor. For before tbe new year ia old there will be notea protested, and mortgagee foreclosed, and good men aned for money which they have not got and cannot get. There are honorable buainees men staggering under ever accumulating loada of debt from which, for two years past, they have been vainly struggling to release tbemaelves or lighten, and tbey know now, at the cksae of the year, that the end must soon come and though they have done evnrything that brave and honorable men oonld do, the prospect of a pablic expoanre of their unfortunate situation almost breaks their heart*. Soma of theee are man who have fed tho meridian of life, and now, in their old age, are daily forced to contemplate tbe a weeping away of all the asvingi of years. There are marahanta and man* utectum*, aa able and honorable men as any that read Ibla article, who for weary months have watched the flood of mMbrttraea and loaasa gradually aubmerging them, and been power!— to either check ereecapeit. No one eiae can know the prolonged, continued agony of men like these, or how they dread the end, Inevitable thoagfc It be and not to have been avoided by an? hansan foresight, Tb them there a fancied humiliation abort a busiest fcilare which Is woree than death. For the sake of "the dear onee at home" •hey will pnt on anile and sssuiub a gaiety they am for front fatting, taring tbe happy Christmas time «nd who know, will both pity. honor them for it,

But them are pnopfte innch torn off than thdb. There mechanics, derka, and laboring saen, ptcon*. dostnxH and aober, who nUesdy are ont of work and out of money, and wttb

no prospect of getting either, sooner than spring. There are honest, virtuous mothers, with sick husbands, and babies and children crying with hunger there are pale women whose gteps grow feebler day by day, and whose willing arras less strong to provide food and fire for their fatherless little ones, and who know that before tho flowers shall hlooin again their darlings will be motherless and alone in tbe world. And before tho winter is over, thero will be women and children freezing and starving. Women and children with no fire, nothing to make one, no food, no warmth, no light, nothing but despair. Already, iu many a house, it is a hand to hand contest with death, from hour to hour. And is it not well to remember such poop!e now, and at all times? "And," as was nobly said by St. Ixuis woman the other day, "if there aro others who, are not upright after our conventional notlo is, who shall doom them to cold and starvation? Who dare do it? Will desperation inako honest and ambitious citizens, or-reform the bad? I nm sick of tho stereotyped subtrefuge, where men hide, to avoid giving alms—1'impostons' 'impositions.' Well, to narrow the thinR to a tine point, it may be, wo aro all impostors on the Divine bounty, with this difference, 'He sends rain on tho just and the unjust.' 'Shall man be more just than his Maker?"

At Christmafe Jl«y, and make good cheer, for Christmas comes but once a year, I'M"* Ut rsti'- 4? CHRISTMASKVh. -f t" w?

lis 58

Hiuk to the sounds Floating in air! Great joy abounds on A L. to be freta a I

iiV-

Tho universal poor, not the worthy poor, are commended to our notice. Father, mother, go home, put out your lire, remove from the premises every lump of coal aud evory stick of wood, banish every morsel of food, leavo a single bedstead, with nothing but a straw mattress and a whito sheet. Now you have it—no light, no flro, nothing to make it with no food, and just let this state of things continue for two days, hear your children moan and cry for food and see them shiver and chatter with cold all day aud all night, grow hungry and cold yourself, not a mouthful to oat, no cup of hot tea, nothing to do. Can you do it Would you dare undergo this ordeal for two days Ami yet there aro scores, if not hundreds in this condition to-day, in this city. You have a right to your easy chairs, glowing fires, tables loaded with dainties, your children buoyant with love and hope, but who makes us to differ? We must go bovond there and holp our neighbors to stave off death iu its most appalling form. ',h,

Let us all be thankful for such blessings as we enjoy, and most of us have much to We thankful for if we will only ace it, let us euter heartily into the Christmas festivities, and show our gratitude for what we have by endoavoring to make those around us happy, and to lighten tho burdens of the sorrowful and tho afllictcd. Iot us go forward into the new year with hope undimined and a determination fixed, to make it a better year for ourselves and all, than tbe old has been. How many of us who started the year just closing with the brightest anticipations have had them realized and how many of ua are there who entered upon it with gloomy forebodings are to-day congratulating enraelves upon our happy escape from expected troubles The wise man is he who takea tbiugs as he finds tkem, who ia neither over-confident nor despondent, but resolve that come what may, prosperity or adveri'y, ho will not in either oase play an unmanly part. And ao, wiahing to all a happy Christmas and a merry New Year, T.

T. repeata the words

of Tiny Tim "liod bless us every one

Husks and Nubbins.

'SfU ,, ?NO. W«- -r i) 4

u-. "!-eu*n- *j HWKKT CHARITT. A few days ago aix man were seated in an office. It waa a very oold morning. An ok! woman with haggard looks and acant clothing opened the door and asked for alms. No ona responded. When she waa gone one of tbe me* winked at his companlona and begsn telling a story of how be had on* bean "taken in" by an Iriab beggar boy. The boy used to ceme to his fconae with a basket for broken bread and the asmnants from tbe tabis* Ha was handsomely supplied a* often aa he cfauw to estse. (People who never giro any thing to a bag*" havs always been exceedingly eJfcaritable people until they saw theerfor of their wsv.) One day a aaighbar aaw the boy going away with Us gjonoinff bawket-ftil and said to the mas: "I)on*t give that boy anything jaora.

used to do as yoo are doing

now bat one time I followed the fellow home snd saw his flrthsr snd mother both lying In the middle of tbe room dead drunk."

A murmur of disgust followed the recital. A sodden blast of wind rattled tbe window pane. It waa not ptahomt to go ont. Another of the men recalled a caae eome what atmnlar. Tbe wife of a Mend of Ma had been in tba habit of fllBng the basket of an Irish with acrape of foot?, from her table. One namlm hsr hnsfcand fotgpt sowsihlag snd had to nKnrn to the boose. He arrived there jnst In time to aee Ms wtfo pnfcUnf a r»H of butter and half ad rear

ed chicken into the old Irish woman's basket. The old Irish woman was herself sitting in the houso. The man saw her. She was tbe woman of whom ke rented his houso and to whom he paid his rent promptly each month. Tho woman kept a flourishing boarding house a few squares distant.

The story drew forth a hum of indignation. Still tho cold wind buffbtod tho windows and the flro in the stove roared cheerfully. It was not hard to slay in the house. The third man felt called upon to toll his experience with beggars. After him the fonrth mau and the fifth. The stories corroborated each other. It was clear that a vast deal of iuconscionable clieat and humbug was traversing tho earth beneath the tattered garments or'beggars. "Nevertheless," said the man who had told no story and had listened iu tdlcuoe to the rest, "nevertheless, there is ittuoh real want and sutfcring among the poor suffering from lack of fuel, food and clothing. But it is not these as a general thing who receive help. They aro often sensitive about asking for asfdatanco and would rather starve thau beg." His companions gave a roiuctaut assent and the men wont out, each to his own affairs.

What transpired in th*t office at that time is transpiring at all times in many places. Men are constantly bciag imposed on by sharpers who put on tho guise of squalor and want iu order to carry out their base designs. Men are constantly relating their experiences to others and tho practice of ulnm-glvlng Is iklling into disreputo. ProftitMionul begging lias grown to such proportions that everyone who asks for charity Is suspected to be alike unworthy of assistance or belief. Those who enjoy all tbe good things of life refuse to Ixvitow a pittance and, whon their conscience upbraids them, justify their conduct on the ground that beggars are all vagabonds and sharpers, or, If there are any who realty deservo help, it is imp mslbie to know who they are.

Nevertheless thero is much real wnnt and suffering and It is udt right to withhold the hand of charity because its gifts so often fall into the lap oi tao unworthy and undeserving. Professional begging has grown to be a monstrous evil. Many worthless, drunken and vile men and women obtain a precarious livelihood in this disreputable ntannttr. (jranted. Does it follow that tlio hand of charity should bo stayrd that the well-bonsod, well-fed a fid rota for tablo classos should refuse to give anything to tho needy and unfortunato? Does It not show rather that our system of charity needs to be reformed? If we cannot trust those who couio to our houses and offices asking for almr, then, Inasmuch as we know there is great want and sufforing among tho poor, we ought to go aod seek out the dostltuto and keep starvation from their doors. And this, after all, Is the true system of charity. We all know tiiat, as a general thing, those who suffer most make least complaint. They who really deservo assistance and whom it would be. a gennine pleasure to relieve of their distress, are exactly those who do not inake a parade of their misfortunes snd who are too sensitive to openly ask for alms. They cannot lear the cold refusal and tbe look of anspldon and distrust which accompanies the pittance that Is dropped into tbelr band. These must bo sought ont in tbelr homes—6r let uk ssy rather in the wretched hovels which, by a stretch of courtesy, pass for homes. And when found there there can n« longer be any doubt as to the merit or urgency of their necessities. Tbe truth will become manifest there. Jt lathe right way to give. Charity means something when it does not wait to be solicited but comes with its basket of provisions and bundle of clothing sseklng.of its own accord, for the needy andfonfortunata. Such gifts have a twofold VSlne one by virtue of the thng bestowed, ths other by virtue of tbe spirit of the giver. This method of charity has been and la being organised to a vast extent. All the great eitioa, tbe large towna and many of tba amallar village*, hava their societies for helping tbe poor. Tfeeee organisation^ do a grand and noble work. Tbey cannot, it is true, relieve all or even tbe larger part of the suffering tbey find, bat they can and do relieve asany of the most urgent caaes. Tbsy do ksap people from finessing and starving to death and' they could and srillingly would do more If those who are abundantly able would give a liUta more fsnaramly.

It Is the happy Christmas (fine. Many splendid snd costly gifte will be mads by tbess who hsve plenty and to spsora. And this is all proper snd wall. Let na net forget those who are leas fortunate than ws. There will be banger and cold In many awretcbod hovel daring tbe winter which ia upon na Let no ons ratios* to givo^ because there are pmfoaslonal beggar*. There Is channel through which bis gift will be carried without ioas or failure into the lap of the needy and dlstreaaed. Lst hint bntlook and be can find It. -is.

Ti* eighteen hundred and aeventy yearly «ndls ia nearly a^j^l out,