Show CHRISTMAS GIFTS the custom of giving christmas presents may have originated in a desire to celebrate the attendance of the eastern astronomers on the newborn new born babe at bethlehem on which occasion they brought costly gifts as a tribute to him in whom they saw the savior or it ft may have been introduced to promote peace on earth and good will to men undoubtedly the first christmas offerings were made rather as an a tribute to jesus though friends were the recipients cip lents on the principle that whatever has been done unto one of the least of his disciples he accounts as having belen been done unto him this view is sustained by the fact that formerly it was the custom of the wealthy and mighty to make presents chiefly to those dependent on them and to the poor christmas was waa a time for general charity gradually this was almost lost ight of and the yearly feast became the occasion of an exchange of gifts among friends and at present it is above all the childrens festival there is no occasion to regret this it to is due to the gospel that the children are no longer counted as a burden but a blessing the advent of jesus in the language of arena irenaeus eus every age including that of infants and little children and it is proper w that they should be made to rejoice in remembrance of their sancti iter fler A comparison between the position of the child in former ages or in vagan pagan count countries iries where they are not much more than merchandise with the status of the child born bom where the influence of the cross rules shows what the young generation has gained our palatial school houses and perfect system of education procured at great wat picture books the best art can produce duce and la ia multitude of expensive toys toy are an evidence of the importance with which the chaldis child chil dis is regarded in the state tate and the home but the real significance of the festival of the child should not be left out of rf view when Is there an opportunity more appropriate to tell the boys and the beautiful story of the redeemer than this on which their hearts well swell with joy they should be taught why christmas to is being celebrated they should be led to sympathize with other children not so fortunately situated as they are with the orphans and those perchance worse off than or ahans they should be taught that to in some borne act of kindness to the sick and the poor to is more intense pleasure than la in the enjoyment of what parents and friends bestow upon them in other words that the giver is ig more blessed than the receiver As it Is veur to gaii infinite ano and unselfish divine love thit that a christmas can be celebrated at all it is but unworthily observed if people have no thought but for themselves generally it involves but little sacrifice to spread joy in our surroundings the very fact that one who has but fw few friends has been remembered on such an occasion imparts value to any gift whatever its intrinsic worth may be |