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I.- IK ^ K A "Different" Christmas BY LYDIA LION ROBERTS. "Well, my dear family," said Ros- dozen books, an automobile, and some alie cheerfully, "Christmas is " she big leather chairs, please. Nothing ex- paused. ! pensive, you understand, just a trifle." Coming!" groaned a chorus of "Yes, we'll order them all right voice* around her. "Therefore," continued Rosalie with a reproving glance at her family, "this Christmas which is coming must be different!" It was a Sunday evening in Decem- ber. i ton family had been to church and was now gathered in the big living-room, talking and listening to Ki,-..:ii- as she played dreamy, rest- ful chords on the piano. The married sister, Alice, and her husband, Jack, had come- over from their home on the next street, and Nan, the college girl, was spending the week-end at home. The fourteen-year-old son, Clarke, had Just filled his hands and pockets with refreshments, and sprawled on the bearskin rug, was finishing an ad- venture yarn. Father Benton leaned his shaggy gray head back in his old Morris chair, his blue eyes twinkling as he listened to his lively family, urged, surveying his youngest daugh- ter with quiet pridi as he watched her earnest brown eyes, and vivid, eager face. Rosalie noddod gnyly to him, sure of away and put them in your box," as- sured Rosalie in the same gay spirit. "You deserve every one of them. What do you really want, daddy? You're dreadfully hard to give presents to; you never seem to need anything." "Yes I do," protested father, "I really do, girls. I need some shoe- strings badly. Give me a box of shoe- strings and save me biting my tongu every time mine break," and he went upstairs chuckling at their disgusted looks. "Such a dad," smiled Rosalie, as the young folks settled for a last few min- utes' chat "He never gets a thing for himself, and he doesn't want us to spend anything on him. He never gets much for Christmas but a few hand- kerchiefs and some neckties. He will i.ot tell us any of his dreams, and says his family is the best thing he could have." "Yes," added Nan, waving her hand and mocking her father's jolly tone, "spend your money for your pretty trinkets, girls, don't waste it on an old codger like me.' " "He's the best dad there ever was," his understanding, and continued: said Alice. "He always tells Jack and "Just think; we gronn because Christ- me: 'Now you young nest builders mas is coming, and shout relief when I save your money to make the neat it is gone. Isn't that rather awful 'cozy, and put a ./ay my gift money when you think of the meaning of Christmas?" "Any remedy?" asked Jack, who was the- kind of a brother-in-law that fitted snugly into the family circle. "Yes," promptly replied Rosalie. for the nestlings.' "It's about time we got even with him," frowned Rosalie as she thought- fully gazed into the firelight. At last, after days of whispered consultations, of hiding mysterious Christmas should^be a satisfying of packages, of smothered giggles and happy plans, it was Christmas morn- those little dear desires and fancies We all have tucked away in our hearts a'-<I are so ashamed to show. If we did that, it would make lots of fun and Dot be a burden either." ing. The Benton family had filled a box for an unfortunate family, had made toys for some sick children, taken part in the church concert and "I believe I know what Rosalie had a Christmas tree for some little jneans," suddenly laughed Alice. "I j tots who lived near them. Therefore, like things in half-dozens. I would; they woke with that glad, thrilly feel- |^t a half-dozen at a time of almost ing so indispensable to Christmas Day jrerything I buy if I could afford It I "Box Benefit after breakfast," Ros- It is silly, I realize, but it is true. I alie called aa she hurried to the kit- bad rather have six medium quality ichen to help her mother. handkerchiefs than one very nice one. that isn't a bit correct, but I have always felt that way." "There," triumphantly cried her lister, "that is just what I mean." "Ill give you six toothpicka," offer- ad Jack. "Here we are," laughed Rosalie, her chocks flushed with the fun and ban- tar and her dark hair rumpled above bar shining eyes, "an average Can- adian family, the bulwark of the na- tion, so the statesmen say " "Speachl Speech!" cried Father Benton waving a sandwich at her. "And yet we are ashamed to show or desires and dreams that go to 0>ake up oar most precious possession, fur own individuality. Why shouldn't Alice have six hankies if she wants them? Lt'a all confess and then have aom-fun for Christmas, instead of wondering and worrying what on earth to give, thereby wrinkling our dispositions." "Very good," approved Mother Ben- ton who was rocking contentedly in front of tho fireplace. likcd best A Dutch flower odd d d All right, I dare you," briskly said Jack. "I don't like neckties for a Christmas present but I would like the Bioney to go on a real necktie spree all by myself. Also," and he sighed plaintively, "I adore chocolates but who ever heard of such a silly man?" His pathetic expression made them laugh and then Nan said thought- * ii I.T* t. j i " i - - ... ..^..,11,1, u uiiitir, fully: If we had plenty of money we hugging his brown collar-box in onu night buy such things for ourselves,! arm and waving an envelope with his ut every one of us is saving for some- other hand. "I am overcome " he A little later she drew back the curtains and let the family file into tho living-room where the sunlight danced on the red and gold decorations and the tree sparkled and twinkled like a loving and joyous spirit all over. Across one corner was a big placard which read, "The Bright Ben- ton's Boxed Christmas," and under- neath was a pile of boxes big and small. "Mother first," decided Rosalie, BO Jack brought a large box to her wrap- ped in matting with labels of Japan over it Mother actually blushed with delight as she found the kimono from father, the picture of the sacred moun- tain, the tray with iri. decoration, Japanese silk for a waist, and a book of quaint stories about Japan. "You bad children," she said softly with tears shining brightly in her happy eyes, "you shouldn't have done it, but it is very sweet" Already Nan was exclaiming over her shirt-waist box which Jack and Clarke had made for her college room Christmas Music FHb the Night. A Christmas carol, to the tune "St. Kevin," by Sir Arthur Sullivan. Christmas music fills the night, Christmas stars are gleaming, Souls in darkness hail the light From a manger streaming. Though the inn is full, the beast Greets the world's sweet leaven; Bethlehem, thou art not least, Thine the Bread from Heaven. for my n,us,c-lovmg ears My lessons Dark and s ,, ent WM are costing so much 1 didn't suppose wher<j ^ gh herdg ded I could go to such wonderful concerts there ghone * 2kVfanJ "I'm next, pass up forward please,' , . . .. . . , . . And their hearts rewarded. called I father, who had insisted on be- chant ^ , ove , y sang . they ing the last daddy," Rosalie said, coming over to him with her hands behind her. "You never seem to want us to spend any money on you." "I should say not," agreed father, , We too hear with gladness little .' OKe - p eace on earth, goo d will toward men," Jesus ends your sadness. If the shepherds leave the sheep, Who will watch and tend them? taking the tiny box from her hand, ''I Faithful guardians must not sleep, like a good joke about as well as any- 1 Else the wolf will rend them! thing, and you girls need pretty things Yet the angel bids them go, and must not spend any of your money, Seek the sipn so low'.y; on an old fellow like me. Well, well, H e will keep their flocks, they know, that's pretty good," and chuckling and Shepherd bright and holy. twinkling he pulled out of the _ small' wh(jn th found the Chnd f Go(J box an auto, several dozen .books and wondered; two leather chaira-.ll little pictures B known abroad, cut from magazines. "I got everything I asked for," he jrinned broadly. Did you look under the tissue Mary kept and pondered. Babe of Christmas, grant us part In their adoration, , y ,o ,, i. And the grace that filled her heart- paper?" asked Rosalie, "maybe the ,*, fnrttmn}nt , m shoe-strings are under there." Raptured contemplation. "Is there another joke on me?" and Why shouldst Thou have blessed us so, father wondiringly took out a thin flati Sought the love of mortals, parcel from the bottom of the box. The Coming down to earth below, family crowded around as he opened 1 Far from Heaven's portals? the paper. "What's this!" an-1 he Dost Thou know, O Saviour dear, stared in amazemont at H cheque for : How this world will scorn Thee? a generaus amount m.l a slip which Men will hate Thee, though they fear, read, "For the I'is, Bouncing Better Thy poor Mother mourn Thee! Chair Father has dreamed of having, vith enough left over for Bully Books." For once Father Benton was speech- less. He coughed, then he choked, then he blew a resounding blast into his Can it be Thou still wilt stay, Shrinking not from danger? Can we too sec Thee this day, In the holy Manger? O for all Thy tender love, Happy is our singing, Inspiration. There is nothing too high to aspire to, O woman, a-thrill with your dreams, There is ncthing too great to require you To further creation, it seems. The man may go faithless and fearful, Bells of Christmas ringing. Eliot White. -*- round the village. handkerchief. Finally he cleared his H to in the ggg ab throat and turned to mother. "You 1 told," he said reproachfully. "I did," mother placidly answered. "They kept coming to me and asking what you wanted, and I told them your Morris chair was all worn out and lumpy, and you had wanted a big leather chair ever since they were lit- tle tots. Rosalie said that when a man had wanted something for twenty years it was time he got it" "Especially a man like our dad," murmured Rosalie. "What's the matter with dad?" shouted Clarke who was grinning on the edge of the circle. "He's all right!" shouted the family in unison and they gently and firmly led Father Benton to a chair and choked his protests with loving hands and bear hugs until he promised to go down town the next day on a shopping trip of hi* own. THE SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON DECEMBER 23 The Universal Reign of Christ Christmas Lesson Isaiah 9: 6, 7; 11 : MO; Psalm 2: 1-12. Golden Text Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inherit- ance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy pos- session. Psalm 2: 8. LESSON SETTING In the last few lessons we have been following the growth of the missionary spirit and the extension of missionary operations in the early Christian church. In prin- it brne a d in op- to finish his work." There are na mixed motives in his heart He has one supreme motive. He shall not judge after the sight of his eyes. The Messiah is to see the unseen fact and eration it became everywhere ag- gressive. In our lesson to-day we turn back to the pages of the Old Testa important in true judgment righteousness . . the poor . . and smit* the earth with the rod of his mouth. mVnt, where the prophet give. u a For the poor he shall speak justice, vivid' picture of the Messiah and the but he sha11 smlte tne wlclwa ot " manifest results of his reign. I. THE CHARACTER OF THE MESSIAH, ISA. 11: 1-6. | II. THE CHARACTER OF THE MESSIAH'S REIGN, ISA. 11: 6-10; ea. 2: 8. .. ^^^ Vs. 6, 7. The wolf also shall dwell Vs. 1, 2. There shall come forth a with the lamb. The prophet's vision rod. When Assyria falls it falls like does not end with a regenerated so- a cedar of Lebanon which sends no cicty. He sees a new spirit in the ani- frcsh sprout from its broken stump, mal kingdom, just as other propheta but Judea is like an oak which, though see nature itself at its best when man hewn to the stump, sends forth new ia at his best There is first to b growth. A shoot .'hall spring from the peace among the beasts themselves, stock, and a fruit-bearing branch shall The savage beast of prey that lives on grow' from the root When Christ was the weaker, is a companion with the born we see how low the fortunes Vf herb and grass-eating animal. A little God's people had fallen, and from child shall lead them. George Adam, what we know of the earthly cireum- Smith calls attention to the dread of stances of Joseph and Mary, we see the ancient people in regard to the, how humble had become the cireum- wild beast They were a real menace, stances of the family of Jesse and Nevertheless the prophet looks for David. The spirit of the Lord shall reconci.iation and not for extermina- rest upon him. The spiritual endow- tion. inent of the Messiah is to be in mark- Vs. 8-10. The lion shall eat straw ed contrast to his material cireum- with the ox. Nature is to be no longer stances. The spirit of wisdom and red in tooth and claw. The fierce spirit understanding. The fruit of the Spirit of man and beast is to pass pway. which rested upon the Messiah is now Isaiah sees the possibility of eo-opera- described in a threefold way. First, tion of the whole of life. Peace and he has wisdom and understanding, or harmony is the deepest truth of life, what we might call insight, and fore- The suckliny child shall play . . asp. sight He sees through, and sees be- The spirit of peace extends even to neath, and sees beyona. The spirit of the creeping things that sting and counsel and might. Second, he has the poison. We may interpiet the dwell- .pirit of action. He acts with wisdom ing of the wolf with the lamb in a and power. He has "moral decision figurative sense as applying to human- ar.d heroic energy." The spirit of Sty. Then it means the subduing of knowledge and of the 'ear of the Lord, all the fierce and selfish instincts be- His wisdom and action spring from a tween man and man. The earth shall The Horse Factory. Betty, taken to the country for knowledge of and reverence for, the be Ml of the knowledge of the Lord. .-,. . . j v will of God. It was a divine program Isaiah believes in the reformation or Chnstmas, had been having a run h uman necd thfct he c . rrl * d * t transformation of the world, not by Vs. 8-5. Shall make him of quick organization, but by inspiration. Sha saw many things that were Understanding: translate rather, ''And peace-filled earth comes in a God- strango to her. but a passing glimpse he shall draw breath in the fear of the filled earth. It is the advent of Christ of the blacksmith's shop filled her with Lord." Love of God is to be the very t the human heart that alone will do wonder. When she got back to the cottage she burst into the parlor in a state of great excitement "Daddy," she said, "I've just seen a man who makes horses!" "Nonsense," said daddy; "you've made a mistake." "No, I haven't" she persisted. "I saw him. He had one nearly finished. atmosphere of his H ul. Jeeus ex- this. To it shall the Gentiles seek. pressed the same truth, "My meat i* The prophet sees the Gentile wor!4 to do the will of him that sent me, and flocking to Christ An Ideal Christmas He was just nailing on Its back feet" neighbor's house "to see the children's By Katherine Beebe Just a year ago I was invited Into a | practicable pinks and blues ; there Interest in His Work. Christmas" and went under the rnif- taken impression that it would b It WM Christmas Day, and six-year- Pleasurable experience It waant To old Bert received a Christmas box ' seo what 8hould have been * cro "'J- from farmer Bull. This was for driv- in * occasion of the year to this chll ing a cow half a mile to pasture twice r^f"/"*.^"^ * a day. He was just as happy as a boy could be, for he could spend the money just as he pleased. complex- ity of excitement was a positive grief. The room was small, the too large tree was decorated in a most hap- . hazard and inartistic way; yards of 10 man may go laumc.-ss anu leanui, -" .. > I i u , ,v,i .v, ^ , riant, ,,i,.tnv With doubta what the future may! That night he came home cracking ** whi ? h t ^ an / a .v ^ P , " and had lined with tho delft blue sheL T ., the hold; But woman la right to e cheerful, Adventurous, hopeful and bold. At Christmas turn over th pages ., Th d r 'c tendc 'y Delft dishes for fudge parties and a table-cover, with quaint Dutch maid- ens strolling around tho edge, showed that some of her fancies had been dis- covered and gratified. A deep groan made them all turn hastily and look at Jack. He was Was born of a woman like you. Clare Shipman. curled up on tho floor against a chair, Ijpotion. Christmas carols are really the old- est hymna of tho Christian Church. "Carol" is from tho Lathi "cantare," to sing, and "rola," a joyful inter- t .v a whip, and his mother exclaimed: I had been P rlnted . ' or , the ' f.....l.. nwnKH t- t i-iif .- Vi . L. I n'f\rtff were numberless toys having neither play value nor educational content. Handkerchiefs, hair ribbons, dish tow- ell, socks and neckties had all been given a part in the scheme of decora- tions. It was chaos come again and the children seemed fairly bewildered with excitement In contrast to this reckless festival it is a joy to recall the Christina, which stands out in my experience of many as the one most nearly gp- proaching the ideal. trade were stretched along the walls ji Qn ^ t^ty-fourth a small tree various paper bells, wreaths and fes- had bcen beauti f u l]y trimmed in white toons were hung on available piece,. , and 8 , lver by mother ^ children ^ "Bert, did you spend your Christ- mas box on that whip?" "Yes, I bought it off one of the farm > * ' " uv * <* vj ..!... .,.. * vuuuicu hands," Bert replied proudly. "You of furniture, and a profusion of gift.' gether< Father was the one who can't expect a fellow to work if he Htt f red tne ? chalrs f nd "5 ' j to receive the traditional shock of sur- don't have the tools to work with." to " k 8tock R**? a ?J .*****' 8U ^ 1 prise in this case. Th. living room pospdly spell-bound with interest and WM made , ove , Md fragrant with was People born on Christmas Day are, according to an old superstition, lucky all their lives. Pictures of robins, holly, and so on came into use on Christmas cards in 1862. delight I saw at once that quantity, 1 of Norway spruee and M ftve hing bigger and better and so we lave to count our pennies. I think it a nice idea, Rose." "Christmas certainly should be a time to help people realize their little dreams," smiled Alice. "Very well," replied Rosalie, "we Will have a Benton Box Benefit for Christmas." "Sounds good, what is it?" smiled fcer father. "Let', take each one's special likes ami longings and make up a whole box of them, as fancy or jokey or pretty .. . possible. We will decide among ourselves on gome one subject for each one when that one i. absent, nd then wo will all know what to buy." "I fined a regular tool-box," an- moaned in mock faintiness. "Think of a measly little envelope hiding such thrills. A bill that is big enough for a mighty necktie hunt and an order on a store for a scarf-pin." "What have you got behind you?" suddenly asked Clarke. "Go away, little one," loftily replied Jack, shoving something out of sight, but the family gave him no peace until he sheepishly produced several boxes of fudge and chocolates. "Let's have Christmas every month," he beaming- ly suggested. "0 boy!" shouted Clarke a moment later. "Some tool-box this family has donated me, and plenty of good wood ready to work on. Hurry up with the other presents, I want to go down cellar." Alice leaned against the piano an.i nounced Clarke raising his tousled, head from the rug. "That kid one of i began to laugh so heartily that the mine i no good. Club together and get; others turned to look at her aa she me some tools and a box and some opened the lone package that Father wood, that's what I have to say!" "Use your head, sonny," suggested Jack softly, and ducked the paper Clarke flung at him. "Rosalie U the musical one, and Nan i. the college on, and Alico is the half-dozen one," murmured mother, "and Clark*-" "Stop, mother, you'll be giving all orts of secrets away," warned Rosalie handed her. Out came a le*: of six hollow building-blocks sQch as children use, and each held a pmkagn. There were six poatageatampg, six iron-holders, six handkerchiefs, six bars of chocolate, and six bright half- dollars. The paper around the money road, "To be spent in answering ad- vertisements," for Rosalie had dis- covered that Alice loved to get some of the things BO attractively displayed in magazine pages, but would not in- dulge herself. In the biggest box she feuicklj. "What about yourself fcough?" "Well," hesitated Mother Benton .. _. innoothing her white apron, "as longj found an envelope from Jack which as we are talking about foolish thhigg, held money and said, "For my self- nd it ian't expensive I really don't I denying wifle to buy six pairs of; need it, but well, there if you must! gloves at one time." Ai she looked i know, I am very fond of Japanese I up, Jack smiled at her and whispered, things, only I never could indulge my j "Ix>t's go on our sprues together." Whims. Your ideas are attractive,! "Mine is r. music-box," laughed but you must remember that anything xpennive i. forbidden.' Hosiilic happily and held up a ailk opern-ting, now pipces of music, and "That's fine," teased father, as he tickets tnr sr-^-ral i-or-wrls in the com-' rose to say good-night, "I'll have two ing your. "What treats I have in .tor. not quality, had been the dominant o . clock drew near a n was in order and idea and that a group of grown people ^ tre \ {ghte d for a Christmas greet- had bten enjoying themselves with ing to pMser-by. Then the whole fam- littlt consideration of the children s, ily went to a "Candlelight Service" in real needs or desires. | a near b y church, stopping on the way There were breakable dolls in im-j home to see a wonderful creche set up with loving thought and care by a friend and neighbor. After dinner there were Christmas stories, Christ- mas songs and Christmas music on the victrola, and then came bedtime with its excitements and anticipation. and the hanging of the stockings. In the early morning Father slip- ped quietly downstairs while the rest of us waited for the music which was the signal that all was ready. Then, not with a rush, But with deliberate intention not to lose a single thrill, we descended the staircase together. On the landing it burst upon us, and Oh, the beauty of it all! There was our tree, sparkling and beautiful in th. firelight which filled the. room! Ther were the stockings, bulging! There In the chosen places were the gifts! And what wore these? For each child one ! special and long-desired treasure, an j electric train, a sled, a tricycle, books, I three games full of promise of future I fun, and for the use of the children together a box of the biggest block. that could be found. In each stocking was a lovely cornucopia full of good- ies, candies, nuts and raisins, while under these were several littl* toy. chosen as jokta or for the foolishness without which there can be no real Christmas in this family. The chil- dren's gifts to Father and Mother and theirs to each other were given at the breakfast table, a time-honored cus- tom. The aftermath of this Christmas was a matter of great interest to the fortunate guest By four o'clock in the afternoon the neighborhood chil- dren began to drop in until there were at least a dozen of them, one of whom confided to me that "at Christmas time the B children always got presents you could do things with." Indeed for weeks afterwards the house of my friend was a rendezvous for that compelling reason. Surely thto 4as an ideal Christmas.