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o/ pason's 31 io | this Yule- tide Season we heartily extend to all ans lds § 108 q Wishes for the * New Year § And as Mayor of Oshawa, I appreciate the honor of giving congratulations to our newly annexed neighbors of Cedar Dale and as one--prosperous young city--I wish to say: The Will to help and the cour- age to do. Whether the sky be gray or blue." YOURS SINCERELY JOHN STACEY THE ONTARIO REFORMER La hbo dhol db dod book bd olka o'a o FH HH F|HE Spirit of Christmas glided "softly into the City of Everyday at dusk on Christmas Eve. 7 4 There was a brisk, happy stirring of bundle-laden people along Ga the brightly lighted streets, and the sound of children's voices made 4 music on the frosty pine-scented air. A wonderful Christmas was in prospect, for 'there had been a fine goodwill . crop. And, when the goodwill crop is a success a splendid Christmas is assured, py vou know. The Spirit of Christmas passed up one street and down another looking for a home into which no goodwill blossoms had been gathered, for there, she knew, she would be needed At last she stopped at one of the humblest homes in the poorest street in the whole city, and efitered, Surely she would be needed to work some magic in such a home! It was so small it seemed as if there would hardly be room to garner even a crop of goodwill--and goodwill, as you know, takes up very little room, though # the aroma of it spreads a long, long way. A man and woman and several little children were grouped around a rickety table, upon which stood a basket and many homely parcels. "We must share what we have with our neighbor who is poorer even than we are, and who, besides, is a stranger in a strange land," said the man, as he began to fill the basket. The woman went to a drawer and took out some little white woolly garments with the smell of lavender clinging to them. She held them lov- ingly in her rough hands for a moment and a mist sprang into her eyes as across N The Spirit of Christmas 4 Co 0 Le] FERRRERRR EERE RRR RRR RR RR RR RRR ER Under the spell of the Spirit of Christmas a new look came into the man's face --a flicker of that youth which never really dies till it goes out with the last breath. He lifted the rose to his lips and closed his eyes to dream a moment of the scented summer days and the wonderful nioon--white nights, the tender young eyes, and the whispered vows which its perfume called up. When he passed the rose across the table to the woman the dream went with it and spread itself swiftly before her inner vision. When she looked up again she left a tear in the heart of the rose, but there was a smile on her lips, "You gave me checks--and checks--and checks--and what I really wanted from you was a rose--a rose and a dream," cried the woman, happily, as the man took her hands in his. "I'm glad I called at this home," said the Spirit of Christmas, as she slipped out, 'One never can tell where the Spirit of Christmas will be needed." "UNDER THE MISTLETOE." When you help mother decorate the house on Christmas Eve with holly-leaves and boughs, and hang.up a bunch of mistletoe under the chandelier, have you ever wondered where it came from before the greengrocer sold it to people to hang up in their houses at Christmas? Country chicks know, of course, but I don't suppose there are many town chicks who do. Well, the mistletoe grows in big bunches on trees. It is sometimes found on oak-trees, too, but not very often. THE FAIREST FLOWER THAT GROWS her memory flashed the echo of a baby's lisp. Then she put the garments into the basket with a smile. One child dropped in a torn picture-book, another a new top, and another something else until all had contributed to the basket. "No work remains for me to do here," said the Spirit of Christmas, as she slipped out into the sfreet again. *'This family has more than enough goodwill in stock to see them through. They must have taken great care of the roots all through the year, insted of forgetting about them until Christmas time drew near as so many people do. I shall try a different kind of a home next. One never knows where the Spirit of Christmas may be needed." Cis ts very nit Ge she found 8 home where sige Cwoughi dhe might be needed. It ¥apaheadiiv home, with great rooms aglitter and agleam, but no children's voi the brooding silence. Soft rugs cushioned the floor, and costly paintings adorned the walls, while between the folds of rich silken tapestries shone masterpieces in white marble. And in the midst of all the beauty and luxury sat a man and a woman near to each other, yet--apart. A party of carol singers went up the street singing. The man looked up when he heard the music. "To-morrow is Christmas Day," he said, as if he had not thought of it before. "Yes, to-morrow is Christmas Day," the woman answered listlessly. "I must write you a check, as usual," said the man, absently, "Yes, write me a check, as usual," said the , without int 5 The man reached out his hand to take up a pen. But the Spirit of Christmas took a crimson rose from a vase nearby and put it between the man's fingers. He lifted the rose and looked at it with wonder in his tired eyes, "What shall I do with a rose?" he said. "'Roses are for youth." "Or for those with the memories of youth," whispered the woman wistfully. No one knows how or why it first came to grow in that funny way, but I'll tell you how it goes on growing more and more each year, and why, if you've got an orchard in which it grows, you'll find that the apple-trees get more bunches of mist- letoe every winter. Just as you like chocolates and acid-drops, so do the birds love mistletoe berries, and especially the thrushes. You've heard of a missel-thrush. Well, he's called that because he's so fond of these berries--mistle-thrush, See? Well, when Mr. Dicky has pecked a berry he'll fly off and rub his beak up against the bark of a tree to wipe off any little bit that may still remain on his beak, and in that way, you see, he sows the seed of the mistletoe. That little seed will sink into the bark, shoot out roots, and by next year there'll be a little sprout of mistletoe. As the years go on, that little sprout will become a hig bunch, and then--well, then, I expect, it'll be cut down to be sent to the mar- ket for people to buy and hang up in their houses at Christmas-time, AN ALL-YEAR SPIRIT. The providing of Christmas cheer for those whose Christmas would otherwise be cheérless is becoming one of the finest of Canadian habits. It is done in many ways: through churches, through Sunday school classes, through charitable organiza- tions, through other organizations which are not constituted primarily for char- itable purposes. Nowadays everyone takes a hand in this work. Canada is fortun- ately situated in having a relatively small proportion of its population in actual want. The average of prosperity is so high that there is no reason why any un- fortunate one should be overlooked at the Christmas 'season. - ex Saturday, December 23, 1922. HEARTIEST ov CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR GREETINGS To Every One of Our Employees The Ontario Malleable Iron Co., Limited PERRET. | TT TT A Message From L. O. Clif ford, M.P. At this Yuletide season I wish to extend to the people of Oshawa and the other parts of my riding, my very best wishes for a joyfui Christmas as well as for a most prospercus year during the coming twelve months. As your representative at Ottawa, | am actu- ated by a desire to render the largest possible service to the constituency of South Ontario and to the Dominion. L. O. Clifford FromW. E. N. Sinclair, A K.C., M.P.P. The year 1922 will soon be a matter of history. Its days have slipped quietly by in silent proces- sion. To most it has afforded abundant activity which has resulted in material prosperity.' Now comes Christmas which presents an opportunity to look in retrospect upon its achievements. In so far as we have been actuated by proper motives, and have cheerfully performed our round of daily duties, and have rendered service unselfishly where opportunity afforded, have we retained the spirit and lesson of last Christmas, and have enjoyed in the fullest manner the activity and prosperity of the closing year. Now that the Christmas season is here once more, with its ever returning joyfulness for young and old, may I as one who serves in a public capacity, extend to the people of Oshawi, of South Ontario and to your readers everywhere, heartiest Christmas Greetings, and the best of wishes for the New Year so soon to dawn. W. E. N. SINCLAIR. nn RI ase