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Monday, December 24th, 1934 I0Orce TOor 12 years. The authorities in several towns tried to reduce Christmas day to the level of other days. In Canterbury, by order of the mayor, it was proclaimed that "Christmas day and all other superstiâ€" The mince pie has had many enemies. The Puritan would have none of it, and even in ‘the Eighteenth century it was a forbidden delicacy to a large number of clergymen. During the Commonâ€" wealth the hoiding of Christmas festiâ€" vals was forbidden. In 1644 parliament passed an act orâ€" dering all citizens to observe Christmas day as a solemn fast, to be spent in silent atonement for previous festivals that had passed in riotous living and merrymaking. This order remained in forece for 12 vears But most of all, the gift of yourâ€" self will help the «people that you meet every day; the members of your family; the grocer‘s boy that comes to the back door, the gatekeeper‘s child down by the railroad. A smile, a little treat of homeâ€"made candy, the lending of a ready ear to the story of their joys and woes, will be worth far more than the costliest Mince Pies Prohibited in Days of the Puritans Oonly memories to cheer them. How they would love to talk it all over with you, especially if you are young and have cheery ideas. Will you give a bit of yourself to them during the coming weeks? In the hospitals, in the almhouses, in the penitentiaries, there are people who need the gift of you. They need vyour hearty handâ€"claspo. vour smile. < ias that no meaning? LOOk at pourself in Love‘s Magic Mirror. I pray that you see your soul there glorified with giving. All through the year there are many people who are lonely. Perâ€" haps they are sitting back of the door, waiting for a friendly rap. Their children are far away, and they have The Master gave Himself. For thirtyâ€"three years. Day in and day out. He spent His life in the service of others. H4s that no meaning? Even to the blind your message vill be a boon, for they can see the ight in your eve with their inner viâ€" The heart takes you shopping and carries the purse. The heart keeps you up nights sewing on bright ribâ€" bons. The heart spurs you on to all sorts of extravagance. It has the most wonderful memory. People whom you haven‘t thought of for years come to your mind and with the memory, the desire to make them happy. Up and down the streets stalks the Spirit of Christmas, the breath of pine and cedar in its wake. How rich a merry wish upon itâ€"is more attracâ€" tive than the work of an old master. Even the candles and puddings and cakes and confections, the apples and cranges, shine with astounding splenâ€" dor at the Christmas feast where Love is the honored guest. Christmas is the season when the heart takes possession. It is the time when the selfâ€"conscious person becomes _ demonstrative without a feeling of shame; when the person who is all intellect feels strange, warm stirrings in his breast; when the afâ€" fectionate person becomes a perfect spendthrift of love. mirror card comp When even nade by a The Lesson of Gifts and the Christmas Message "GLiving is Getting" th IaAr moreg {h@an lhe CcOstlliest istmas present. t Christmasâ€"time you are kin to ‘ybody. Carry that kinship through THE PORCUPINE ADVANCE, TIMMINS, ONTARIO Magic Mirror. with the Heart the Purse. wood ‘s Mirror Christm nost ous wood s of hate little f1 1JY with down the streets stalks the Christmas, the breath of edar in its wake. How rich How lovinz you are! How npa het a book of shavingâ€"paper ittle girl for her father a precious édition deâ€" the strange magic of 5t agic mirror in which gifts. It is called the It tells an unpleasâ€" you hold up before it h is merely the canâ€" t. A pair of bracelets ess jewels viewed in ave been revealed as a handcuffs. whittled out of a bit i small boy for his in the Magic Mirror covering, inlaid with ragrant and beautiful ird reflected in this plain penny postal oving thought and n itâ€"is more attracâ€" Unknow 3 T ‘ by gi\ we love t Chri Do Shopping as Well as jontradictior . began whe ) had no gil But He gav ed down an 111 mas sigâ€" ur gifts xe have He The chimes in the tower once more rang out the passing hour as the little party drove off, and within the church the face of the blueâ€"robed Madonna looked calm and peaceful as the wanâ€" dering ray of sunshine slowly died away and left it as before in the dim shadows. "As many mince pies as you taste at Christmas, so many happy months will you have."â€"Old English saying. "Let my little Antonio comfort you, sweet lady," Maria said, eagerly with her soft Italian accent. "This will be his first Christmas and I will share him with you for the sake," she raised her eyes reverently to the richly stained window above her, "for the sake of the Holy Child." ‘‘*You would do this for meâ€"a stranger?" asked the\bereaved mother. "Oh, I have been selfish in my great sorrow. Now, I, too, will try to be brave and helpfulâ€"for His sake. Come, I will take vou home." So the ragged Madonna came out of the church with her pale face aglow with hope and the sadâ€"eyed woman in her rich garments helped her gently into her waiting car. "Oh, you poor creature! Tell me how I can help you," she said in a voice so gentle that Maria opened her dark eyes wonderingly and then closed them again with a sigh of gratitude. "Oh, it is true, it is true," she murâ€" mured. "I came to the Blessed Virgin "And I came for comfort," replied the richly dressed woman. "Since last Christmas I have lost my little child and did not know how I could endure this one with all its memories. But perhaps in helping you I may find in a measure the comfort I sought when I entered this church." mured. "I came to the Blessed Virgi for help and she has sent you to me Maria was cold and clad in rags and had eaten little for days so that Luigi, her sick husband, might have the more. Just what happened she did not know, but suddenly she felt sure that her prayer for help would be answered and weak and faint she sank to the floor before the sunlit Madonna with a low cry of joy. But as the woman in rags sank down exhausted, another woman clad in furs and silks rose hastily from a dark corâ€" ner of the church and went to her. ‘Did she imagine it or did the form of the Blessed One above bend over her consolingly? And did the little hands of the Holy Child stretch out in benediction over her own little one? at last she reached it she sank on her knees and holding out the sleeping child in her arms she prayed softly. But at length from out of the dimâ€" ness of the great sanctuary one object began to stand out clearer and clearer as her eyes grew accustomed to the shadows. It was a window close to the chancel that a ray of sunshine had found and as it travelled ‘it brought out in the rich colOurs of a great painter the figures of the Blessed Virgin and the Holy Child. As the window brightened in the sunâ€" light, Maria‘s eyes became fixed on it as if fascinated. Then slowly she rose from her knees and moved nearer and nearer to the wonderful picture. When Holding her baby close she entered the church and knelt down reverently in the last pew. For a long time she knelt there while the peace of the holy place gradually stole over her and calmâ€" ed her troubled spirit, and little Antonio went to sleep in her arms. Presently from the tower of a church the chimes melodicusly pealed out the hour and Maria Amid the throng of eager, hurrying people she stood still for a moment and then her troubled face cleared and her eyes grew soft. Of course when Luigi recovered and the winter was over, everything would be all right. It was only for a short time that the land of their dreams had failed them, but, ah, the Feast of the Nativity was almost here and little Antonio was reaching out for the first time after the joys of Christmasâ€"and she had nothing to him she had nothing to give him. "There must be a way," Maria said to herself confidently. "Oh, there must be a way and I will find it." Maria‘s dark eyes were sad but not hopeless as she trudged along. It was true she had been somewhat disapâ€" pointed in this new country to which Luigi had brought her, but perhaps that had been because he was ill so much lately and too, because her clothing was too thin for this cold climate and food was none too plentiful. (By Elizabeth Moore Joyce) As Maria Rossie emerged from the alley with the little Antonio in her arms, she almost collided with a cart of Christmas evergreens. "The Feast of the Nativity," murmurâ€" ed Maria devoutly, and then folded litâ€" tle Antonio closer under her worn shawl as the baby reached out for the fragrant evergreens. Touching Story of Ragged Madonna 1y resuited In 1652 | observation and twentt monly call tious festivals should be put down." People who attended service in the cathedral were mobbed. The inhabiâ€" tants formed themselves into two parâ€" ties, and feeling in the matter freauent. A Christmas Story of Maria Rossie and the Answer to her Plea. Ave Maria Ave Maria! entieth day called Chri tvy used 0o U were searcned, anad easonmnable dainties or decoraâ€" ‘re found they were carried off stroyed. A . changed attitude the Puritan dislikes of Christâ€" tivities came with the restoraâ€" King Charles. shall into LWO par in the matter frequent he exchange of blows. as proclaimed that "n i1m@mll be had of the fiv day of December, com ‘hristmas davy,. nor an nio comfort you, id, eagerly with t. ‘"‘This will be nd I will share sake," she raised Helpâ€" ive M M W . NP ML 42.\ s LADIES‘ WEAR AND DRY GOObDsS 24 Third Avenue Tin R. Abraham Co. May Christmas bring you all the Happiness your heart can wish and the New Year the Best of Health and Prosperity. Timmins Monday, December 24th, 1934 GENTS‘ FURNISHINGS 40 Third Avenue