The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

WIE tame ta pas in : days, there went out a decree f Caesar Augustus, that he ion the world should be aA This was-the first enrol 'ment made when Quirinivs was governor of Syria. © 3. And all went to enral _ themselves, every one to his own city. 4. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was one of the house and family of David. 5. To enrol himself with Mary, who was betrothed to Sm, being great with child. 6: And it came to pass, while they were 'there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered. + 7. And she brought forth * 'her first born son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no , room for them in the inn. ~~ 8. And there were shep- +" herds in the same country 'abiding in the field, and keep- Tek by night over their 2 '9, And an angel of the = Lord stood 'by them, and the £ ory of the Lord shone round ...about t 3. and they were r ore af) : * 10. and the angel said un- to them, Be not. afraid; for ho. of the Christmas Firelight WHEN green beauty and colorful love- liness are asleep in the outer world, the glow of the Christmas firelight enriches life. What a warmth and comfort it brings to the home where children play in the fit- ful shadows of the blazing coals, or watch the pictures as the ruddy glow eats out great caverns in the black background. That is. where happy dreams are born. In the peaceful security of those merry surround- ings, "castles in Spain' are built, and some of them become real in later life. Not always has this lovely security been the lot of little children; but where the Christmas spirit reigns there is peace and happiness. Christ's advent on earth found much of misery and cruelty. But His life revealed something of the vision which God has for humanity. Christ came to " show us the Father." He came in the spirit of love and sacrifice; That is the spirit of Christmas. That spirit is the hope of the world. All the tariffs, and laws, and co-opera- . tions; all the talk about disarmament; all the conferences about depression, and the un- employed, would find point and effectiveness if they were carried out in the Christmas : spirit We could do if, it we would. se Pictured by C Christ of se will ring or the talk of Bang up a cence in each chimney have been the most notable contribution « that had been made in all the history of the world, True, millions do not attend church; but they cannot escape the spirit of Christmas. It pervades the life of the nation; and we all feel more kindly in the glow of the Christmas firelight. None can exclude this spirit entirely. Scrooge tried and failed. Love is greater than avarice. Thousands would destroy Christmas by commercializing it--if they could. But that is not possible. Through all the trade and bustle; through all the bargaining and grasping, the glow of the Christmas fire- light shines like a beacon. - No tyranny of business could maintain our interest in Christmas. There must always be the Heavenly Vision, if Christmas is to live. We need not be in such a hurry when we spell Christmas that we cannot use the proper letters. What are 'Xmas Gifts"? They are a hurried commercial affair, not worthy of the love. we would give and receive. The Christmas spirit can best be fos- tered in the home. Ifs first expression is at SANTA 138 COMING 'Fie on the skeptics v : Given the lie by the 0 : Santa will come f Set out the Cm -- with oy which shall 11. For A bo rn to you this day in the pi of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. 12. And this is the sign unto you; Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger. 13. And suddenly there was with the angel a multi- tude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying: 14. Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased. 15. And it came to pass, when the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Beth- lehem, and see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16. And they came with haste and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger. 17. And when they saw it, they made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about this child. 18. And all that heard it wondered at the things which were spoken unto them by the shepherds. 19. But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering. them in her heart. 20. And the shepherds re- turned glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen even as it was spoken unto them. 'or "That's a present from Dad." Christmas dawn, when the family is roused by shrieks of delight as the children empty their stockings. It has new evidence of pleasure as the gifts are distributed from the Christmas tree. Richness and sweetness fill the air as. mother prepares the dinner. Plenty is overflowing when dinner is served. Then comes the proud moment when the children go to meet their chums, and say-- "See what I got." '"Mother gave me that' But the pride of the children in the love of their parents is small when compared. with the pride of the parents in the love of their children. That is the reward for a life of service to the children. Presents to Mother and Dad are the best presents of all--not for their intrinsic value, but for the love that they represent. See the little piece of sewing that the daughter has given to her mother, It is the child's first effort, and is prized accordingly. Or look at the wooden tie rack that the boy has given to his Dad. He is a proud and happy father, when his boy stops long enough in the rush of things to think of him. A few cents might buy a a rack: but nothing can buy the Kindly affection that the present represents, The day ends in the family gathering, when the candles are lit on the Christmas' tree, the electric lights are snapped out; the fire is replenished, and in contentment the Great S is told in the glow of the Christmas firelight. When Christmas is truly kept, there will be no want in the midst of plenty. Our granaries will not be filled with grain while starvation stalks through China, Thousands of bales of army blankets will not be stored away against the Soming of an- other war, while men, women, an ildren perish with cold. There will be no dren whose 'rags wil not Protest them, while clothing factories are with goods that cannot be sold. In this. ad bl of pany, , none should want except those who will not work. Our ok for all is that the may enjoy | gin addin BA