Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

@hg @glfihmm @flm ' VOLUME 31. Suggestions for Christinas Gifts. DAVISON b LOWE’S Big Store Brim Pull. We have Useful Things to suit all ages and classes. Make out your list and make your selections early. Note the numerous articles mentioned below.' Dolls, Pictures, Picture Frames, China Novelties, Comb and Brush Sets, Shopping Bags, Chatlain Bags and Purses, Handkerchiefs, Gloves and Stockings, Knit Underwear, Lace Curtains, Portiers, Table Covers, Druggets and Window Shades, Table Linens, Towels, Napkins, Sheets, Pillow Cases and White Quilts. Cloaks— Ladies’ Cloaks, Misses’ Cloaks, Children’s Cloaks, Tailor-Made Suits, Tailor-Made Skirtg, Zephyr Shawls, Fur Collarettes, Chiffon Boas, All suitable for Christmas Gifts. Something Useful, Something Serviceable, Something for Everybody. DAVISON & LOWE, CLATTOIT STIES. Q-JfL. LEXINGTON, GA., FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 25, 1903. Nothing nicer than a pair of Queen Quality Shoes for a useful Christ¬ mas present, A stylish Hat from our Millinery departm’t would make a present that any lady would appreciate. A nice Lounge Robe would make a useful Christmas present, A nice Automobile Rain Coat would make a present that would be appreciated. W r e are closing out the entire line of Cloaks, Suits and Skirts at reduced prices. Don’t wait but come at once. Neckwear, Belts and Jewelry, Telescopes and Dress Suit Cases, Umbrellas for Ladies and Men, Shoes for Ladies, Misses, Children and Infants. Bedroom Slippers. Dress Goods Departm’t— A nice Dress Pattern, A nice Waist Pattern, A nice Silk Pattern, A nice Silk Waist, A nice Silk Dress, A nice Fur Collarette, A box of nice Handker¬ chiefs, A box of Stockings, A nice Jacket, A Tailored Suit, A Taiiored Skirt, A nice Wool Drugget, A nice Smyrna Rug, A nice pair Lace Curtains A nice pair Blankets, A nice Comfort, A nice White Quilt, A nice Linen Table Cloth A dozen Napkins, A nice Trunk, A nice Leather Dress Suit Case. Screens and Screen Frames. Rugs, Mattings, NUMBER 12. CHRISTMSS. S. | Written for The Echo hr W. H. Faust. Friends may forget one or else prove untrustworthy ; man may make promis¬ es and as quickly forget them; vows may be made and never paid; love it¬ self may grow tired and prove untrue ;: ‘‘The best laid schemes of mice and men gang aft aglee,” but Time never fails. There is only one thing which is truer, and that is Eternity, and perhaps the finite mind of man can’t eveu hope to fully comprehend the woudrous meaning of that one little word; not here on earth at least, and when we cross over into the great beyond me thinks our minds will be engaged with far sweeter and more pleasurable topics. Yea; Time itself shall pass away and only Eternity remain, but so long as Time does remain it proves true. None of its promises are ever broken ; none of its appointments are ever unfilled. And again has it brought around that splendid anniversary of the birth of Jesus. He who came to save the world from its sins—the gladdest season of all the year and the happiest occasion of all the months. What a great privilege we now enjoy and how much pleasure Christmas brings about perhaps no one, be he ever so learned, could tell and yet it strikes me that we set too little store by this happy occasion. Nineteen cen¬ turies ago the glad occasion was not ob¬ served and no Santa Claus existed to make his yearly visits, carrying with him pleasure and good cheer to all, for the tribes of northern Europe were little more than savages and the Germans and Dutch were considered barbarians. In¬ stead of being gathered around a bright fireside where all is warmth and love the women and children were out doing the chores while their savage husbands and fathers were following the chase. How thankful we should be for the noble influence that was set in motion by Christ, for the religion which He in¬ stituted, that made the rude barbarians tender and loving as a delicate woman, any raised woman to that exalted posi¬ tion which God ever intended that she should occupy-—man’s equal and not his inferior. Slowly but surely have we come to the end of another year. As we look back over the last twelve months aud see how many opportunities have slipped away unimproved we feel like throwing up the sponge and giving over to some one else, but there is never a cloud that has not its silver lining and complain if we will only wait, trust aud ne’er the shining, silvery lining will appear aud only be the brighter for the dark back¬ ground which it has had. However, it is good for such moments to come to us, for hours to be spent in retrospection, aud perhaps in some of these quiet mo¬ ments when we are holding a sacred communion with self things will be re¬ vealed to us which wo had scarcely dared to dream of amid the rush of hosts of important things which con¬ tinually bore down upon us like the tail end of a terrific cycloue. These hours must come and how sweet it is for those to whom they feel come to quietly close their eyes and that they have done what they could. It is a most joyous occasion and it is hard for one to read into it any other interpretation and yet some of us are going to do and say things this very Christmas for which wo will ever be ashamed of afterwards. Let us pause in the midst of action and realize that perhaps it will be the last one that we shall ever spend upon this earth,* that ere another year rolls around violets may be waving their tear-stained blos¬ soms above our graves on some rustic hillside, or else the flash of glittering white marble tell to the world the sad, sad story of a life which haH ended. If we would only let this sweetly sad thought come in and dwell awhile with us at this season we could most easily get into it more of the Christlike feeling and in after years could look back with¬ out one single regret upon the distant scene. Shall we for this Christmas tide for once, life being given, strive with our whole miud and heart to live like Him whose birthday we are thus permitted to celebrate with so much love which he has given? Many of our philosophers and astron¬ omers have attempted and are attempt¬ ing to give some wonderful theory which will fully explain all the “star bus¬ iness” away. Their theories may sound learned and erudite in their own eyes and the time may come when they can clearly demonstrate their theories, to their own satisfation at least, but let us who know better ever see in the star which led the wise men of the east to seek the Saviour the emblem of light and life, for by its rays were men guid¬ ed to the birthplace of the Saviour and so long as Time shall last the stars will be looked upon with doubly their por¬ tion of interest because one of their number, by its splendid illumination, led those who were wise in this world’s knowledge to the feet of “Him who spake little as man never spoke.” There at the inn at Bethlehem these wise men at first failed to find Him and at length pound out their rich gifts to Him as He lay in a manger. Since then He has poured out precious gifts to us from His Father’s throne upon which He sits. Oh. the stars, how we love them as at this happy season we look up at, them as they shine so softly and brightly down upon blue ns, of the twinkling up in the ethereal vault of heaven—beyond them the throne of an everlasting God. How appropriate that after a star had pointed out the resting place of our Saviour while lie was here on earth that stars should stud the great expanse which stretches beneath His eternal throne. And, we can’t look upon the earth on this happy dav without feeling glad for did not the hills, rock-ribbed and ancient, tremble with rage when those cruel nails were driven in His hands and feet and when the speer was thrust into His side. All nature at, that momentous time seemed to cry out in protest at the heinous indignity so rudely placed upon one who was inno¬ cent of ail the charges brought against Him. Oh, Earth, happy art thou be¬ cause when men was acting so inhu¬ manely thou didst utter thy protest in such unmistakable language. Presents have all been opened up, ex¬ amined and admired, little tokens they are of love and good wishes, many of them doubly dear because of the loving minds that planuod and the beautiful hands that sent them. You stop after a careful survey aud wonder why you have been singled out to receivo so much happiness and pleasure while so m my others go thru life enshrouded in gloom and sorrow. Now then is a good time to pause and put to yourself a question, “Have I taken God into ac¬ count?” And what a question. How much it carries with it and how much depends upon its auswer only Eternity can reveal. This one may bo happy with no consideration of God in it and the next one may be pleasant and so on for a few years, but gradually leaving Him out means that some one else will come in and occupy His place and at length will some bright Christmas day you awake and find that you have been counting your chickeus entirely too early; that you have planned uij thoughtedlv. how* And sweet it is for us to plan and in our plans have a plan for God, to let Him come in and form a copartnership with us. Then we can only plan wisely and expect that our plans will be carried out. With Him we can expect to win. Difficulties may come, sorrows may hover around and disappointments may come during the months which are to follow but, planning in conjunction with Him, whatsoever we do shall bo done wisely and our every wish shall bq gratified. While the man who will plans and takes not God into account find that what he attempts to do is never done, that Ins brightest hopes* and his most loved ambitions go to pieces iust at the precise moments when he had counted on their meeting with a most happy denoumeut. This being true let ns at this gladsome time begin to plan for another useful year and in the be¬ ginning not attempt to plan and work alone but in all things work with God. The very word itself carries with it the idea of memory so as wo begin our plans to make others happy next Christ¬ inas, for some one has said that a wo¬ man plans from Christmas to Christmas. Would that man would do the same. Let us take this part of the subject into consideration; let ns remember Him and think and act according to His precious will. "In a lonely manger once a babe wan born; Prophets told the longing story in long ages gone Aged saints were with uplifted eyes, ror the promised adventand the riven skies. Angels were the heralds on Judea’s plain*• Wondering frain shepherds listened to the soft re¬ ; •Pssqe on earth,’ the voices sang,’good will to Glorious was tje manger, bright beyond com¬ For pare. the world’s Kedeemer. Prince of Peace was there.” Truly with such tender, sacred, loving memories plan clinging and about us we cau never work in any manner contrary to His will and like the right¬ eous whatever man portrayed by the psalmist, we do shall prosper. Now only a few more words concern¬ ing the prophecy and we are done. Surely this should be taken into consid¬ eration as we plan and work from, month to month: Toll the joyful ro ," tidings. ,•**•*/">' Christ of will * rac « t j men; again. Onward roll the corse 1 ag*s. time is speeding fast. cars on years are crowding, soon will be the last. Haste the proclamation, men have waited long: End the days of weeping, tear* be changed ....... J r: w i vr;n n uoini” Boon we will blend our prai&ea in the harvest home.” Let our Christmases here on earth contain a foretaste of those which are to come in the future and may we so live that when life’s toil is over and our Christmas on earth ends wo may enjoy the season throughout eternity with Jesus Christ himself. I am headquarters for Santa Claus Goods, Come and see my line. It. L. Mathiavh.