NOTES TO HENRY

Maoriland Worker, Volume 12, Issue 303, 20 December 1922, Page 3

NOTES TO HENRY

Dear Henry, —The festive season has arrived.. With.some it .is a season of joy and pleasantry. That knowledge makes mc glad. It .'is good to know that there are those who can whole-heartedly delve into the plenteous good things that abound, and let worries for the time /being- take care of themselves. But ■somehow,-, very foolishly perhaps, 1 cannot help a passing thought for those to whom Christmas -means only a little further pinching,. a little more forced economy, and a long-drawn sigh of thankfulness when it is over. There are ■many like that, too, remembered to .some extent by roving bands of greathearts, eager to express i.a practice the dictates of a kindly and considering composition. ,Thus, some of. the old people, some of the- young folk, and seme of tho sick receive at this great time a taste of the treatment that would be theirs by right ia a more advanced community. For a few weeks, or days, according" as to how the purse-strings of the more fortunate .have .opened, a little pleasure-, enters the homes and hearts c* the needy—and then passes, leaving ti-era. to face, again lire year-round struggle to live.

Would tliat the Christmas spirit endured/ Would that the thoughts of men and women hs.fl a little less bitterness, that something , . more than personal gain could find a place ia the heart of man. Many try to feel that way, but unconsciously lapse into the old sordid bargaining. The glamour of good intent soon appears hazily, a long- way off, as something to grab for, whereas it is merely the good resolution fading away in the background of human' thoughtlessness. The days between are long days. Some find it just one long weary effort to keep from despair. To these, an abundance of hope is the barrier between carry-on, and the desire to give up. The lore of a wife, or a husband, and above all, the pure, sweet, innocent love of the children are the inainstay3 that keep many a home from dissolution and despair. In many homes Christmas means that father is sacked for ten days. Those days are called holidays.

Probably,.. through.the year, he has had many such jubilations. Out of work, wet weather and sickness, all provide holidays of equal merit.. I on.cc saw a Christmas distribution of old clothes. Men, women and children were; being rudely fitted with various garments. They were quiet, and methodical, but the pleasure of receiving an old hat or a worn pair of boots could not be concealed. There was deep thankfulness, and the air of a great windfall about the unfortunates in this grimly eager throng. The little kiddies took the whole business as a thing , of joy. Fine kiddies.- too, spotless, and very knowing , ,-their only fault in belonging to. poor parents. The fathers mostly stood shyly back, leaning on the wall or outside against the verandah posts, and hardly moved when mother came over to try a hat on him. But it was the mothers that drew my sympathy. Everyone was shabbily dressed, some were plainly underdressed, but all wero clean to the last rag. Everyone of them had hands that spoke of drudgery, long and continuous, and often the golden "band of honour" had been worn to a thin streak. ' Every face was like a mask.that hid the woman that.might-have-been.

~ It se&raed to mc a -marvel that any one could •be grateful for such- a scene. I didn't know, then. I thought Christmas was just what it appeared to be. Now. I hope that some day it will be—nay, I believe it will be —and that a time will come when the Christmas greeting , will echo through tho year, easing the burdens that now accumulate so sorely, lifting the oppression from the hearts of men and women ,enabling them' to lire a life full of usefulness and progress..

I look back. Yes, truly we are moving. The things of to-day are better than the things of yestferday. Not because the colossal arrogance of wealth and power has changed., but because it has faltered in face ol the waking intelligence of the people. I look, ahead. Yea, I see that new world. Simple, just, righteous, where goodwill reigns supreme, and tyranny is no more. Greetings, Henry, any best wishes go out to you and yours. May we grow nearer to each other in our aims and ideals, and make Truth the pinnacle of..OU£ : .better understanding.