TEN CHRISTMAS COMMANDMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 40043, 24 December 1929, Page 3

TEN CHRISTMAS COMMANDMENTS.

WIUICIH WILL HELP TOWARDS A BRIGHTER. CHRISTMAS.

1. —Thou shalt not give the children of your sister, youjr brother, your best friend, or any other children, presents of cheap coloured sweets. Neither shalt thou present them with catapults, drums, stories of the penny dreadful type, or water pistols.’ Shouldst thou hear all this well in mind when shopping for Christmas, then shalt thy friends round about thee rise up and call thee blessed. 2. —T'liou shalt endeavour to eat in moderation, and to nobly put away those large boxes of fruits and sweets for other less overloaded days. For what is the use of thy pleasure in the good things of life, if thou shouldst become sa-" tinted and morose 'through indigestion?

3.—Thou shalt laugh and be merry, yea, even though thy Aunt Maria shouldst tell thee for the ninety-first time about, her sciatica, and Uncle Janies shouldst recall the awful indiscretions of thy youth, fat the same .time tipping thee a sixpence from out of his bounteous plenty, or even wishing thee merely the season’s greetings. 4/ —-Thou (shalt give they wife whatever gift she yearns for. Do not cheat thyself and her into the belief that thou dost not know what to buy. Hearken unto-her beforehand with a willing ear.

5. —lf the Spirit of Christmas shall successfully elude thee, then shalt thou make a practice of read-, ing Christmas by (Dickens up to the very eve of Christinas. Such tales can be with good effect read aloud ; ir, the train with suitable gesture, thus saving valuable time at such a season. 6. —Tli-ou shalt not send white chiphalit presents to thy friends and relatives. Neither shall thou send on the presents of a previous year in a kind of general post, oir round robin. Or, again, to resurrect old Christmas cards and to send them out once again upon their travels shows a complete lack of morals. 7. —Thou shalt not say things when the turkey leaves the table and sits affectionately upon thy knee. As thy wife saitli so often with truth, remember and respect the ears of youth, for they are ever pitchers gaping to be filled with what is forbidden. B—Thou shalt be overcome with joy and gladness, whatever may be given to thee upon this great day, be it a pet water snake from youjr son, or a new carpets weeper from your wife. Blessed is he who expects little at Christmas-time. 9. —Thou shalt. fiot forget to buy a isprig of mistletoe under which to kiss thy wife. This is a cheap and simple way in which to make thy Christmas a great and happy one.

10. —And, last of all, thou shalt not look at, think of, or speak about, those bills—until after Christmas!