THE COMPLIMENTS OF THE SEASON.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 26, 25 December 1883, Page 2

THE COMPLIMENTS OF THE SEASON.

“Old Father Christmas” has again approached us, but certainly not in the severe garb our European friends remember to have felt the effects of in their native land, —in this sunny clime Nature puts on its gayest apparel at this time of the year, and, in place of yule logs, the mistletoe, and holly, we must content ourselves with those reminiscences of our childhood during the festive season which are, no doubt, impressed on the minds of every individual who has a fond remembrance of his mother country. In the antipodes of Britain it would not be an enjoyable thing for a family to gather around a fierce fire and indulge in some of the pastimes of the old country ; but, while we participate as far as possible in the Christmas customs of our forefathers, the pleasure is afforded us of enjoying the beauties which Nature has so lavishly bestowed in the land of our adoption. There are some truly good Christmas customs of the mother country which it

would be well for us to retain, foremost among which is the bestowal of charity to our needy brethern ; and we rest assured that the lady or gentleman whose display of Christian feeling may be the cause of providing the poor with Christmas cheer will more thoroughly enjoy the rejoicings of the season than can possibly be appreciated by a niggard or covetous person. Let our fellow-colonists give freely towards cheering the spirits of the afflicted ones who arc confined to the

hospital,—let them assist the struggling poor—who are remarkably few in this highly-favored district—to a Christmas meal that may remind them of the better days they have probably seen in their native land, and the doners will, undoubtedly, experience a pleasure more truly enjoyable than any indulgence in senseless revelry could possibly afford. There can certainly be no objection to our townsmen enjoying themselves in a rational manner during the festive season ; and, while feeling desirous of seeing them extend the hand of charity to their fellows, we sincerely wish all our readers “The Compliments of the Season.”