The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1915. CHRISTMAS EVE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 18, 24 December 1915, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1915. CHRISTMAS EVE.

On'the eve of the great Christmas Festival we stand again, with the reel tide' of battle running high. Our jo.y is chastened in the memory of the gallants who have fallen and by remembratine’ of the brave sons- of the Empire who, with the valiant soldiers ol Britain’s, great Allies, are still lighting lor the world’s freedom from Hunnish oppression. If we have suffered much we have more to be thankful for in that the complete defeat of the German menace is assured. But there is much yet to be done before victory can be claimed, and the spirit of sacrifice must be still fully maintained. Those who are able must take their place in the lighting line and for those to whom this privilege is denied, there is other work which honor and duty make plain. Our soldiers in foreign lands, or in the training, camps, are not forgotten. and many messages of cheer are flashing too and fro. The vacant chairs are many, hut we must not give way to mourning. In all European countries Christmas'means simply the day of the Nativity, but St. Nicholas, the children’s saint, plays a big part lin the festivities. Christmas ,is so much the children’s happy time, that, I for their sakes at least, we may even in.AV.iir time observe many of the old customs to the little folk. The domestic/-. observance of Christmas centres round Santa Claus with his burden of gifts, and the good saint will not forget his little charges even on Christmas Day of 1915. In this favored southern land we are far from the actual strife of the battlefield and the roar of cannon does not break our rest. In the happiness of Christmas as we have it, let our hearts go out to those stricken lands, Belgium - and Serbia, ravished by all the violence of war. where the little children that have not been foully murdered, cry For ■ food. From the great store of blessings.-that we have, all of us, big and little, may spare something for a Christmas gift where it is sorely neqdedd: \n thinking of those near • iuid: ideal- to us, let not the stricken, ones be forgotten.