mas should have engaged a large part of my attention.
Out of the abundance of material which I have accumulated in the course
of a long ministry and a longer life I have gathered here a sheaf of
things I have written about Christmas; personal adventures, stories
suggested by the old yet ever-new theme; meditations, words of advice
which I am old enough to be entitled to give; and last but not least
good wishes and good will. I might even call this little volume _A Book
of Good Will toward Men_. And so fit it not only for Christmas but for
all other seasons as well.

If it shall add to your joy in Christmas, dear reader, and better still,
if it shall move you to add to the joy of some one else at
Christmas-tide or in any other season, I shall be well repaid for my
efforts and incidentally you will also be repaid for your purchase.

CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY.

THE HEMLOCKS, PARK HILL,
YONKERS, N.Y.
1917

NOTE OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The author is in debt to his long-time and greatly beloved friend the
Rev. Alsop Leffingwell for the beautiful musical setting of the little
carol which this book contains.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE
I.--A CHRISTMAS GREETING 1
"_Peace on Earth, Good Will toward Men_"

II.--FROM A FAR COUNTRY 13
A story for grown-ups
_Being a new variation of an ancient theme_

III.--ON CHRISTMAS GIVING 59
_Being a word of much needed advice_

IV.--IT WAS THE SAME CHRISTMAS MORNING 69
A story for girls
_In which it is shown how different the same thing may be_

V.--A CHRISTMAS CAROL 81
_To be sung to the music accompanying it_

VI.--THE LONE SCOUT'S CHRISTMAS 85
A story for boys
_Wherein is set forth the courage of youth_

VII.--LOOKING INTO THE MANGER 115
_A Christmas meditation_

VIII.--CHRISTMAS IN THE SNOWS 141
_Being some personal adventures in the Far West_

IX.--A CHRISTMAS WISH 173
_For everybody everywhere_

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE
THE AUTHOR MAKING HIS BOOK _Frontispiece_

"I SOUGHT DAT SANTY CLAUS TAME DOWN DE CHIMNEY," SAID THE YOUNGER OF THE
TWAIN 46

"I AM SURE, MISS, THAT THEY DO WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS" 76

"THE STARS LOOK DOWN" 84

"THRUSTING HIS TOES INTO THE STRAPS HE STRUCK OUT BOLDLY" 96

"THE WORLD BOWS DOWN TO A MOTHE