rug. There are many colors in that rug, yet it
is all one fabric. The many colors are skillfully woven and beautifully
blended to make the one fabric. Think of this word Christmas as a rug,
made up of many words of many colors. We see in this rug the word
"mother." What would Christmas be without mother! We see also the word
father, and the words sister, brother, grandfather, grandmother, aunt,
uncle, friend, home. Then clearest of all in this wonderful rug is the
word Christ. Christ is Christmas. Yes, Christmas is the best word for it
gathers within its meaning all other good words.

"This happy day, whose risen sun Shall set not through eternity;
This holy day, when Christ, the Lord, Took on him our humanity;
For little children everywhere A joyous season still we make; We
bring our precious gifts to them, Even for the dear Child, Jesus'
sake."

MEMORY VERSE, _John_ 1: 4

"In him was life; and the life was the light of men."

MEMORY HYMN [107]

_"Joy to the world!"_

LAST BUT NOT LEAST

How often have we heard this phrase! You girls and boys use it, "Here I
am, last but not least."

When Jesus was on earth there was often a discussion among the disciples
concerning rank among them. Some were fearful that they would be last.
One day a mother, very proud of her two sons, as mothers are apt to be,
asked Jesus to grant permission that her two sons might sit, the one on
his left hand, the other on his right, in the kingdom. Then He made a
very beautiful as well as perfectly true statement, "Whosoever will be
chief among you, let him be your servant; even as the Son of man came
not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a
ransom for many."

There was another time, when Jesus sat at supper with his disciples,
wishing to show them, by example, the utter worthlessness of station,
for station's sake, rose from the table, took a towel and basin, and
began to wash the disciples' feet. Peter objected, but when he
understood, he said, "Not my feet only, but also my hands and my head."
At the last Jesus said, "Verily I say unto you, the servant is not
greater than his Lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent
him."

Girls and boys, if you desire a high place in life, begin low. If you
want to occupy a leading place you must be willing to serve in the
least. It always has been so, it will never change, this great law of
life, that he who would be f