What the Truth Will Do

IDA G. STEWART.

As I read our Leader's words in the Sentinel of January 6, relative to Christmas for the children, in which she gives her wise admonition that we do not teach our children the old Santa Claus traditions, I am reminded of the healing of a little child which it was my privilege to witness, and which may be of interest to others.

It was nearing the Christmas holidays some five or six years ago, when I was hastily summoned to see a sick child. Upon reaching the home I found a little girl, perhaps six years of age. tossing on her pillow in delirium. The family were too frightened to tell me anything of the particulars of the case further than that she had been in this distressing condition for twenty-four hours.

I seated myself at the bedside, and as I listened to the incoherent talk of the little sufferer I perceived that she was believing in Santa Claus, was fearing and dreading him; that the strife, envy, and anxiety of Christmas gifts, were poisoning the child's thought, were polluting the sweetness and in-nocency which were hers by divine right. Although she was delirious, I explained to her audibly that Santa Claus and the wonderful reindeer, with their mysterious ability to intrude themselves upon her by descending the chimney, were myths; that it was divine Love reflected in love that brought her the gifts at Christmas time, and that her parents and friends were the avenues through which she received them. I also told her that we celebrate the twenty-fifth of December in commemoration of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, "that Godlike and glorified man" (Science and Health, p. 54); that Christmas signifies the birth of the true idea of God—the Christ—in human consciousness; that this dear Christ is God's gift to the world, by means of which we may understand the Father and be free from all evil and strife. By the time I had reached this point the child was lying quietly on her pillow, regarding me, her eyes opened wide with joyous wonder, and the fever and the delirium had gone.

The subject was presented to her at greater length, she asking and answering questions; the fever abated, the frightened breathing and cough ceased; and in an hour from the time that I took seat beside her bed she arose, well!

The Christ-idea born to the dear little one upon that day, has enabled her to keep herself and members of her family well, and although her mother is a medical midwife and nurse, and the family are members of an orthodox church, this little girl has been a constant attendant at a Christian Science Sunday School ever since that glad day when, through the divine Christ, God gave her an understanding of "Him that is true."

If I am happy in spite of my deprivations, if my happiness is so deep that it is a faith, so thoughtful that it becomes a philosophy of life,—my testimony to the creed of optimism is worth hearing. My optimism rests on a glad belief in the preponderance of good and a willing effort always to co-operate with the good, that it may prevail. I try to increase the power God has given me to see the best in everything and every one, and make that best a part of my life. To what is good I open the doors of my being, and jealously shut them against what is bad.

Helen Keller.

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