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Christmas Charity In The Old West

Americans are renowned around the world for their charitable nature. During Christmas, charities usually see Americans giving more than at other times of the year. Acts of kindness both big and small have always gone unrecorded. Those acts are many and to most of those doing such great deeds recognition is not important or needed. They have the right attitude for giving: selflessness. That's the perfect reason to give of yourself to help any charity.

Thankfully, some acts of charity are chronicled to serve as wonderful reminders to us of the goodness that we sometimes forget was so prevalent in the Old West. Sadly, many focus on the gunplay in the Old West while forgetting that such violence was actually not that common back in the day. In reality, there were more acts of goodness and respect for human life than there were the other. But sadly, as is the case today, the goodness in people is not what fills the newspapers. As with what we see today, we hear about the worst in people and seldom hear praise for the work of our better Angels. 

When looking at our better selves in the Old West, we should understand that charity was something shown all year round back in the day. Some acts of charity had to do with providing orphan homes and widows with jobs and clothing, establishing old soldiers' retirement homes, and providing the poor with warm meals. There were big and small acts of charity that we can look at as a testament to who we are -- if we are at all like those who came before us. 

One small but wonderful act of charity came from a school in Fresno, California, in 1895. All in all, what took place was pretty simple. And yes, the San Francisco Call newspaper published the story about it. The story was buried in the paper, but I like it because it shows what we are capable of doing -- even when we aren't asked to do more. 

What was asked? Well, a teacher asked the schoolchildren to bring one potato and a stick of wood each for Christmas baskets that were being made up for poverty-stricken families. That's all that was asked of the kids. They were asked to bring in a single potato so someone could have something to eat and a single stick of wood to burn so that someone may be able to stay warm. 

Per the San Francisco Call, Volume 79, Number 21, 21 December 1895

GIFTS TO FRESNO'S NEEDY

Splendid Christmas Donations Made by School Children

FRESNO, Cal., Dec. 20.— School children were taught a splendid object lesson in practical Christmas charity this morning. A few days ago a movement was set on foot to have each child bring a stick of wood and one potato to school for distribution among the poor on Christmas.

The teachers took hold of the matter and fixed this morning as the time for the bringing of the articles. Every child brought something this morning, and some made more than one trip. Many of the little tuts were struggling along the streets quite overloaded with donations.

Some of the children took armfuls of wood, some little wagons or wheelbarrows loaded with it, and some of the larger boys shouldered four-foot sticks of wood. Some children took canned food and some took potatoes, others clothing of one kind or another, until the schools' contributions amounted to something very substantial.

In all about forty sacks of potatoes and about twenty-five cords of wood, besides considerable clothing and other articles were brought to the schools by the children. The kind kids brought these items and delivered large quantities of canned goods and clothing.

(end of San Francisco Call, 21 December 1895 article).

So now, you can see how incredible it was that those kids brought in enough potatoes to make up 40 sacks of spuds. That's a lot of spuds by any measure. But for each of them to bring in enough wood to make up 25 cords of wood is just mindboggling. 

If you use wood to heat your home like I do, then you know that 25 cords of wood is a lot of wood. And to think, that was brought in by children. Yes, to me, that is inspirational. 

You see, while Christmas gives us wonderful memories of families and friends warm and happy during gatherings, it allows us to recall the scene of folks laughing and smiling and sharing the love of Christmas, the celebration of the birth of Christ, and the richness of us knowing that we really are as good as our better Angels, we should take a moment to pray for those with less. As we all know, there is power in prayer.

Of course, if we can give something to help others, even if it's small and all we can do, then we should. After all, our actions go a long way to make prayers come true. 

Merry Christmas!

Tom Correa

Welcome, Christmas -- A Christmas Poem By I. Edgar Jones (1880)

Welcome, Christmas

Once more the Merry Christmas time — the joyous time is near,

When happy hearts are warmed anew with hope and honest cheer;

What though the frost be cold and keen, or winds may wail around,

If in the hearts around the hearth the light of love is found.

Let scarlet berries blush on walls, and Christmas faggots roar —

While scattered friends unite about the festive board once more —

The youth with light and lissome form, the maid In girlish grace —

The middle-aged with thoughtful brow, the grandsire's furrowed face.

While through the frosty air is heard, in ringing tones and clear,

The Christmas carols, old, yet new to every listening ear.

And over all, the silver sounds, that echo through the dells —

And bear a greeting to the world of Merry Christmas bells.

When age once more lives o'er the scenes of many a Christmas past,

And from the heart of toiling ones the curse of care is cast;

When thousands bask in blessings bright — no time for toil and tears —

A resting place for human hearts through all the circling years.

For hope was born on such a morn near Bethlehem's sacred ground,

And there the silver threads of life for hopeless millions found;

What wonder that gathering years have graved its image deep;

And memory's angels over it their fondest vigils keep.

Then let your Christmas altars burn, and keep its record clear,

And welcome it with love renewed with every circling year.

Let love lights glow, despite the snow, or frosty winter's vine,

While pulses beat, and welcomes greet the happy Christmas time.

Ring out, oh, Merry Christmas bells! and let your pulses bound,

Till Christmas carols fill the air and reach the world around.

The years have times to sob and sigh, to sorrow and be sad,

Be yours the voice bids all rejoice, be satisfied and glad.

Then welcome, Christmas! ancient friend, with heavenly hope and cheer,

The saint whose blessing crowns with light the slowly dying year —

Right glad are we that though our lives away are fading fast

Thy happy face shall come again, and cheer us to the last.

Poem by I. Edgar Jones

Published in the Pacific Rural Press, Volume 20, Number 26, 25 December 1880

What Christmas Should Mean -- Song By Cassidy Gray (2024)

 What Christmas Should Mean

(Verse 1)

The snowflakes fall on a winter's night

The lights around just seem so bright

The decorations, Nativity scene

A beautiful Christmas it would seem.

(Chorus)

But is it really Christmas cheer

The holiday that comes once a year

You put presents underneath the tree

But is that what Christmas should mean?

(Verse 2)

The Christmas carols sung in town

People bustling all around

A time for joy, a time for love

What about the gift sent from above?

(Chorus)

But is it really Christmas cheer

The holiday that comes once a year

You put presents underneath the tree

But is that what Christmas should mean?

(Verse 3)

The cookies baked, the stockings hung

And all the Christmas songs were sung

This time of year seems like so much fun

But what about the important one?

(Chorus)

But is it really Christmas cheer

The holiday that comes once a year

You put presents underneath the tree

But is that what Christmas should mean?

(Bridge)

A baby born on a December night

The brightest star up in the sky

He came to earth to make a way

One day we'll see him face to face. 

(Chorus 2)

So let's remember Christmas true

A love so divine for me and you

A gift of life eternal and free

That is what Christmas means to me.

______

Song Lyrics Written by Cassidy Gray (2024)

Copyright Cassidy Gray