"Are you willing----

to stoop down and consider the needs and desires of little children;

to remember the weakness and loneliness of people growing old;

to stop asking how much your friends love you, and ask whether you love them enough;

to bear in mind the things that other people have to bear in their hearts;

to trim your lamp so that it will give more light and less smoke, and to carry it in front so that your shadow will fall behind you;

to make a grave for your ugly thoughts and a garden for your kindly feelings, with the gate open?

Are you willing to do these things for a day?

Then you are ready to keep Christmas!"

HENRY VAN DYKE