the years I lived in the tropics. The trees were trees of the hot
climate, mostly palm, bamboo and acacia trees. When Christmas drew near
I thought the day would be a very dreary day, and wholly unChristmaslike
because there would be no snow, and we would be without our accustomed
tree.

A few days before our first Christmas in the tropics a friend said to
me, "I am sending a tree down from the mountains for your children." In
due time the tree arrived. You can imagine the joy of our entire
household when they looked upon a genuine, evergreen, Christmas tree. We
set it up in our big "sala," that is our living room, and there it
remained for many days, the delight of our eyes.

The tree of the Christmas season has some specifically Christmas
messages. First, it is evergreen. That reminds us of the eternal
Saviour, "the same yesterday, to-day and forever." At the very tiptop of
the tree we place a star. There it shines, high above all else,
reminding us of the higher, holier life to which we are summoned. The
star beckons us to loftier aspirations. Christ came down from heaven. He
became one of us, sharing our human life. But he is ever above us as
well as with us, luring us on to the life of God. The Christmas tree is
ablaze with lights. Jesus brought light into the world. How dark the
world would be without him! About the base of the tree, and suspended
from the branches are many gifts. They are tokens of the love and esteem
we hold for each other, and remind us of God's great gift of love,
Christ himself.

MEMORY VERSE, _John_ 3: 16

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life."

MEMORY HYMN [112]

_"There's a song in the air."_

THE BEST WORD

What is the best word! I think I can hear each of you as he answers. One
says "Mother is the best word." Another says, "Father." Still another,
"Daddy." A fourth one answers, "Home." Now I hear a voice that says,
"America." Another voice shouts, "Friend." Yes, there are many, many
words to which we might rightfully give the title "best word."

But for this season of the year, and for this particular Sunday, there
is one word that stands out from among all the others. That one word is
"Christmas." To-morrow will be Christmas day. I think this word
"Christmas" is the best word because it includes all the other good
words.

In your home you have a