He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.

Smith contrasts the inward spirit of Christmas—generosity, gratitude, goodwill, and reverence—with the outward trappings of the holiday, especially gifts. The image of “under a tree” evokes the modern, commercialized Christmas centered on presents; his point is that no amount of material abundance can produce joy or meaning if one lacks the inner disposition to receive and share it. The aphorism functions as moral counsel: cultivate a charitable heart first, and the season’s symbols will have significance; without that inner “Christmas,” the rituals become empty. It also implies personal responsibility: the holiday’s value depends less on circumstances than on character.