Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-01-06
Yul}ooro1rs Acaoing.
THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL.

"Glory 10 Gml in the highest, and on ca
Inacc goodwill toward men,
"To.dav for us Cur Lord was born, come let
adore him
The morning was breaking on the anniverS:
rv of our Saviours nativity, when an an"'
looked down from its home i'll the skies, NJ
the world ut its t.c: The sun was. just riSi:
and casting its beams abroad upon hills
valleys, town and country.
EVERYTHING looked so bright and beautiful.
thar the angle !or Il long time adinringir gaZcd
and wondered that there Shonid be 80 mncsl sin
anl wee, where all was 50 fair tn look upon.
The bells were soon heard ringing a merry
neal, and the angel descended and walked inrlS-
lille among the beings that now hogan to crowd
the streets of agreat city. Narrowly he scanned
the faces ot all, to see il amy wore the apIc T.
ancc of perfect happiness. But all bore the
impress OF sin, and that "lirSt dsolctlience, :"
that " brought death into the world and ail our
woe" Many were exchanging .icSts and good
wishes, while others looked wrctccd AMI his
cradle. aS if even hope itself had iorsakcn them.
Pitving willie he behcld, the angel thought
that for this one day he would try to Tic ut
most what power lie possessed TO avert evil
from human beings, and influence them to do
good.
so ,rcnaturely wrinklc,l and careworn, that lie
now looked as If he never could have possessed
the happv and innocent face OF childhood. Ills
clothes had evidently descended from at least
one generations and were "a world too large"
for his door little body. Tears stood in the
ewes of the child, for he had been sent to pur-
chase for sick mother some small article Tor
Which the sum tightly grasped i'll his hand had
been insufficient \ group of jocund, laughing
children passing by, the ragged boy looked
wistfully at their toys and bundles in their hands,
and after they had passed set down upon a Gel
lar door and fairly sobbed his little heart away.
At that moment IL gentleman came along and
was about to pass without noticing the boy,
when the angel whispered in lis car. Turning
round he for the first time saw the child, and
after putting some money in his hand and saying
few kind words, he left him. The faces OF
both were more calm and happy, and as the an
eel looked lie could not but feel how much
"more blessed it is to give than to receive"
\ party Of Joyous boys were seen CARRYING
their skates and fastening towards the river.
| Fearful of danger, the angel followed and
watched their gambolS on the sparkling ice. 1t
was not given him to see into the future; anu
as everything seemed going on safely, he was
about to leave, when cry Of agony rose from
the startled alrl awe-struck boys. One had
broken in, and the rest stood by, anxious but
totally unable to save their comradc. The hands
of the yonth were placed upon piece of line
ice, while hes felt himself gently drawn up and
placed upon the shore in safety. His friends
wondered row he had strength left to TO so
and that evening, while sitting at his fathers
tirc-sde, lie told them how he had broken
through the ice, and drawn himself out when
he had thought he was about to die. With
fearful ewes his mother said "Somc good angel
must have helped You, my SON"
The sound of rcvclry and mirth was heard
within the walls OF noble and stately mansion.
| The feet of the guests pressed tile SoiteSt car
nets, and their eyes rested "n the nObest works
of art, as they pressed their way through crow
detl rooms, to offer their congratulations 70 their
host, who had been exalted to place OF high
honor. Wealth was his, and all the luXurles
that it could purchase; but he possessed what
he valued far more, fair, unsullied name, and
great earthly glory. He had reached the pin
naclc of fame, but his heart was sad and heavy
within him. His only child-he who was once
the light of his cyes-ovcr Whose infancy and
bov-Ilood lle had so anXiously watchcd-who
was to inherit his name and wealth. had for
gotten his early lessons, and had not only wan-
,cre, into paths of vice, but had acted 50 dis
honoraby, that had strict justice been delt him.
he would now be occupying a fclon's cell.
Unobscrvcd, the father left 'the thrushtleSs
multitude and entered an inner chamber. Here
the strong man bowed his head end wept. Sud,
denly he was aroused by the door opening, and
some one softly entered. Looking up, hc be.
held tie object Of his thoughts, but haegard
and way-w0rn. Invountarily he rose, and thu
two confronted each other. and thought Of the
mast. a tide of memory rushed across the
mind of the father, and told him what his SOL
was now, and what he might have been.