Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-01-06

Glory to God III the highest anu on CT! .*'
reace, goodwill toward men" :.
"To.day for us cur Lord was born, come let
adore him"
The morning was breaking on the anniversa
ry of our Saviour's nativity, when an ans' ]!
looked down from Its home in the skies, up
the world at its teet = The sun was-just rlsn.
and casting its beams abroad upon hills az
valleys, town and country.
Everything looked so bright and beautiful,
that the angle for long time admirinely gazcd
and wondered that there should be so mnc'l sin
and vice, where all was so fair to look upon.
The bells were soon heard ringing merry
neal, and the angel descended and walked invis-
ible among the beings that now hogan to crowd
the streets Of agreat city. Narrowly he scanned
the faces of all, to see if any wore the appear
ance of perfect Happiness. But all bore the
impress of sin, and that first disobedence," !"
that " brought death into the world and all our
woe" Many were exchanging jests and good
wishes, while Others looked wretched and mis-
erablc, as if even hope itself had forsaken then
Pitying while he behcld, the angel thought
that for this one day he would try to TIE ut
most what power lie possessed to avert evil
from human beings, and influence them to do
good. =,
Soon he esried tiny boy clad in rags, and
so prenaturely wrinkled ard careworn, that he
now looked as if he never could have possessed
the happy and innocent face of childhood. His
clothes had evidently descended from at least
one generation, and were ga world too large"
for his poor little body. Tears stood i'll the
ewes of the child, for he had been sent to pur-
chase for sick mother some small article for
which the sum tightly grasped in his hand had
been insufficient A group Of jocund, laughing
children passing by, the ragged boy looked
wistfully at their toys and bundlesin their hands,
and after they had passed set down upon Gel
lar door and fairly sobbed his little heart away.
At that molnent.a gentleman came along and
was about to pass without noticing the boy,
when the angel whispered in his ear. Turning
round, he for. tho first time, saw the child, and
after putting some money in his hand and saying
a few kind words, he left him. The faces OF
both were more calm and happy, and as the an
gel looked he could not but feel how much
amore blessed it is to give than to receive"
A 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; and
as everything seemed going on safely, he was
about to leave, when cry of agony rose from
the startled and awe-struck boys. One had
broken in, and the rest stood by, anxious but
totally unable to save their comrade. The hands
of the yonth were placed upon piece of fine
ice, while he. felt himself gently drawn up and
placed upon the shore in safety. His friends
wondered row he had strength left to do so
and that evening, while sitting at his fathers
fire-side. 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 eyes his mother said "Somc good angel
must have helped you, my SON."
The sound of reyclry and nirth was heard
within the walls Of anoble and stately mansion.
The feet of the guests pressed theasottest car
pets. and their eyes rested on the noblest works
of art, as they pressed their way through crow
ded rooms, to offer their congratulations TO their
host, who had been exalted to place of high
honor Wealth was his, and oil the luxuries
that it could purchase; but he possessed what
he valued far more, fair, unsulied name, and
great earthly glory. He had reached the pin
naclc of fame, but his heart was sad and heavy
within linn. His only child-he who was once
the light of his eyes-over whose infancy and
| boy-lood he had SO anxiously watchcd-who
was to inherit his name and wealth-had for-
gotten his early lessons, and had not only wan
dered into paths of vice, but had acted so dis
honorably, that had strict justice beendelt him,
lie would now be occupying telon's cell. :
| Unobserrcd, the father left "the thcushtless
multitude and entered an iniler chamber. Here
the strong man bowed his head end wept. Sud
denly he was aroused by the door opening, and
sowe ono soitly entered Looking up he be-
held the object of his thoughts, but hasgard
aud way-worn. Involuntarily he rose, and the
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 son
was now, and what be might have been.