Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-12-25
THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT.

From the New Orleans Times.
II is right that Christmas should be the
Jubilee Of the soul-the day on which the
Saviour was born TO fallen man Let us
see 10 il that il is not a selfish Joy, the mere
Joy Of frolic and glee; but Joy which fills
the heart with love to God and our fellow
beings, and opens it TO the suiierings and
wants of each other. II we have but little,
'fet us divide with those who have less, and
trust God for the future. Two years ago
there were many widows and orphans, made
20 by the late war-twO years of sorrow and
struggle, which have plowed burrows
upon once smooth brows, and made little
old folksof children. Bat thew have not
rendered them less our trust. Now, there
are scores Of others left by the late scourge;
they, too, are ours by the common tie of
humanity. The most of them are poor;
but let the heart of each 90 out TO some one
poorer and more sorrowing than we. If
we aid not each other there are none TO
help us. None but God and the sufferers
can tell how hard the grinding heel Of
poverty il. Did it only place its slow, hard
pressure upon the body it would be suffer-
ing enough; but the very soul shrinks
daily under its hard, grinding process.
Families who have been nurtured in tender
love and sweet communion, are forced TO
sever that livings may be made In sick
ness and even in the hour of death, child is
held from mother and mother from child,
for want Of money TO 60 TO each other, and
the stranger receives the dying message
closes the inanimate eyes, and folds the
dear hands over the once loving heart,
while the aching spirit of the loving one
agonizes far away in poverty and want.
Christmas two years ago there we're, far
back in a large yard, two small rooms. A
fire had consumed all of an elegant New
Orleans home, save the wash-room and SER
wants room; and in these were a pale
faced, sorrowing woman and three little
ones. The husband and father had fallen
IN the fight Of the Wilderness less than one
year before, and, bowed in spirits and
broken in health, she struggled for the
daily bread of four Upon TIE gate was a
neat sign:
Laoes done up as good asnep. Also, plain
saping done ,cidiin"
And the clean grass, smoothly swept
walks, and fine old trees gave a most in
viting look, and lured many a lover of
neatness into the two small rooms, which
they seldom turned from without leaving an
order. Yet the little hands we're very deli~
cate that toied for four and no lu1uries
entered those doors, although the weak
woman felt they would be life and strength
10 her sinking frame.
Christmas morning and the neighbor-
hood was full of life and JOY. Mother,
the Saviour was not born for us, was he"
The almost baby face was disconnected,
and wore a somewhat hard look, which
sank with a heavy pain into the over
taxed heart Of the mother
"Charles, why do you TASK that ones.
ton p Because every one but us seems
30 happy. The children opposite have so
many beautiful things, and are 20 glad and
merry; | have seen so many ducks,
chickens, turkeys, and great large white
cakes, and all kinds Of good things go in
there, and we have only soup and bread.
We have nothing TO make ms happy be-
cause the Saviour was born, and so l
thought may be He was not born for u.s.
Charles, listen 10 me-" She drew her
boy close beside her, and wound an arm
lovingly about him.
"My child, the Saviour was not born to
give earthly joys TO His creatures, but
eternal ones beyond the grave, if we will
be good upon this earth. Little does il
matter, my boy, if life be sad or joyous 80
we but get 20 Heaven when we die; for
here all must have an end, however happy,
however joyous, while there happiness and
Joy never change, never end. But we can
not 20 there If we are not good, in sadness
and suffering, as well az in happiness and
it is very wicked 10 murmur AGAINST God
l. = - L /.
fed by fire, and most hearts by suffering.
IL may be the very best way 10 fit ne for
Heaven throughout eternal ages. sMay
God make my boy fit for the eternal Joys
of Heaven"
And the weary head bowed in prayer and
the falling tears dropped upon the little
curly head of her only son. God had
looked into the little diseontented heart,
and guided the footsteps of their wealthy
neighbor into the walk running along the
back of his lot, just beneath their window
The scene was not lost upon him. Ere
nightfall a cart halted before the gate with
coal, and another with -four, lard and
syrup. Mr. c. looked out from his second
story window upon their arrival, and his
heart sWelled with the deep Joy which is
alone felt by the performance Of good
deed.
Ii was minutes ere the draymen, con.
WINGED Amy Paxton that they were for her,
but note with the words, "a happy
Christmas, from your neighbors," brought
the large tears quickly down the pale
cheeks, while the voice grew so husky that
Charles had 20 direct where to put them.
Mother, will you not make IA some
cakes now ?"
"Yes, my children. But we must thank
God for this. He it was who put il into
the kind hearts of our neighbors TO help rs. "
ooh veg mama, the Saviour was born
for Us, and shall never forget this"
As their soup and bread were served
with large plate Of cakes a knock startled
them from their humble repsst 10 the door
and standing without was a servant with a
waiter bearing fine baked chicken sud a
large bowl Of stewed cranberries. On his
arm was a basket with shoes for each.
ball and bat for Charles, a doll and balloon
for each of the girls.
Tell your master that the prayers Of the
widow and orphans will draw blessing
from Heaven upon his life
The full heart burst forth in food Of
happy tears, as the poor woman looked
into the JOYOUS faces OF her fatberless little
ones. who were in raptures, and could not
even eat the delicious chicken and cram
berries until they had tried their ball and
balloons.
That which the wealthy Mr. G. would
never miss had made four hearts very
happy. and restored frost in God TO the
little doubling one.
go thou and do likewise"