The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-12-25
COLUMBIA, s. G.
Saturday Morning. December 2o. 1889,

The revolving year in its1 order has
brought round once more CHarsrMAs =
the brightest and happiest festival of
Christendom- the holiday alike of rich
and poor, of old and young or if it
comes with especial giadness to any, it is
to the latter-ths little children whom.
when on earth, he whose birth this day
celebrates bade % come unto Him, and
took themain Hisarms and blessed them,
and said that of such was the kingdom
of Heaven. Whats.wonld any of us do
without Christmas, that genial fountain
of happiness which no winter can freeze
over, but which bubbles up with its
waters as pare and ioy-giving as if they
had Just flowed from the River of Life
beside the throne of God, causing the
wintry landscape to glow with the spring
like verdure and beauty of Paradise.
What other festival makes as many peo-
pie happy or animates men for time, at
least. with such universal sentiments of
peace and goodwill towards each other,
or draws their thoughts by such attract
i've Influences to high and holy things
What star in oil the constellation of fss-
tivals lights up the horizon 30 long and
brightly before its rising as the star
which heralded the birth at Bethlehem,
or shines with such serene and pervading
light, gliding alike the poor mans cabin
and the palace of royalty, and which,
after it has set, is remembered with such
regret and such earnest longings from
children that it may soon return? But
Christmas comes but once a year." and
we should make the most of it while it
lasts, and forget for moment the an1-
ieties of the past, and let the morrow,
with its uncertainties, take care for the
thinggof itself; and realize. for one day
in the year at least, how much more
blessed it is to give than to receive. If
there is something inspiring in the OK
uberant Joy and merriment of children
at this season, thcro is something even
more amiable in the reiuvenation of the
parental Kriss Kringlcs, who are growing
young again in trying to make children
happy. In the midst of all our troubles
aud perplexities, with mems hearts fail
ing them for fear of what the future has
in store, the gay, glad season has come
round onoe more, to cheer and charm us
with its presence. There is no man SO
cold. hearted who does not feel to some
extent the softening, ameliorating infu-
ences of this genial Christmas tide.
That heart must be harder than the
neither milestone that does not soften
with the magic influences Of domestic
joys, the festive gatherings beneath the
roof-tree, the glowing, happy faces of
children, and the electric light of kindly
sympathy that kindles in the countenance
of every one, both young and old, who
bestows the seasons benson of ga
merry Christmas" and Happy New
Year" It is the season which marks the
great event, whether correctly or not is
of little moment, of the birth day of
Him who was "the hope of Israel, and
the desire of all nations" He, for whose
advent all the movements Of the world
were adjusted, empires rose and fell,
kingdoms waxed and waned. He, the
unspeakable gift, "the Wonderful" "the
Counsellor" 1.-THE Prince of Peace"
whose birth Gabriel himself came down
to tell. Let each heart remember ut this
festive season, also, that the joys of
Christmas should never be selfish joys,
and that hc most honors TIE memory of
his Lord and Master who forgets not His
injunction that "it is better to give than
to receive" Christianity had ever q spe-
cial eye to those feelings which should
remind us of the equal rights of all, and
the greatest beauty in it is not merely its
charity, which we too often contrive to
swallow up in faith, but its being ever
alive to the sentiment Of charity, with
out which its mere profession is de.
nounced as only sounding brass or
tinkling cymbal." The same spirit that
vindicated the pouring of rich ointment