New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-01-05


had had all the wear through, had ground 70 hope
but I wanted 20 connect this gladness-fn then
1aipds mean for who could dissever them in fact y
with liz source the love Of God that love manifested
uuto men in the birth Of the Human Babe, the Son
of Man. But would not interfere with the Christ.
mas Day at home. resolved TO invite as many OF
NY parsbiODuB would come, to spend Christmas
Therefore mad a notice 70 that purpOrt affixed TO
fhe chnTch door; and resolved 10 send out no per
sOal invitations whatever, 50 that might not give
offenso by accidental omission. The only person
thrown into porplexity by this mode OF proceeding
How many am TO provide for, sn she said, with
an injured ayr.
For as many q you ever saw IN church at one
time said. And if there should be too mnch why
much the better. u can go 10 make Christmas
DAY the meiTier at some Of the poorer houses.
She looked discomposed, for she was not OF an
easy temper. But she never acted from beT temper
she only looked or spoke from it.
L shall want help, she said. at length
AS much as you like, MIR. Pearson can trust
yon entirely.
Her face frightened; and the end showed that
had not trusted her amiss.
was little anxious about the result Of the iny
tatiOupartly A. indicating the amount OF confidence
my people placed in me. But although no one SAID
word to me about il beforehand except Old Rogers,
the hour arrived, the people began TO come
And the first welcomed was Mr. BrOwDrigR.
had had all the on the ground floor pre-
pared for their reception Tables OF provision were
Hef out in every of them. My visitors had tea or
coffee with plenty of bread and butter, when they
arrived aud the more solid supplies were reserved
for later part of the evening. soon found myself
with enough to do But before long had very
efficient staff For after having had occasion, once
twice, 10 mention something OF my plans for the
evening / found my labors gradually diminish, and
yet everything seemed to 60 right the tact being
That good Mr.. Boulderstone, in one part, had cast
himself into the middle of the food, and stood there
immOvabe both in face and person, turning its
waters into the right channel, namely toward the
barn which had fitted up for their reception in
body while in another quarter, namely in the barn.
Dr Duncan was doing his best, and that was simply
something frs-rate 10 entertain the people till all
should be ready From kind of instinct these gen
tlemen had taken upon them to be my staff almost
without knowing it, and very grateful was.
found, too that they soon gathered some OF the
Young and more active spirits about them whom
they employed in various ways for the good OF the
When came in and saw the igoodly assemblage,
for had been busy receiving them in the house,
40 fond Of falmiSg that he had renfS nad in the
neighborhood of the vicarage and built this large
barn, of which could make nan 10 entertain my
friends. The night was frosty-the stars shining
brilliantly oveThcadso that especially for country
people there little danger in the short passage to
be made to it from the house. But, II necessary,
resolved 20 have cOveTed-way built before next
time For how can man be the person of parish,
ii no never entertains his parishonersi And really,
though il was lighted only with candles roupd the
walls and | had not been able TO do much for the
decoration of the place, | thought 1t looked very
lust if the Babe had been coming again TO us that
sane night. And is He not always coming TO us
afTesh in every chdhke feelIng tDat aWakes III inc
hearts of His people
walked about among them, greeting them, and
lreeted everywhere IN turn with knd smiles ana
hearty shakes of the hand AS often as paused IN
my communications for moment, 1t was amusing to
watch Mr. BoulderstOnes honest, though awkward
sndeavOrs TO be at ease with ms interiors Out DT;
Duncan was just sight worth seeing Very tall
and very stately, he was talking now to this old man.
now To that young woman. aud every face gllstened
toward which he turned. There was no condescen-
tion about him. He was as polite and courteous to
one a. to another and the smile that every now and
then lighted mp his old face, was genuine and sylnpa-
thetic. No one could have known by his behavior
that he was not at court. And thought-Surely
even the contact with such man will do something
Co refine the taste of my people. felt more certain
chan ever that free mingling of all classes would
do more than anything else toward binding MS all
into wise patriotic nation; would tend TO Keep
down that foolish emulation which makes one class
npo another from afar, like Ben JOnsOn's FhngosO,
still lighting short suit; would refine the rough
of the rude and enable the polished to see with
hat safety his just share in public matters might be
committed into the hands of the honest workman.
il we could leave IL to each other to give what
honor il due knowing that honor demanded rs rs
worthless insult undesoryed is hurtless! What
has one 10 do 10 honor himself That is and be
mo- honor When one has learned to seek the honor
that cOmeth from God only he will take the with
holding of the honor that comes from men very
quietly indeed.
The only thing that disappointed me was. that
Bot how could have every thing success at OnceI
And Catherine Weir was likewise absent.
After we had spent q while IN pleasant talk, and
when thought nearly all were with us, got up
- chair at the end of the barn. and said -:
Kind fIieuds,-l am very grateful 10 You f0F
bounrlnR nv invitation rs you have done. Permit
Imc 10 hone that this meeting will be the first Of
many aud that from II may grow the yearly custom
ia this parish of gathering in love and friendship
upun Christmas Eve. When God comes to man.
looks round for his neighbOr When man departed
from God IN the Garden of Eden, the only man in
the world ceased 10 he the friend of tho only woman
IN the world and, instead Of seeking 10 bear her
harden became her accnser To God, M whom he saw
only che Indpe. unable 10 perceive that the infinite
love Of the Father had come 70 punish him III tender
mss and grace. But when God in Jesus comes back
ta men brothers aud sisters spread forth their
10 embrace each other, aud 80 10 embrace HIM. This
Is " hen He is born again ia our souls. For, dear
friends " hat all need is just Ia become little
children like Him; 20 cease 10 be careful about
Inany things and trust in Him, seeking only that
Ie should rule. and that should he made good
like Him. What else is meant by Seek We iirst i'e
Kingdom of God aud ms righteousness ana All These
Ihinl,s shall be added unto you Instead of doing
no. Ne seek the things God has promised 70 look after
for us aud refuse 10 seek the thing Ike wants TO
hsrk-aShing that cannot be gwen us except
seek IT, We profess TO think Jesus The grdndest and
most glorious of men, and Yet hardly care Ia he Ike
linn; and 80 when offered llis Spirit, that is
lis very nature within us, for the asking, will
hardly take the trouble to ask FOR t.. Bar tonight
at least Let all unind Thoughts. all hard judgments
of another all selfish desires atter our own way
Ia put from M, that we may welcome the Babe INTO
orr very bosonis: that when he OoIues among us
fGT ~ lie not like child still, meek and lowly of
heart p lie may not be- troubled 20 find tliat
aua,TcsOne and selfish and unjust
came down from the chair. and Nj. Brovnrigg
being the nearest of my guests and WIDE awake, for
hc had been standing and had indeed been listening
10 every word according 20 his ability shook hands
with him. Aud positively there was some meaning
IN the grasp with which le returned mine,
am not going TO record all the proceedings Of the
evening shut / think il may be interesting 10 my
paders 70 know something OF how We spent it, inst
of all we sang hymn about the Nativity. Aud then
read extract from book Of travels, describing
the interior of an Eastern cottage probably Inno re-
senlhhng tho INN in which our Lord Was born, the
house For felt that 10 open the inner eyes even Of
the BRAIN enabling people 10 in some measure the
reality of the old lovely story 10 help them 10 have
hat a