Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1877-12-22
Christmas.

Ere this present issue Of the FREC PREss
reaches many Of its hr-away subscribers, the
pay Of days, the Feast Of feas,s will have come
again, and christian conmemoration Of an E.
vent sublime in its simplicity aud fearful in its
poverty, shall once more be entirely ensrOssed.
geyy early on a December morn. afar back in
the history Of Time, there might have been
seen a sweetly suggestive picture enactug upon
the plains Of Judea-a trefod emblem Of Faith,
Hope aud Charity There we're shepherds
watching their fjcks all through that Win
tiers night. aud as the myriad Of lesser orbs,
swung out upon the canopy Of Heaven, cast
down their combined eifulgence upon the en-
crusted surface. these simple shepherds still
kept watch, not dreaming for an instant Of the
great event which was Occurriug-under the
guise Of a lowy iucilent-several leagues a
way. But there were those who knew Of
Mystery hidden beaea,h this veil Of mortality
Three wise mcn, they were styled by the then
reigulng potensa,es, aud in all else their wis
dom was perhaps self-eviient; but as regard
81 one apparently simple happening these
three wise men were self-acknowledset, severe
ly simple. They pretended not to fashom the
depth Of Divine mystery working through
human agencies. Faith, alone, led them
mentally speakins-tbrough the labyrinth Of
Sacred Science They had heard Of the two
fold birth which was occurring beneath the
,ha,chei roof Of Be,hlchem's lowly stable
The birth Of a man-Gol, in one. They had
through Faith seen Ills star in the East and,
knowing naught Of the way whereby they
might reach that humble birth-shel, bal,
through that same Faith. followed the celestial
guide sure q its unerriOs correctness in point
iug on, to them the path-as it pursued its
even course although the gold besprinklel 6r-
mamcut. The three wise men here spoken Of
were during their travel onward unto the low
y crib, in themselves the emblems Of the three
virtues mentioned above: they represented
Faith, 10 their child-like trust upon the unde-
waiting course Of one Of myriad Of stars-a star
which they believed was under the especial
control, at that time Of the God Of all they
denoted Hope, in the one feeling which ANNA
,sd them during their pilgrimage feeling OF
ysaroing, ineIpressible, for the nome nt when
chat stellar guide should cease in its progress
and remain suspended, TREMENDOUSLY, over the
dwelling place Of a God made man and, last
ofa,l they persOaiisd Charity in the feeling
Of an adOrins love which urged them to make
this Journey, and in the out-pourius OF treas
ure-inner and earthly-which marked their
greeting Of the newborn Babe "
anl when they were come into the
house they saw the young child with Mary,
bis mother, and fell down, and worshipped
him; and when they had opened their treas
ures, they presented uo,o him gifts 6 10, and
lankincense, and myrrh."
Il needs not, however, the words nor wri-
tuss Of men to remind the christian world Of
that first scene 10 the initial act of Divine
drama, whose depth and scope Of feeling and
eloquenco Of action has all these years chal-
l.aged the admiration Of peoples and nations
the wide globe over. Let Us drop theme toe
vast for human comment, and speak few
words anent the more worldly character Of
this great festival Of Christmas. And right
here We would say something for the little folks
u is plain that Christmas was meant especial
ly Tor them. The very fact which its recur-
renee cou,memorates proves that what We say
Is true And then. again. if other evidence
was necessary wheuco the ancient supersti-
uJn-dclghtfu even in its falsity-of old
Santa Claus, if Christmas was no, intended es-
yecially for the little ones The Saviour o
men has said Suffer little children to come
unto me, and forbid them not and, 10 thi:
regard, We have a quaiat thought that perbaP,
lie vas reminded Of his own Divine babyhood
and youth when he uttered those sweet words.
Yes, christian boys and girls, Christmas /;
your own festival. on which you are privileged
respectfully 20 insis; upon the homage and
support Of your superiors in age. And the
Oh people, why, bless their ouls, We DO not
believe there exists one Of them who, however
selfish and grabbed be or she may unfortunate
Is prove during the other portions OF the year
will not at this brigh, and happy time relent
and, beneath the genial influences Of Christ
mas, tide open both the bear, aud pocket
especially to the young folks.
Friends. and patrons Of our OLD FAMILY
JOURNAL. we wish you all a merry Christ
mas aud happy New lear,-not in stereo-
type phrase oa'y, but sincerely from lhe heart.
Mex, issue We may speak more fally on
tie New Year and ts duties