New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-25

| were SO eager that they brayed all tne $40"
dreary risk of the way; they were so sure
that they should find the Man they sought
that they brought gifts ready in their hands
for him, each according to his own character
and life The legend says that Melchior' the
smallest of the three, a shrewd but honest
ruler brought gold another, larger man
and of Joyous disposition, brought incense
TO burn with gladness before the King OF the
world while the third, who was of dark
color, and had suffered great miseries, and was
yet grown to mighty stature, had only ira
grant myrrh to lay at His feet, in silence.
TIE star at last, brought them to the King.
He was neither warrior nor wise man, but new
born babe. He was so far separated from
worldly state and Usages that he made his
bed with the beasts of the field, while crea-
lures higher than man thronged the air to pay
him homage. I!o was akin to man in his eX-
IRENE want, and that from the first breath.
Mary was driven as a pauper from the Inn IN
her greatest strait. The three kings wor-
shipped the child and went on their way All
that we are told about them further is that
God himself directed their journey.
Now all of us, men and women, III our
Streets shops and Offices are searching for this
unknown Leader just as the three heather kings
did through solitary desert and mountain
ranges Railroads, teegrarhy, the hurly-bry
of politics and newspapers have not made
whit of difference to the soul of man and its
secret need. A Ncw-Yorl merchant gropes for
the Hand to lead him through life in a straight,
honorable path and through the darkness be-
yond Con which newspapers or telegraphy have
thrown no ray of lighD precisely as did these
kings of Chaldea. We have the Saviour, 1t
is true. We have covered Him with
cumbrous church organizations, stately cere-
monials; we approach him through music,
stained glass, carved stone aesthetic emotion.
To-day let us come straight to the poor stable
and the child. He comes close to u.s. whether
we choose 1t or not the year round, through
little children. There has not been baby
born this year into the cOldest-blOodcd man
sion of Murray Hill, or the vilest cellar OF the
Five Points, who has not touched some heart
in them with a new sense of innocence, of
Christlike love. Now as when he was alive,
when he would teach his disciples most directly,
he "sets a little child in the midst of them
Let Us make the children and the poor our
companions for this one day of the year, and
see ii We S!lttl DOl llld SoiiC tldIt vi Hlhi
among them.
When we have found Him, what gift shall
we bring Him on this His birthday Money
for this church or that school or charity
Melchior gave gold, we are told, and did well.
Some men have 10 money to give, but they are
so glad to be alive, and have their hearts so
full of love to this good and gracious Master,
that they scatter largess of kindness and hap
pness all about them. They are the high-priestS
of Christmas, and we hope every household has
one to burn incense for it this happy morning.
But there may be some of our readers who
have neither money nor joy to give away to-
day, who have brought out of the past year
nothing but the remembrance of an open
grave, or some yet more hopeless PAIN. So
there was one who came to worship with the
others. silent, and of grave cOuntenance, who
had gone through great tribulation. But We
are told he was grown of higher stature than
his fellows, and when he laid myrrh at the feet
of the Arbter of life and death, he was touched,
not by the sceptre of an avenging judge, but
by the loving hand of the Divine Child.