The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-12-25
DREAM OF CHRISTMAS EVE.

dreamed that I was carried back for
more than eighteen hundred years, and
that l was in Jerusalem, in q humble
cottage, where around cheerful Hfire
there were gathered the father, mother
and a little child. The father and
mother were Joseph and the blessed
Virgin Mary, and the child Jesus. It
was the eve Of the tenth birthday Of that
wonderful child. Though the room was
furnished in the simplest manner, and
there was nothing about il to attract the
admiration OF those who care for worldly
splendor, yet it appeared to me the very
home Of purity and peace. l thought,
in the calm, quiet, loving expression Of
father and mother, and in the radiant,
angelic face OF that beautiful boy, there
was no need Of what we call creature
comforts" to make paradise Of the
hnmblest Preside. "'...
While wrapt with intense interest in
the scene upon which my vision rested,
the voice Of the child Jesus, with It's
silvery tones, fell upon my ear. sDear
mother" he said, It is ten years tonight
since was born into this world. Ibid
not come to you as the children Of other
mothers come. The angels sang at my
birth, and the heavens were lighted up
to tell dark and sinful world Of the
advent Of its long-promised deliverer.
There are many years TO pass away before
am to leave this humble home To do the
great work for which / am sent. But
even now I am to be about my fathers
business. I have work TO do as child.
Now it is that / am to learn my child
hoods lessons. / want to know by ex-
perience all their joys and sorrows, to
learn how to rejoice with them when
they are glad, and to weep with them
when they are sorry. 1t is for this
reason that ] 60 out upon the streets and
join in their sports, to learn all about
them, and to teach them by example that
they must be generous, unselfish and for
giving. Myriads Of children will come
into the world whose footsteps l am to
guide, whose SORROWS i am to soothe, and
whose Joys | am to hallow, and therefore
it Is, l would have my child's heart
taught, that / may sympathiEe with
tutLu MutH LHGy buuli Sulue W ilG 90
their God and Savior" .Mr
The wondering parents listen with holy
awe to the wonderful words Of their
wonderful child. They knew but very
imperiectly what was the purpose Of His
mission TO earth, and II was well they
did not know what path Of suffering
was before Him. His conception and
birth had been marvellous; and no doubt
from year to year, as He "grew in wis
dom and stature" they had occasional
glimpses Of the glory TO be revealed in
Him. The Bible tells US: Mary kept
all these things and pondered them in
her heart" ...P .ua ..Yl
Suddenly, in my dream, the whole
scene was changed, and was in church
where were gathered together great
number Of children. It was Christmas
eve, and Christmas tree sparkled with
light, and children with glad voices and
Joyous faces were singing their carols Of
the Babe in Bethlehem. Among that
group, as by the wand OF the magician,
the radiant face was revealed To- me Of
that same little child whom ! had seen
In Jerusalem. There could be mo mis-
taking that perfect FORM, that graceful
manner, nor the angelic expression Of
that face. He seemed to have come un.
noticed, and he glided silently around,
whispering into the ear OF one and another
some sweet and heavenly thought, and
the face OF each child into whose ear He
thus breathed lighted up with holy Joy.
As saw him thus in the vision Of my
dream, busy in ministering unseen TO the
happiness Of childhood, and seeming 10
catch the keynote Of their joyous prattle,
and even TO minglO in their noisy glee, O,
how I wished that the eyes Of every
child then could be open TO see the child
Jesus, who still comes 70 children as 8
child To let them know how He can and
does love them. Nf..... ...np.
But, then, / remembered that when He
went up before the wondering gaze Of
His disciples, and cloud received Him
out Of their sight, He left the earth, no
more TO be seen in human form until he
shall come again, at the last day, in
power and great glory. I....
i could not, therefore, hope that my
WISH WuuIu NC BIAuueu. WACHeu us
every movement with eager curiosity. and
in momentary fear that the blessed vision
would melt away into shadow. But he
did not seem TO grow weary Of the festive
scene. His child'S heart was in Joyous
accord with the little ones, and he
fingered to catch the last notes OF their
simple carols. H aay
At last methought there came, as from
4 distance, the sound Of music, as Of the
warbling Of angels, and nearer and
nearer, and clearer and clearer, and
sweeter and sweeter the notes Of heavenly
harmony fell upon my ears, and then
came the flashes Of the silver wings OF 4
multitude Of the Heavenly Host, when
suddenly the child Jesus, radiant with
the halo Of Divinity, rose up before me.
As he was borne out Of my sight 1 heard
4 voice repeating, in the same silyery
tones which greeted my ears from the
humble cottage In Jerusalem; Suffer the
little children 70 come unto rue, and for.
bid them NOT, for such Is the Kingdon Of
Heaven"