The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-12-21

is MANY year since | entered a church;
but to-day, I scarcely know why, | cannot
resist the bells am going to ask all of
you to 90 over with me to tie church in
the village to pray God to fill our hearts
with the "peace and good will toward men"
which His Holy Child came into this world
this day to bringl'
Even the respect which they felt for
their master could not repress the express
sion of astonishment which fell upon all
the faces in that little group But Tim
Kelly answered for the rest. "And that
we will; wild joy, sirl'' Then "three
cheers for the good MASTER" shouted the
gay old Irishman, little elated, perhaps,
by the good ale; and the room rang with
acclamations.
A smile broke over Mr.. Paine's grave
face, the first that has been seen there for
many day. He turned away and closed
the door behind him.
"And who knows what may have been
working in the masters heart all these
years, for all he made no sign" said kind
hearted Betty, with tear in her bright
black eyes although her lips were smiling.
The church in the valley was thickly
hung with greenery. From arch and
spandrel, beam and cornice they dropped,
long garlands of "the fir, the box and the
pine" the shining leaves of the laurel, the
crimson berries of the holly, had been car
ried to decorate the sanctuary. From the
reading-desk the venerable pastor read the
lessons for the day, and the whole congre-
CATION turned their eyes toward Gilbert
Paine as he walked up the aisle toward
his long unoccupied seat. Those who
knew his story, and they numbered many,
gazed still more curiously when the cler-
gyman gave out his text :-"Glory to God
in the highest; and on earth peace, good
will toward men p
But Gilbert Paine cared nothing for
these curious watching eyes; strange,
humbled expression had stolen upon the
once naughty face, and the awakened soul
was drinking in the living waters of the
'Holy Gospel of Peace" And from a
distant corner pair of eyes had gazed
fxedly upon the saddened countenance,
until Jasper Paine could look no longer,
and had bowed his head into his hands,
while not unmanly tears forced themselves
between the strong mans fingers. For
him, too, the "glad tidings of great joy
had message of peace; he, too, had cher
ished bitterness within his soul; and as he
watched the pale face and feeble step pass
down the aisle after the congregation had
dispersed, all the strong ties of blood call
ed out to him to grasp that trembling
hand and cry out, "Father | am not
worthy to be called thy son !"
None ever knew what happened under
the Christmas garlands Of the empty
church. Only the organist remained; the
grand notes were still trembling and roll
ing through the arch and chancel; the
musician, absorbed, never noticed-eyen
had he known-the figures Of the two men
who, with clasped hands, stood looking
into each others faces beneath the western
window. And when Timothy Kelly, the
coachman, held open the door of the hall
carriage he never recognized in the tall,
dark-bearded stranger, on whose arm his
master leaned, the slight, darkened lad
who, fifteen years before, had stood that
snowy winters night on the great terrace,
discarded and disowned.
Much excitement was caused in the SER
wants hall when the carriage re turned
from the neighboring hotel with gentle,
fair-haired lady and lovely babe seatd be-
side the master; and still more, an hour
later, when summons came for all the
servants to appear in the great east parlor,
where fires had been kindled, and where,
with peaceful content on his aged face,
Gilbert Paine introduced them to their
beautiful new mistress
Then the old man turned toward his
son, and bade them with trembling voice,
to rejoice with him, "for this my son was
dead, and is alive again, was lost and is
| found !"
1t was not long before old Mrs. Blake
and Timothy Kelly recognized the fatures
of their boyish young master in the tai,
handsome man at Gilbert Paine's left hand,
and when the old man lifted the beautiful
babe from its mothers arms and placed it
in those of Betty, the housemaid, declaring
that she alone should be its nurse, the
girls bright eyes filled with the grateful
tears that her tender heart had sent there,
as she bent over the child and cried out,
"Oh, the bonny, bonny boyl"
Ring out anew, oh joyous Christmas
bells, nnder the moonlit sky Softly
fling afar the notes of peace and joy |!
Far and near, near and far, over hill, over
dale, through wood, through void, to
hearts of men long parted, reconciled.
Peal the glad tidings peal the glad tidings