Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1879-12-26
CHRISTMAS.

GLORY To God in the highest, and on earth
peace, good will towards men" s Il y 4 g
Age has succeeded age since the angel APP
peared unto the shepherds abiding in the
field" and spoke those inspired words, Fear
not, for behold l bring you good tidings of
great joy which shall be 10 all peoples; for
unto you is born this day, in the City of
David, a Saviour which is Christ the Lord"
Century after century has been laid away
within the vault of time-since the "Star of
Bethlehem" glittered in the heavens, cmble-
matte of that light which was to increase in
power and glory until the world should be-
come revolutionized and christianized proph-
ecy fulfilled, when every "knee shall bend at
the name of Jesus" empires, kingdoms and
nationalities which sprung like Minerva
from the brain of Jupiter, with all the mighty
grandeur Of human achievement, have
been but the playthings of time, rocked into
atoms and buried beneath the obscurity of
revolving years; earth's bone,strewn battle
fields, where millions have persisted in
bloody strife at the behest of ambitious men,
have been lost beneath the waves of sue
ceeding changes, and the fame Of their VIC
tories and the scenes of carnage have been
obscured by the shadows of ancient days.
But the light which cleaned like halo of
glory around the infant and sleeping babe in
tine manger still shines with undiminished
beauty, great lighthouse mid tho debris
of time and the mutations Of life-a light
house where cluster the flowers which will
warm and gladden. every heart and whose
mystic voice, blushing into types of living
beauty, will become the truth and har-
mony Of our hamlets and whose roseate
bloom the pride of every household.
1t is the season Of the year when the tiny
bells of joy give forth their sweetest strains I;
it is the season Of gladstone greeting, Of mirth
and of song, when the fires of the old home
stead burn the brightest, when the "fatted
calf is killed, when the absent ones gather
around the hearthstone, when memory care
fully gathers up the golden links of child
hood and wcaves the chain which binds our
hearts TO tho olden times. All there may
be broken link in the silver chain at the
hearth--a vacant seat at the table-a voice
which was once music to our ears, is
heard no longer-but devoted hearts and
tender hands, have not forgotten the lonely
mound in the graveyard, and under the
chilling blasts Of winter TO place some en-
blem of affection and love
1t may prove to be dangerous seasan,
when the first seed Of dissipation is sown,
when reason conquers, but humanity falls
The innocent joys and amusemonts have
not of themselves been sufficiently exhilarat-
ing, and the miserable conventionalities Of
society lend additional zest in the shape OF
stimulants. II is then that the first fire is
kindled which many increase until its fright
full flames fit across broken hearts, ruined
homes, want, poverty and crime. 1t is then,
that the first cloud gathers upon the horizon
of life which may grow in proportion and
blackness until once noble manhood is
lost midst its darkness, and pail more terri
BILE than the pail of death, the pail of dishonor
and shame covers him
1t is the season of rest Man is naturally
restless and ambitious. D 96e has i bssn
nssiduously endeavoring to brush away the
barriers, to overcome the difficulties which
ever confront him, which stand in his way
to the accomplishment of riches, honor and
fame, but now cessation from all the active
duties of life seems of itself, to ask "for re-
pose and quiet" The turmoil of strife and
contention ceases, the archives Of govern
ment and the Golfers of banks arc closed,
the merchants are ready TO balance their ac-
counts, the farmer has finished his arduous
labors, the ring of the anvil is hushcd, and
the countless numbers ofspindles stand still
in their sockets-rcst, like grand dam, falls
across the troubled stream Of life.
II is the season Of liberal charity. God,
in his infinite wisdom, has not thought fit to
shower his riches and worldly blessings up
on all alike; shivering humanity stands at
our doors-thc widow and the orphan are
homeless, helpless and without raiment or
food. In this season of plenty and joy, let
us not forget them. Their wants appeal to
the noblest sentiments Of mankind, and that
mans heart must be callous, his sensibilities
dead, whose purse would tighten at the
sight of suffering anywhere. But he who
is touched with the sorrows, infirmities and
misfortunes of his race, the low moan OF
hunger and want as II comes from the thatch-
cd cottage of poverty, is fully alive to the
duties Of private benevolence. The rains OF
heaven come in the order Of nature, baptis-
ing the thirsty and scortched earth with re-
animating vitality-but the rains do moi
came daily--the dews Of earth, before the
sun touches the "misty mountain top" each
morning steals into the petals of every open
ing bud, leaving its moist kiss on nature
qucnching daily its thirst. Thus with our
charity, daily, like the dews of earth, periodi-
cally, like the rains of heaven. Let us then
make a wreath of those beautiful flowers
which should adorn our lives upon earth
and I'll us for that endless rest which follows
the great battle of life-bnd them at the
temple where we worship, and a ray of light
will illumine our path, as bright as the yes.
tai watcher DER Bethlehem.
In concluding this article, we extend to
each and all OF our readers "a merry Christ.
mas y may its joys be unbroken and un.
clouded-may you have much to remember
with pleasure; nothing TO regret, and when
over, we indulge the hope Of extending "a
Happy New Year"
WAR ON THE NATIONAL BANKs-Pro.
posed Financial Compromise Measure
There has been good deal of quiet caucus.
ing among Senators, the object being TO in.
cubate iiaanc iai pro- position of some kind
which will prove a compromise between the
extreme position taken by Senator Bayard