Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1879-12-19
Written for the Sentinel.
A Christmas Warning.

Mr.. Editor Before another issue of your
estimable paper the great festival of the
| Christian world, Christmas, will have come
and gone, though its pleasant memories will
make golden twilight as long and happy
after Christmas as the animating hopes and
expectations which preceded its rising.
Christmas, like the religion which it repre-
sents, is the more beautiful from the con-
trast of its bright and inspiring scenes with
the inclement and wintry influences by
which it is generally surrounded. 1t seems
almost unnatural when it takes place under
genial and sunny skies. 1t seems most
beautiful and vigorous when the earth is
cold and dead, and when the only signs of
verdure are the evergreens which adorn
and beautify its affairs Like the birthday
of its Founder-like His whole life-like
the character and career of all the vir-
tuous of whatever faith or race-it is the
more radiant and happy when there are no
sounds or signs of summer, and when its
songs Of struggle and of victory rise in a
chilly atmosphere over the winding sheet of
nature, cheerful and inspiring as the song
OF birds in spring and as significant of a
coming resurrection. This great festival
does not require to be recommended by the
proclamations of governors, presidents, kings
or princes. 1t needs no more heralding by
governments than the sun does. 1t sends
Its own bright light to announce its coming,
and all lands, races and ages of civilized man
rise up to bid it welcome. Ii refreshes the
spirits Of all men, lightens the load of hui
man toll, and relieves the heart of that gan
creme of sefishness which is the greatest
enemy of human happiness Is there any
such nights in all the year as the night be-
fore Christmas? What saint In all the cal
pndar NyOrko onCh Ly.,o
or can compare with him in contributing to
the happiness of the household? Truly it is
the "children's festival" and because the chill
dren of to-day will be men and women q
few years hence, and will delight in bestow-
ing upon their children the Christmas Joys
which have blessed their own childhood,
this happy festival will be perpetual
WI iie am specializing ON the pleasures
whlch Christmas brings, my mind, at inter
walls, Is musing on the sorrows, for it is burst
ing the fiood-gate of immortality and crime,
so To speak. Take care, young man. take
care, young woman. Young ladies' do not
offer the intoxicating glass TO young men
who may be visiting you In the name of
God and everything that is near and dear to
society and for the salvation of souls, stem the
current, il possible, on which thousands of
the bright young men of our land are sailing
to poverty, shame and disgrace in this world,
anu worst Of all, 10 the "land where the
worm dieth not and fire is not quenched."
Set a noble example young women, by per-
suading all the young men with whom you
are acquainted to drink no more.
Honor and shame from no condition rise.
Act well your part there all the honor lies"
Young men if you have those temptations
set before you, which are prevalent during
Christmas, and which will destroy the body
and damn the soul, say no with decision
stand FIRMLY on the rock, for if you yield II
VIII work your ruin. Shun bad company
and you will avoid temptation. The con
fession Of jeremiah Bailey, who was exc.
cuted in New Jersey, is warning He
said to the men, and particularly the young
men and boys, 81 would say few farewell
words. What has brought me to this !? Let
me tell you and let these words ring forever
In your ears II was whiskey and the car
rying of firearms. Whiskey and the bearing
OF pistols have ruined me If you do not
want them to ruin you, if you do not want
to be imprisoned and in the end brought to
the scaffold, don't drink whiskev, don't
carry firearms"
Take warning, young man, look well to
your path. Christmas can never be cele-
brated Alright unless the poor are remembered
b,{ all who are able to spare from their own
abundance for the relief of those who have
scarcely the means of subsistence. Remem-
Der the poor, and bear in mind that every
Christmas gift or gift upon any other day to
the impoverished and suffering will be re-
garded by Him as bestowed upon Himself
G. G. p.
MoNTRosE, MD.