The New York herald., 1879-12-25

never penetrates, whero vice ana crime 90 psn~ ="
hand with youth. and blear-eyed babies take to gin
to their mothers milk. Missionary societies
meet on swell occasions in brilliantly illumined
halls. grand bands Of music pour forth glorious mar
MONIES and thunders of applause follow the glitter
ing gcneralities of the silver ongued orator as he
sums up the ..good we and ours are doing"
With ravshei ears
The monarch hears.
Assumes the god.
Affects the nod, .l.
And seems to shake the spheres
But he dosen't. and for all the good he or his
society accomplish the poor need not strain to be
grateful. There is time like the present for
change in this in other bad habits. and no man.
save the hypocrite have the assurance to write
talk OF Merry Christmas" unless he lets his
works follow his tongue and his fellows heart Is
cheered by some practical. tangible evidence OF
good will. The self-sufRcient man who advises
peace Of mind but who refuses piece of bread in
suits not alone tho hungry who asks relief but
makes travesty Of the great sacrifice OF tho ages
aud turns the example of his Saviour into Tdicule
HOW TO sPEND THE DAY. 4s
Aside from the taxes and the giving Of presents
there Is little in common to-day with the rst Christ
mas morning. The tax problem is so broad and
deep and complicated to preclude all possibility OF
its solution to-day. and by the time the Christmas
HERALD is laid upon the table the Christmas gifts
will have been received. what then is there to be
done? The stores viii be closed aud the church
doors will not be opened for hours. "Christmas IL
the family day of the year-the day for home COM
fort"
Certainly; but what IL one has no home. or II
"home" is but synonym for poverty and suffer-
ing?
Some one has written:-
Where's take my walks abroad
How many poori see!
What shall render to my God
For all His gifts to mo?
That's 1t. Take walk abroad aud recall the words
of st. John. who said. 'Whoso hath this worlds
goods and seeth mis- brother hath need and shutteth
up his bowels Of compassion from him." needn't
call himself Christian or think he can have
merry Christmas either here or hereafter. But on
the other hand. while it not be possible for in
divIduals to accomplish. sngly. as much as organ
lied charity do, there Is immensity OF salts
faction and q degree of heart glow that discounts
the flush of Turkish bath, in doing something for
others. eye to eye and hand to hand.
Blest Is tho man whose softeninG heart
Feels all anothers pain. s.s- rs.L
To whom the supplicsting eye
Is never raised in vain.
Having cheered tho home circle and extended tho
warm palm of unostentatious charity such as
need it. very many will doubtless hnd pleasure in
attending service in Of the city churches-the
HERALp's columns point the way-where suitable
ceremonials will commemorate the day on which
was begun the fulhlment Of the ancient prophecies
and led the solemn realities Of Calvary. In one
church the preaching win attract. IN another tho
music will delight; here the sacred sscraments will
elevate The soul. there the joyful anthems will tn
spire the heart. Tho Christ Of Bethlehem's manger
was not the Christ Of to-day. Then He helpless
babe exertng no power; now He 10 the High Priest
In the everlasting temple.
Thou art coming to king,
Large petitions with thee bring;
For His grace and power are such
None can ever ask too much.
And after church 2
Well, there dramatic and musical entertain
ments for such care to 60 to them; the ampli-
tudc OF tho Park invites the multitude; adjacent
cities are in easy rcach-but Christmas dinner waits.
That probably settles it. and OF tho million and
half Of people who live here and hereabouts it 10
moro than likely four-Afths will tarry homo visit
with their friends. while the rest of us work.
And after dinner?
That depends. Some old-fashioned people. who
know good thing when they see 1t. take early
dinner ON Christmas; dinner which can bo shared
by the children; dinner lasting hours. gsrlanded
with homoly JOY and spicod by domestic love.
Such stories are rehashed. such Jokes
laughed at. such hosptsble pressure to "take just
trife MORE" such pledges in wine or cider. such
duged in to-day have been features Of civilized life
since the earth began and tho morning stars sang
together for JOY.
OF the Jolly dogs VINO will speed their trotters on
the road of the boisterous roysterers who will make
night hideous by their revcs aud pranks and Of the
great army of restless folk who 60 from place to
place IN search Of merry Christmas. the HERALD
has nothing to say. Nor would it be proper
to than peep behind the green decked curtains
at the happy circles who will meet tonight. forget
ful Of .hc world and BY tho world forgot singing.
dancing, laughing. chatting-oh. what Joyous hours
they'll be!
And the lesson2
1t would to be easy learn the lesson of to-
day. As the baby In the stable manger grew to
mans estate and thence passed onward and upward
to eternal power and honor ana glorious immor-
tality. SO, starting with this merry Christmas the
humblest man begin his march with . certainty
of Anal success, because
Though now ascended up on high,
Christ bends to ,rth o brother'a eye:
Partaker of the human name.
He knows the frailty OF our fraino.
From glory to squalor He camo, but from squalor
back to glory He returned, and that great COM
pany that escorted their Chief from His tlrono to
tho limit Of the heavenly land doubtless met Him
with becoming pomp His return, for. Is 81. John
said 81 the holy city. the Jerusalem. CON-
ing down from God out OF heaven. prepared as q
bride adorned for her husband"
Hail the day that secs Him rise.
Glorious to His native skiesi
Christ awhile to mortals given,
Enters tho highest heaven.
Lo, tho heaven its Lord receiveal
Yet He loves the earth lie leaves:
Though returning to His throne,
Still lie calls mankind His own.
IN THE CHURCHES.
ATTRACTIVE MUSICAL PROGRAMMES AT ALL THE
HOUSES OF woRsHIP-''sHoUr THE GLAD