The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1880-12-23


day OF all the year; the day upon
which the good old year receives and
entertain, his friends, and bestows
upon them his parting benediction,
ere he resigns Bis scepter TO The New
Year, and gives dp his life that has
been woven OF 30 many varied
threads. But no matter though his
deeds may have bsen moro dark
than light, tue grand festivities and
hearty goodwill of his closing days
wipes out the dark record aud he goes
to his grave in white. Why should
We not be glad and rejoicod ? Why
shonld not the oartb tremble With
the sound Of Joy and gla dness 7 for
down through tho vaulted ages Of
tue past there comes to US an echo
Of angle voices, aud golden harps,
as the glad anthem Of "PRAcE on
EARTH GOOD WILL o MAN, rings sout
upon the.morniug air. Then again
as we listen, we catch the welcome
tidiugs "Rejoice, oh earth, for to
day child is. born, and to us Son
is given, yea, n Son, King, who
shall bring redemp tion TO His poo-
lple.' Al | fit messengers were
they whose epotless purity had ne er
been sullied by contact with the
earth to proclaim the coming Of our
glorious King aud Saviour. No
wonder that awe stole over the
hearts of those good wise me u. IA
they sat watch ing their 4 ocks, and
there came to them the soft rustic
Of angel wings, AMI looking up,
they boholI the cloul of dazzling
bfightuess and the lovely forms OF
seraphs, anl their lis ,ehing ears
caught the strains Of IN usic, oven
tho gl,I anthems VI praise a,i vic-
tory. Methinks No glaller, hap
pier chorus ever reverberatel
through the courts of heaven, or the
kingdoms Of earth, than that which
rang out that first glorious Christ
mas morn. No doubt seemed to
obscure the minds OF tLose good
shepherds, as they listened to the
proclamations from those visitants
Of light but rising, they fixed their
gaze upon th, star that wGs to
auide them. AMI following the track
of light that marked i.s cour Sc. they
came to the place where tho Christ
child lay. Bat what was it that
greeted their astohis bel gaze !
Where was the King whose cbmiug
had been heraldel in such glorious
amer Where the pomp anl grlnd-
eur that should grace the OCCASION 7
Where the silken cJuch upon which
the soft fair limbs should ropose 7
Where the gilded canopy to protect
from the light aud heat Where
the lvcrici servants gliding in and
out upon their royal missions : All,
TO sli.teripg pageant marked tho
advent of Him, beneath whose tread
the earth should tremble, aud whose
brow should be encircled with halo
of purer light than ever CLEANED
from monirnh's dialem before.
But in an humble stall, surrounded
by beasts of burden. was His rest
iDg-place, no couch brt the fragrant
hay and such accessories Of comfort
as poverty could provide and no
attendant save the parents who felt
that no common honor was bestow-
ed upon them in this being allowed
to cherish and protect the Ono @ho
should become tho worlds Redeem
er. The wise ones bowed low their
heads before that lowly panger, and
opening their treasures, presented
beautiful and costly gifts Of gold,
frankincsnse, and myrrh. Ah, ye
wise men, we'll may you deposit
those treasures there, for the bosom
of the earth would be but poor trib-
utos to lay at the feet of Him who
speaks them into existence And
thus through all cycle of years that
have passed in their solemn march
to eternity, nations have commemo-
rated the advent Of Christ, by joyful
gatherings and gifts of love. Aud
as We bestow upon our loved ones
gifts according TO our means. let us