Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-12-24

rFrom Sermon by David Swing Of Cbicago.I
Christ is the best emblem Of all the broad
and deep charity and blessedness Of that week
on whose lowery border we stand but our
ancestors found other forms and faces, less
divine upon which to hang the Christmas
gifts and from whom to expect the merry
laughter. Christianity invented some and
appropriated others. 1t found an embodi-
ment Of fun and laughter in that ideal dressed
in furs with the diamond. dust Of snow sprin-
kled all over his head and beard. In his vast
coat he could carry the playthings for a CON
tinent full of children; from his miraculous
sleigh he could replenish his overcoat. He
could from that wholesale wareroom, supply
his strange retail department His reindeer,
telling US that he came from the North, were
swift as the winds and incapable of weariness.
If we parents should displace this fancy
from the minds of our children, being un-
willing to be parties to such g delusion, we
would better first teach the young heart what
the myth stands for in the realm Of the real
that it means that there is love in the world
for all good children that it will come from
both man and from God will come borne by
feet and wings that will never grow weary
it will come softly as the snow of winter it
will come to them in their waking hours and
in their deepest sleep when we have taught
them this, then we may ask them TO dismiss
the great merry man with the sleigh. One
may safely dismiss any legend in the Bible or
profane records after the world has learned
the spiritual meaning that lay beneath the
symbols. When the inner temple is done,
the scaIolding may be removed.
In addition to this ideal from the North,
the early Catholic church called d to its aid one
from the South. In Asia Minor, in the 4th
century, there lived bishop of great benev-
olence To bless others was his supreme de-
light. Like his Master he went about doing
good. His own money lie stored away only
that in fitting hours of some ones great need
he might go to his treasure and bring forth
relief. A certain nobleman, who had reared
well three beautiful and excellent daughters.
became suddenly poor, and, being no longer
able to give any marriage portion to his chill
dreD, they could not become established in
homes of their own. TO have no marriage
portion was then to lose position in society
a pagan custom not yet wholly washed out of
our wicked world. This nobleman of Asia
became so extremely poor that he was about
to offer his three daughters for sale as ser
wants. when this noble bishop heard of the
sad condition of the family. 1t was the time
to ask his hidden money to come forth so in
disguise he began to pass the window of the
house where the poor children lived, and to
throw in purses full of gold. How many he
thus threw in, and how much was in each, l
know not but by these gifts the home found
all its old hope and joy restored. The name
of this bishop was Nicholas, and the Catholic
church showed its good taste by awarding
him the honors of saint Thus came st.
Nicholas down to our times to embody for us
the gift-making sentiment, and 10 make one
more figure in that group that is each year
unveiled in the name of Christmas. But all
details are only leaves of that great tree which
is called humanity-a tree planted chiefly by