Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-12-24

feel it in my soul! Everything seems
quiet and peaceful now"
The tears that flowed down those hollow
cheeks were tears of humble trust and
deep peace and gratitude.
But what caused the tears to flow from
Maade's eyes, as she pressed the sleeping
babe closer to her breast?
| She was comparing her lot with this
poor woman's. She was thinking, if this
poor creature could be grateful and happy
how ungrateful and wicked she had been,
whom God had blessed so infinitely more
richly in every respect. They were tears
of penitence that rolled, for the first time
in her life, down Maude Herrington's
| cheeks.
The woman rallied once more to say:
"YOu must be a very good Christian,
Miss Harrington, to leave your comfortable
house such a night as this, and come to
see one like me-and Christmas night it is
too! am sure you must be worthy of all
the many blessings God has given you.
But He is going to bless me even more
yes, tonight yet! He is going to take
me home to himself soon, very soon
Hark, are those the Christmas bells? Or
are they the bells of heaven ringing over
yonder? o, how sweet and joyful they
sound! Miss HerriugtOn, won't you do
me one favor while am going? You arc
SO pure and good won't you kneel down
and pray with mo? l can so in peace
then-perfect peace :"
Yes, Maude did knecl down, right there
by that miserable bed and pray. oh, so
earnestly, oh, so fcrvently, as she had
never prayed in her life before. From 4
penitent, broken and cOntrite heart she
poured forth such a flood of petitions and
tears that made the very angels Of heaven
rejoice. She prayed not for the dying
woman alone, but that He who had spoken
peace to this soul, might make even her
also, the ungratcful discoEtented, spoiled
child Of the world and of sin, like unto
this woman in humble faith and love to
God. She poured out her whole soul
there.
She never knew how long she had re-
manned upOn her knees by that beside.
But when she arose it was as new
creature. A calm and sweet peace filled
her whole being. She leaned over and
kissed the woman-nor felt the culd chilli
ness of the touch. For the sufferers soul
had fled to join tho hosts that were hymn
ing the praise Of Christ above, the con-
pany of those who "came out of great
and have washed their robes
and made them white in the blood of the
Lamb"
She caught up the babe in her arms. and
covered him with kisses, as she wrapped
him up in her shawl and said:
eyes. darling, you arc mine from hence
forth. You are Gods Christmas present
to me this night. You shall ever remind
me of that holy Christmas child who
here first was born in my heart, and SO
graciously fills it with love and peace
Pressing her precious burden to her
bosom, she fastened home through the
snow covered streets. Her heart was light
and joyous. Her strength seemed to have
been renewed, and her happiness aud
hopeful spirit returned. Never had Christ
mas seemed to her as now. 1t was 4 new
revelation, as herself was new creature.
She passed the old stone church near
which she lodged, just as the grand organ
md full choir swellcd out III the closing !
anthem of the Christmas evening service. !
Was it from them, or from Heaven itself, |
IL only from her own heart, that the |
words came so distinctly to her soul? Or
vas it from all three together? /
6 On Earth Peace, Good IVIN 7oward .Ma."