The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-01-05
ESPONDEN NOE.
Letter from Philadelphia.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 80, 1880.
Christmas.


Christmas
MessrS. E'dltorS,-All thoughts and
hands for the last week have been turned
toward Christmas. What blessing it is
that the cheerful Christmas season comes
to us in the midst of the searching cold
and utter desolation of winter. The very
name of December sounds dreary. The
tn is indeed the dead time of the
year, "the darksome hollow, where the
depths of winter lie," as Wordsworth puts
it. And yet this one great, grand thought
of Gods unspeakable gift so warns and
inspires the souls OF men that in spite of
the surrounding dreariness of shivering
nature, and encroaching darkness that
pinches shorter every returning day, the
season is a genial time by common con
sent throughout all Christendom. Let
the cynical man think of this among the
tokens that Jesus Christ was and is
reality. Would mere myth so influence
a busy world in its strife for gain, as to
impel it to give over its labor and its
struggle for single day in order to re-
member and thank God for the nativity
and incarnation. Would a myth inspire
selfish men to be disinterested and give
good gifts one to another? Nay, the glad
tidings must be true tidings that God so
loved the world that he gave his only
begotten Son.
Christmas with us has been more gen
orally recognised this year than usual
/ do not know that this has been alto
gether voluntary. The great snow storm
has had great deal to do with it. For
we have had one of the snow falls of our
childhood-which has made the houses
and the trees look so strange and beauti-
full, which has defed the great street-car
sweepers, and for once has not turned
quickly into slushy nuisance. The
snow, drifting and scurrying every with
er, has seemed to say am master of
the situation 1t is Christmas time To
your fresides, ye workers There relax
the energy Of life in the festal glow of
home affection, and in the thoughts of
how near God doth come to man" Obe-
dience to the mandate has been compul-
sorry All comfort has been indoors, and
men have been glad to get into the shell
ter of home And thus it has been what
it should peculiarly home day-a
day of domestic gladness-of children s
holiday-of family gatherings under the
old roof-tree-of harmless, childish mer-
frlment and remembrances of home, one
IN which smiles are not far from tears.
4 This am persuaded is the proper recog-
4nltlon of the day, to make it prominently
Ia family day, day of worship not so
much in the larger meeting house, but in
the lesser sanctuary and smaller congre-
cation of the home So did our fore
elders.
The damsel donned her kirtle sheen,
The hall was dressed with holly green;
Forth to the wood did merry men 90
To gather in the mstetoe.
Then opened wide the Barons hall
To vassal, tenant serf and ALL
Power laid his robe of rule aside
And ceremony doGed his pride.
All hailed with uncontrolled delight.
And general voice, the happy night
Ihat to the cottage as the crown
Brought tidings of salvation down"
Universal Prosperity.
Universal prosperity also has made the
season an unusually cheerful one. AS a
Virginia laborer put it very tersely to me
IN my late visit, The -four barrel is full
and the pig is fat, and not an inch of
ground is left for the croaker to stand
upon. Even the crow cal0s with weak
effort this winter. His note is constitu-
tional, but what with the great corn crop,
and the farmers hindrance in cribbing It,
ne IS altogether in very comfortable
frame Of mind. 1t would be difficult in
human history to find SO young a nation,
alter such wasting war, so recuperated
ana 50 prosperous as our own The peo-
iBle have all the employment they desire.
/ he wage is good. Business in all it's
aspects Aourishes. Money is becoming
literally SO plenty in the worlds great