The Owosso times., 1881-12-23

which have been assiduously prepared
for him in much the spirit of the
man., who considers the world made
for his exclusive use, and the balance
OF mankind to be his vassals. As
he advances in life, science protects
his health, learning cares for his
mind; his eye is educated by the
creations of art; his ear listens to the
softest tones and the sweetest music.
All this time St. Giles is struggling
for life and for culture, slowed away
where disease is the rule, and more
than all else, grows hard and worldly
before his time. Are not these
stubborn, touching facts, that ought
especially to be remembered on
Christmas morning? And more es-
peeiaLy should they not be remem-
bered by those who have been ia
vored by Providence with large
share of this worlds goods, and who.
by the judicious dispensing of lit
tie, may do much to alleviate the sor-
rows of suffering humanity
But let us return.to the subject first
indicated. And, if we could accu-
rately analize the aggregate Of hu-
man misery, perhaps we should find
that the acutest sorrow is that over
which mems outward circumstances
have no control. How many are
there whose hearts are full of dis
quietude and pain who have felt no
want which wealth could satisfy.
How many hungry souls are there in
bodies envioned by luxury and
clothed in purple and fine linen.
The consciousness Of weakness
haunts every hunln being almost
continually. Oar omissions dog u,
every hour, and our commissions are
ever mocking Vi. We supp use that
no man, certainly no man Of intelli-
gence, ever look.l back upon his
past life without impotence and NOR
tification. Oar mightiest efforts
seem puny, our successes appear no
better than failures, ana m);t Of our
castles, rearel by pride and supp )rte d
by incredible toll, fade away like tn.
dreams of youth. In our owa esti-
nation, we know nothing, learn
nothing, are nothing in that nobler
and purer sense. And yet, in the
Christmas season, such reveries
would be ludicrous, were they not, to
most of the human race so true, and,
alas so sad. What are we then, as
race, but some fourteen hundred
millions Of miserable creatures, stay
ing for little time on this mundane
sphere, created, by the All Wise, for
our use, not for the abuse to which
man subjects it, and then dropping
away one by one, often to fill un.
marked graves, and at the best to live
only in the memory of few friends,
and to have our last resting place
marked by the crumbling marble
slab. e,'-'
But this strain would, most assured
ly, be very unreasonable one with
which to commemorate the festive
scenes of the sweetest Of the holt
days, and which by custom long
established has been dedicated to
festivity, were there not other con.
siderations which inev itably follow.
If We know and und erstand each
others cares, wants and sorrows, and
realize that we are knit together by
common wants and comm on desires,
and are destined to a conn des-
tiny, how mad is it for the modest
of us to be stern towards his fellow,
or to criticise those about us with
an undue severity, especially during
the holiday season. And of what
avail are cavil and censure, pride
and unchar itableness at any time!
Nor can any person with the purest
of motives, who sets himself resolute
ly to the work Of jud ging his breth
rem, be certain of rendering them
even the comm onest justice, because
no man can be sure he has detected
the true motive for single human
action. 1t is enough that every heart
knoweth its own bitterness; it is
enough that every souls weeps in 81,
lence over its own sorrows, nor will
it tighten our own load one ounce
should we be fortunate enough to
accurately weigh that of our neigh
Dor. Should we prove to be little
blind to the faults of each other, i,
may save us much unnecessary un.
easiness. The great commandment
is love (help) one another. We will
repeat it on Christmas day; and with
eyes beaming with tender sympathy
and with outstretched hands and