Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-12-31
The Christ Child.

Il
which they moro than half believe, that
on Christmas morning, the Child, born
in a stable, revisits earth, TO look after
the little ones; that ON the little
prince in his royal cradle TO the baby
sleeping like Himself in straw, none
are left unvisitod by Him, that He may
know how men have welcomed those
whom Ho gave as an especial legacy
into their tenderest keeping. What IL
the story were true? What il, when IN
a few days Christmas dswns upon Us,
the Holy Child were actually to enter
into the myriad homes Of this SO. called
Christian city? Gu one street, He
would find hosts OF beautiful children,
guarded from every unkind wind, wrap.
ped in velvets, jeweled, pampered with
dainties, the constant care and delight
of watchful mothers and fathers. They
are hIs creatures; the good things
which make life pleasant dream to
them are absolutely His gift' to their
parents. side by side with them on tho
crowded pavement, doyging. their loot
steps with outstretched L.ad1 and hun
ery ewes, arc host, OF other children.
His creatures also. They srt naked and
famished and sorrowful. They are 80
used to misery and want that 1t has mob
occurred to them that they have right
to complain. They look attheir more for.
tunate brothers with an awe and wonder
rather than envy, as they might peer
through the gates of heaven a. "a
blessed within; they, forever, in th"
cold and darkness. Most of them, A.
their faces show, have but little knowl'
edge or thought of Gods world which
we are won't to call good other than
their own great mischance, the hunger
and cold and disease gpawing Mt their
meagre lives night and day. Some ot
the baby faces are simply dull and
tired others who begin in the cradle to
make o fight against death, are fierce
and cunning. Presently they will oil
begin the desperate wrestle against fate
and their richer brothers which is the
whole that life means to them. "Why
should God have sent them in world
from which they must wrench their
rights by force?" There is their argu-
ment while We wonder what has nado
them thieves and murderers, and, when
they annoy us, imprison them as tho
one, or hang them as tho other.
Is the German legend indeed fabli
Will not the poor children meet us on
Christmas day in every street and ellie!
with their palo faces, ard empty, joyless
lives? VIII the Chris. Child not be
there to see and judgc2 Surely, II ve
could but see Him IA he stands among
Ms that day, it would be as wbeE once
before He camo to lis disciples, snd,
"taking little child, set him in their
midst" There Is not single hungry,
ragged child in New York who does not
come to us with that divine message
straight from Him. "What will you do
with this, my brotherf' Now, before
it is too late, is the time for
Christian hands to be outstretched to
them to save body and soul. We do not
mean to urge any other argument. We
might tell OF evil TO the state averted
Of dangerous classes rendered net
only harmless but helpful; but We
choose only to remember on Christmas
that these hungry children and shiver-
ing babes are our brothers and His.
Nor need our sympathy exhsie in ", ak
sentiment, or q sigh or two OF compass
sion. The Children's Aid Society gives
us direct and practical way OF Offering
aid. II is O. tried, trustworthy, and ef-
ficient organ Of charity. During the
last year it has lodged and fed 25, 400
children. provided 3, 3,462 with homes, Of
whom $40 were orphans. 1t has twenty
one industrial schools open TO all
children wno cannot attend the public
schools, besides four free reading
rooms. FIFTY dollars" Mr.. Brace
states, "will provide three homeless
children with home or give a school
OF fifty children warm dinner for
month"
We are sure that no mother, at i as,
will read this appeal uDmoved while
her boys gather about her knee in .be
warm frelighs on Christmas eve. and
she holds hec baby - her breast, she
cannot forget the young, young children
in the cold and darkness without, to
whom. the coming day will bring
nothing but tears and disappointment,
unless her kind hand is outstretched to
them.-TrsbU,e.
Does not this sentiment meet the
history Of the world In similar con.
dition?
A youthful critic: Charlie Smallface
is continually mislsying his memo