New-York tribune., 1881-12-25
signals than by placing them in the charge OIL
these observers.
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uE III H1N GOME.

than on any other day of the year. lhelo "
NOT home perhaps. in any civilized country
through which q glad, unusual stir IS not no"
passing of good cheer and kindliness ana JOY
We are each of us apt to feel as if Christmas
were confined to our own little circle. we
forget that in every city and hamlet, IN the
negro's hut and the royal palace, III the ioheiy
farm-house on Russian steppes in the snip
stranded among Arctic ice, in burning Australia
and far-off Japan, this, His birthday Is kep.'
Ginning bells and rejoicing music children
laughter and the warming of old hearts ana
softening of old faces follow each other WIN
an electric thrill Of joy about the round sioDe'
Let us all agree to join for once III 'his
holy day heartily, to find out Its real
meaning, and then TO keep Christmas III
the highest, royalcst fashion in when
il can be kept. "Keepmg Christmas
with good many OF us, means tree or bon
bons or turkey, or a gift apiece for some two
or three people dear to us. Behind even these
fimsy tokens, however, there is the quickened
sense of affection and happiness. But suppose
we have no money to buy turkey or tree
to-day for the little ones; suppose our hardest
drudgery only'suilices to keep wife and children
the year round from want, and that into our
bare p:nched home not the poorest gait OF
fecble,t gimmcr of merry making can come
this halowed morning-hOw can we keep
Christmas How Why, when dear frend
long hoDed for comes to visit us or father Or
brother long absent comes home at last, II we
are able to provide no feast to welcome them,
or have no rich clothes to wear i'll which 10
do them honor, are we less glad to meet them
at the door? Signs Of love and welcome are
pretty and pleasant things; it is right and
proper to provide the plentiful meal or wear
our best garments when the one who IS dear
est TO Us comes back but when his eyes look
into ours, and his hand clasps our own, what
do we care for food or clothes lie has
come! If orr hearts give that cry to-day, and
understand all that it means the rest matters
little The bare house will put on the splendor
of q KinE's home, and a crust VIII become the
bread of heaven.
Who is it that has come to whom we should
give such wccomc9 Some wise old man long
ago said, "Thc surest test Of Il mans chaTac-
ter is the face which we put on when we go
to meet him" When ruthless enemy inyades
q country he is met by wild alarum OF fear
hate, rage, revenge, every other i'll and I'M
,rcmly passion, il llnded in mems hearts at
the rumor Of his approach. But when a
country or city is stirred with universal glad
ness Mt the advent Of ruler, when women
throw open their homes and children unbiddcn
bring flowers to cast in his way, we are sure
that he is a beLcGcent and good man. There
has been but one human being since
time began for whose coming all the
world, year after year, rcioices together. IF
any man at this late day is not satisfied as to
what manncr Of man He is let him look at
the manner in which lie is welcomed this
morning. Peace. uE-clfsl love, every humane
feeling, every kindly action, spring into life
beneath His nearing feet There is no thought
of man 80 pur, or So lofty, no deed 50 noble
that has not owed it's life to Ills coming. The
country which is the most advanced in rc1l !
civilization is the one whore lie he's been best !
known and most sincerely worohippcd. The !
dirk corners of the earth sunk in vice. S"nsu- ,
ality and Ignorance, are those where He is
still unknown. judge Of our Friend by what
lie has done Cor Us, not by our often feeble !
aud false Interpretation of Him.
Whrr too, we celebrate Christmas this |
morning. IL will be worth our while to ask |
oursolys, If we really know this Friend who |
is coming, or If We are merely joining in the |
clad excitement of the world ilst IS idle !
children on the street do who follow shouting |
behind procession, of the purpose and aim OF |
which they know nothing at all When we |
provide our luxurious dinner or give or !
gifts to-day, knowing and caring nothing !
for the reason Df tho rejoicing, we |
Day precisely the part of the caterer, who !
only works to place the meats on the |
table, but cannot sit down with the guests or
share in the zest of their finer pleasure. 4 good |
many OF us, however, do understand and feel |
the meaning of thlt coming long ago of the
Child who Wa, born in m0uger feel ii with !
quick beating hearts perhaps and wet eyes.
We jog on the usual Way every day in the year;
hut when Christina, comes its solemn JOY |
wakes us mp 10 4 consciousness that we do be-
lCyc in this Divine Teacher just rs the death |
OF a friend strtlcs us for day or two into
kcrnrr love for all other friends. Being in
that Christian spirit, we shall sincerely open Our
hearts to-day to this benign influence; we
shall be gool-humored and atlcctiOn2te To wife
and children; we shall hold out Il helpful
bruthcrly hand to the poor about Tia. In word,
we shall welcome Christ into Our homes. Why
not let Him stay thcref We have heard OF
holy and humble man Of heart VINO went into
a house to stay for an hour or two and re-
NAMED always. lie fitted into Our life so
well we coald not spare him TO so away
again. said his host Does this great Teacher
of unselfishucss and noble deeds fit into our
lives? Is this day the brightest and pleasantest
of all the year, Why, then, should we spare
Him to go away again! Why not make every
day Of the year Christmas!
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