Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-12-22
The Observance Of the Day.

IL is meet that once year VIC should celebrate
the greatest event in tho history of mankind
the incarnation and birth Of Jesus Christ. II
matters little whether He were born December
20, or on some other day in some other month
II IS tho event We celebrate with gladpesa and
Thanksgiving, making it an occasion of "feaat-
ing and joy, and of sending portions one TO
another, and gifts 70 lio poor" On Christmas
Day the poor and the rich, the lofty and the
lowly, the learned and the unlcarneI, may alike
rejoice together meeting around the cradle Of
tho one Lord Of all, who is brother to the
lowlcsb and brother Do the mighucst, through
whom VIC all say Ouf Father which art in
Heaven.
Remembering that He WIS poor, in His naro
we give gifts to tho poor; remembering that IIo
was "dcspisod and rejected of men," We visit
the outcast, She prisoner and in HIS name
bestow not gifts alone, bat kindly words and
sympathetic tears; remembering Ills diving
prayer, "Fathor, forgive them, they know not
what they do, in Ills name VIC forgive as VIC
pray 10 be forgiven in the petition lie taught.
us. IN SO for as We can do all tlis and do it,
are We privileged to call Him Brother, Savior
Friend
In tho midst Of our festivities let MS not forget
or permit our children to forget the occasion
II our festivities. And ~ the day wo celebrate
falls on Slbl rth, wo may lay1 moro tlan usual
leisure to recall the circnmslnsas which sul-
rounded and horaldeI the advent Of tLc
Savior.
Many an eye will DO dimmcl with tacrg rs
loved ones are missed from the circle that
gathers roanl the table, and voices that were
ftf f..tr g..
common grief, which sooner or later comes 20
every huart, but binds US together in closer
bands Of sympathy and affection Remember
ing the dead, we are tcndcrcr and more CON
sidcrato toward The living.
There may be among our readers those whose
children are Wl0cstad with gifts Of every sort
and hence experiences but little pleasure in ro-
ceiying even tine costliui presents. For sneh
tho delight Of blstowing on less Favored children
what they can easily spare from their 6uporiiuiy
viii give fresh zost to life. This pleasure IN
giving grows by what il feeds on" The
hlcssodnoss Of giving mover diminiahus, though
that Of receiving may cease almost entirely
There are certainly among Qua readers those
whose children are not suTocotod with gifts
Of every sort. Happier by far are these pan
the others. They have an appetite which makos
plain food agreeable, they have wants that
assert themselves before they are anticipated,
they know ho k.cnness of hunger and the
koenness Of qualification which comes only Of
hunger and lis satisfaction
There mry be those among our readers on
whom poverty has laid an iron hand, who cannot
satisfy fully or oyon partially tire demands OF
hunger and thirst, hunger for hn5wlclgc, thirst
that can only he qusnohed by the waters of
Castalia The Hand that denios is often tha
loving Hand, is IL not always the loving Hand?
"Ho spared not His own SOM p and this was in
love; tho "j0y THAT was set before Hin" WIS
ample reward FOR ell tho pain.
Divine must be The plan which meets and
satisfies MI the varied needs of the human gaoo.
In Christ each man finds his brother He
united and unites in Himself every condition Of
suffering and victorious humanity With Him
we can equally suffer and rejoice and this in
whatever circumstances VIC mey he placed is
cause for ioY.