Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1882-12-21

marks the rise Of ths Christian Epoch
comes o. apaer Yss. Chrisknas vii
s0on be here. and the announcement
Of tho whise-wingsd Maeenapr. de-
livered unto the Shepherds nigh unss
Bethlehem. comes hoating through
the vista Of nineteen eensnriea: and
Ne fancy we hear the glad refrain.
echoing and rssch0ing along the plains
Of Bethlehem. and over against the
hills az Jerusalem: "Fear not for
behold ] bring ron good tidinus Of
crest iny, that SHALL Dc 10 all the
people; for this day II born 10 you
= Savionr. who i Christ ths Lord n
the city Of David. Glory to God n
the highest. and on earth peace 10
men of good viii.
Glorious day that heralds the birth
Of . regenerated woFldl How thank
ful We should lie that we are spared
to witness another Christmas? II viii
not always be thus. Il naay De the
last for lIs. II we will pause to look
around a.. fhe vacant places here and
there. point TO absent friends who
joined with ns in the festivities of a
gear ago. Where are they now I
Gone 70 swell the Silent Throne.
Their voiceless lips eloquently ap-
peal TO Us 70 pause and reject They
are gone, and we know them only ID
memory So il will be with ua. II
c1aaDt be los Fears corAe and 10 and
inss short tue the places that know
as 20 wei will know ns 90 more for
ever. Solemn thought; Jet such is
life.
Let Il temper or separations Let
u ossise a. "a pledge anew our lives
20 Him who died that we might live.
Blessed Martyr Most faithful Friend
who offered up bis life an expiration
for nsI How many so-cailed friends.
thihk you kind reader. would do the.
same I
Does it not behovs ns then to pass
this day aright2 At least. let u. not
spend il in . spirit Of leyity, and Il
maybe debauchery.
ChristInMsl What varied emotions
does il not awaken in the human
breast How different It's pastimes.
ita hopes and sfe2ra. its reaiizations
Theyouth. the maiden. the thoughtless.
zee only in il. social visits, happy
drives. aud gay receptions. Well we
will not modest them; it is their pri-
vilege; they will be young but once
oaly We will hope their amnseInents
viii be Innocent. The old, the weary
wanderer on LIES journey lives
rather in the past than the present.
Ita return recalls to his memory the
Christmas Of his younger days. He
counts its oft recurring visits. and
feels liis journeys end draws nigh.
The mother, father. those with the
little ones at their knee, heraIds its
coming under hOlier. if not happier,
auspices. They are intent upon the
glad surprises for the dear ones in
their keeping. And Won, gentle moth
eF. who can call each one around
yOnr hearthstone on Christmas eve,
aud tind no vacant chair" rejoice
and be glad. God has dealt lightly
with Won. Yours will be- happy
Christmas, indeed. But have mind
tn those not 10 truly blest. Breathe
u prayer for the widowed wife. the
anxious father, the weeping mother,
who mourn the loss of their nntimely
dead. How many mothers in this
wide land to-day, like Rachael of
old. are weeping for their little ones.
Hnd refuse 10 he eOmfortesl, because
they are not Oh! breathe q prayer
for their aching heartsi They too
were once happy and glad because
their family circle was entire. Now
it, return will open anew the we'll.
springs Of their grief. They viii look
in vain for the dear little face, 10
and bright. on last Christ
mas mornl No ripping laugh, no
pstter OF little feet. will salute their
ears on this blessed dav. All will
re quiet, still, W still No little
stockings will range along the man
tie now. for those dear ones have
been torn from their mothers breast.
Bnt we will trnst their little hearts
viii 6s made gladden. By the change
and that fairy hands will filI their
little stockings in the Spirit Land,
and Apgels will spread their little
tasle, laden with plums. raisins and
nuts. gathered from ambrosiaI trees.
aud that lie who said, suffer little
children TO come unto me- will
grace their festive board Oh that
will be- real Christmas. indeed.
They would not exchange it for their
Christmas here. Sweet Innocents I
God has taken you to himself, pnra |
and fresh ~ when yon came from His |
hands, and though your parenta' |
hearts bleed that Won are gone. and
that they cannot zee your dear faces
again. and press Won to their bosons |
once more. they feel that your spirit |
IN with them. and that YOU are
watching anil waiting for them |
Blessed babes Won have missed \ |
cold. = cruel warld. It's poisoned. |
malignant shafts cannot strike Won
now. fpu are safe. and Won are only |
70 WELDON your loved ones, |
who cherished y0u 80 f0aslIy here.