Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-12-25
8aiIp yerr1tbtf JournsI.
A.g,sta. Tuesday Morning, Dec. IS.
Christmas.

Along with the hilarity and good cheer
of Christmas should go always thought
fulness. consideration. and charity for the
poor and needy. lis pleasing to know
that the rough. rude sports, the gluttony
and drunkenness, which attended Christ
mas season in the olden time. are nearly
If not quite obsolete. Such demonstra-
tions were better adapted to illustrate the
grossest characteristics of the human race
than the best qualities of head and heart,
and had nothing in common with the
humble birth of the Savior. He
was born in stable. His life was
chiefly spent among the poor and lowly.
All through his teachings was the lesson
Of kindness to the sick and suffering and
charity to the destitute. To Incorporate
eating and drinking he was stranger.
His face shone with benovolence, and his
acts corresponded to the expression of his
countenance.
To celebrate worthily the birth Of such
. person what can be more appropriate
than TO visit the homes where in this Sc
we're winter weather there is no fuel to
keep the frosts out by day, and inmates
SILVER through the night under the ragged
and scant coverings Of their wretched
touches. and leave there food and fuel for
the hungry and freezing. and encourage
ment and hope to aid them to help them
selves? In any city, and in almost every
neighborhoOd there are families suffering
rthe necessaries oflife. We have the poor
with us always. 1t is only necessary to
open the eyes to see them. Many of the
most meritorious poor are too proud to
make known their circumstances and So
licit charity. They struggle with what
strength they have, early and late. to keep
the wolf from the door. but their efforts
are unavailing. Starvation looks them in
the face. There is the poor house, but
they prefer death to seeking shelter and
sustenance within its doors. What better
Christmas gift can there be in the sight of
heaven and men than something to clothe,
feed, and warm such deserving objects of
charityp
But Christmas charity should not stop
with the virtuous poor. The children Of
sin and shame should not be passed by:
We do not know what temptation, what
hereditary viciousness, or untoward circum-
stances. may have contributed to plunge
them into the gulf of wickedness and
want in which their miserable lives
are spent. Do not refuse them the chart
ty which they need, or the sympathy which
their condition demands.
The present Christmas season has set in
with unusual rigor. Such cold as we
have experienced for the last two
days is terrible enemy to the
poorly clad. scantily fed and
warmed There is work for the benevo-
lent societies and individuals to do. Nor
Is 1t necessary to go far to find it. 1t may
be found very close to every mans door
who Is able to assist the unfortunate.
Though 1t is pleasant and makes the
heart glad. topresent gifts to friends on
Christmas. the pleasure Of relieving
the poor is infinitely more pleasing.
Much better will he celebrate the
occasion who spends Christmas in
deeds OF charity and good will to men.
than he who devotes himself entirely to
the pleasures of the table and the intoxi-
eating cup. Those who would enjoy
Merry Christmas in the best sense of the
words will find it in the former rather
than in the latter. That the world is
making steady progress and growth in
charitable ways in the observance of
Christmas. and abandoning the uncivlized
and. we may add. unchristian methods
of the olden time, is much to the credit of
these latter days. and practical contra
diction of the croakers who exclaim
that the world is becoming worse and
worse with every generation.