Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-12-19
TIE MERRY CHRISTMAS DAP.
FEw sKRIoUs THOUGHTS THAT IT WILL DO Us
no HARH TO READ.

NO HkRH TO READ.
Amid all the festivals which shine in the cal
endar of mans devotion there rs none 30 ia
diant with holy joy and gladness as the Feast
Of the Nativity. Christmas that "comes but
once a year has come 10 us The time-hon-
ored holiday, when Age smiling on the infant
at its knee renews in memory its own youth,
reyels IN the joy which grasps the present and
believes in the future. and when Middle Age
foreets the burden and heat of the day in its
sympathy with the repose Of the one and the
glad energy Of the other.
How full Of associations is the recurrence Of
this great Christian holiday. How many on
this continent will have their tenderest sensi-
biliHes aroused in memory Of those far-Away
Christmas times, in far-away lands, when
there came on the eve Of the Nativity those
musical waits, waking you out OF the dreams
Of heaven with the notes Of strayed angels, and
on the day Of Christmas ushering you into
church which was bowery, like the spring with
its ample vegetation, and warm, like tine sum-
mer with the radiancy Of great joy. There,
amid boughs. which recalled the most poetical
Of the Jewish ceebrations-the Feast Of the
Tabernaces-was commemorated the taberna-
cling IN flesh Of Him whose advent was to the
dreary life Of the world what spring il 70 the
year. And the public devotions Of the holy
day over with winter and with Christmas
came in the circle Of home. the generous fare
Of the Christmas season, the warm interchange
Of kindly feeling and family lovingness.
Many will indulge IN the luxury Of grief; the
looking back with sad memories 10 the old
| Christmas times IN the old lands. But here
there are cumpensations in the present New
families have grown up and new circles
/ tended and new homes with AL the AssOcia-
tons OF the old formed. Houses are decked
with evergreens. fires art blazing bravely
merry groups are meeting. and high up in the
steeples bells will wRg ana wAver and shout
with a mighty voice a welcome to the festival
Christmas has come. 1t If bleak December
without. but within there is the warmth Of at
mosphere, a. well a. the warmth Of heart 1t
is pleasant time indeed for those with whom
the world hAs dealt kindly Light warmth,
laughter, loved companions Of old times; aud
wine and wAssail. are with them at the feast
/ II they art not happy and comfortable II Is not
auybodys fault but their own For them
Christmas Is pleasant time not easily or will
ngly forgotten. They watch for it al the
\ year and when it comes they give It good
| grip for old acquaintance sake.
| but. Ala there IL reverse 70 the medal
| To-day il this land Of Charities how many
| Thousands are there 20 whom the advent OF
tins festival II but al Naturalization OF misery.
In cold and cherries garreis in foul and fetid
tenement novels, with scant clothing and still
scSnter food. there ART sguAhd wretchea cover
ing over some hAh-heAted stove or expiring
embei, thinking bitterly OF the DAYS when
| they too welcomed Christmas and participated
IL its enjoyments; days when they entered
with young and happy hearts into the spirit Of
the muuIhcence Of Santa Claus and waited 70
| welcome or came 10 be welcomed At the prOfuse
and hospitAble board 1t il here we have the
illustration Of the poets Sorrows Crown OF
| Sorrowe.' for II contrast heightens lustre
| does Il not Also make the dark places more dayk
| and 4 there be one misery more rnendura-
bic than another. IL It not the recognition that
the bright world has no longer q brightness,
that the season Of festiyity brings no JOY, that
while friends meet friends III glAdness OF soul
there IL no kindly hand TO grasp, and that IN
the general enjoyment there If but the one dull
round Of loneliness and pain
What more practical performance Of the
| EItAt AoNsAAAtH ANAs " - nun VINE nhANlNN
We celebrate than the alienation Of human
suffering What gift more acceptable to the
Saviour than that out Of the abundance with
which we are blessed. shall give even lit
tie 10 make the day Of HIS festival q day Of
festivity 70 his poor also-And ''the poor we
have always with rs p Christmas time II in
deed the time for generosity. It IL pre-emi-
nently the holiday Of the year, q time Of char
ity, a time Of tins meeting Of absent friends, Of
the making up Of old quarrels, the cementing
Of old friendships. the opening OF closed
hearts and closed purses the shining Of bright
eyes, the making Of love and the creating Of
happiness time but for the annual recur-
renee Of which the lives Of many would be an
interminAble journey across desert with no
OAEs IN the path, no Canaan but beyond the
grave.
We Wish to AL a happy and . merry Christ
mas.