Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1885-12-19

uIen3 Iestdi uhys WneH their young
hearts al with love aud mirth and hap
piness. Before the great red sun paints
morn IN the East, the dear little folks
will be up, and the hats and stockings
turned wrong -side-out, la their eager
ness to see what Old Santa Claus has
brought from his beautiful snow hons
in the far North My my how kind
he will be to his little friends! Willie
will dance with glee, when be sees stand
ing by the mantle post red Yankee
jumper, with the deer and running
hounds painted on the back the ident-
zeal one he asked Kriss Kringle to bring
him. Jennie will find a beautiful doll,
Nesting down by her stocking, dressed
in blue silk, with pale pink ribbon tied
around the smooth neck. Little Tot,
too, will be- remembered, and will coo
and clap his tiny, chubby hands to-
gether in merriment, when he sees the
rattle, and little wooden COWS, horses
and sheep. And-oh dear, jolly old
Kris must have shook all the candies
and nuts off his treesl Good, kind
hearted old fellowI The children will
bless him over and over again on next
Friday morning
In some homes, Christmas will not
bring presents, however, nor will
the merry, romping children rise with
morn, to sec II Kriss Kringle has re-
membered them. In the low attic
room, nesting in, aud half covered by
rags, the poor mans child will shiver
and rub his blue fingers together to keep
them from freezing. Christmas will
bring no joy to him. Passing along the
street with the night wind stealing
through his torn clothes, he looks with
wistful eye in the bright store windows,
filled with Christmas toys and candies,
but they are not for him and he hur-
ries on, cold and hungry, to his attic
home. Kind parents, think of the poor
children about you think how cheer
less will be their Christmas try to
throw little sunshine in their homes,
by such little gifts as you can spare
them. Your Christmas will BE- two
fold happier after performing such deeds
of kindness.
There will be other cheerless homes,
wherein poverty does not dwell, homes
from whence bright faces have ned and
in which happy voices have been hush
ed forever. The vacant chair tells q
tale Of sorrow and death. There will
be one plate missed At the table. there
will be one familiar footstep. that went
in and out of the dear old hone, that
will come no more. How many bright
dreams Of Christmas JOY aud c0mmun-
Ion have been destroyed by the unex-
pected visits OF Death how many
hopes blighted how many hearts sad
dened how many expectations unreal
lied! Even now the Death Angel
hovers over many homes. and the flap-
ping of his great wings ~ he sweeps
earth ward may be heard In every pass
| ing wind, God only knows who may
be tho next be will bear away on his
pinions. In such homes the Joys or
Christmas will be few. Suoh thoughts
Of the sorrow Of others should warm
ourhsarts toward oil humanity, and
especially toward those with whom We
c0mingle and whom We love.
Christmas should b. the hsppiest day
Of all the year. Many. many years ago.
| fur away In Eastern climes, on this
day. the wise men came with gifts Of
homage and love, 10 lay them % the
feet Of the Infant Jesus, while the gold :
Gu rays OF the Star Of Bethlehem fell up
On the humble place OF his birth. "a.
rolls OF joy, anthems Of praise. the angel
band sang in the heavens at the birth.
Centuries have flsd like . dream. the
palm trees and olive groves OF Mount
Olive have faded and died from the face
of the earth, and new vegetation usuFps
their pisces, but the message OF the an
gels, declaring peace on earth and good
will toward men. will come with loving
force to us all on Friday next. Let
there be Joy throughout the world let
the children enjoy the happiness Of that
day. Christmas comes but once year.
Light the yule log on the hearth make
the hearts Of loved snes and friends
happy BY gifts and kindness enjoy
yourself In innocent anussments. for
the season Is propitious.
With the happiess feelings toward Al
mankind, We Wish you al merry.
merry Christmas, full OF Joy and peacs.
Tn Sunday School Of the Baptist
Church i busily arranging Tor thsiE