The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1888-01-05
PEACE ON EARTH.
A AsKETCH.THAT DICKENS NEVER
f SURPASSED.

/ e SURPASSED.
Two Pictures: One of the Mother and
Her Children; the Other OF the Mis-
er and His Gold--Love and Money
I Contrasted.
John W. Hays, Jr., IN State Chronicle.
"Peace on earth, good will towards
men, comes the trembling echo down
the ages Peace, and hushed by the
heavenly voice the fever tossed world
! pauses a moment in its mad deliriunn.
/ Peace the stars whisper from their
blue depths and the sail earth TO-
night breathes Peace. Peace, ye
| troubled. world, for that great heart
that broke for love so long ago bends
nearer the earth tonight, and the
voice that stilled the waves speaks
agaik to the surging tide of human
| passion. Creation is athrill. An an
| gel flies from home to home, from
land to land he wings with the wh1rl-
ing globe. In his hands is borne &
censor that burns, fragrant with heav-
enly incense, and the perfume rests
upon hearts. The wrinkles Of Care
are smoothed and veil hides Sorrow
for moment. Eyes sparkle and the
face of the world brightens with a
smile.
"Good will towards men and glory
to God in the highest r rises the re-
frain caught up by the glad voices of
children. And soft and full by the
home altar lifts the sweet voice of
another. swelling with the rich tones
of an organ. The childish faces are
bright and like ripping stream is
their anthem. Hers is not sad, yet
tears fill the soft eyes and the moth
er's voice trembles as she leads her
little ones in song. But the grand
instrument tells only of Joy and peace
and love. The voices rest while her
fingers touch the responsive keys and
soft as whispering winds the tones
are stealing. Low over her hands
the sweet face bends and tear falls
upon the ivory board. But richer yet
the tones are swelling, louder, grand
er, while the brimpaing eyes turn keav-
onward and through the mighty dia-
Tlason the full heart pouts a prayer to
IFS God Into an anthem Of suppl
eation her soul rises again, but tae lit
sic voices are silent for over their ba
by faces steal the sympathetic tears
Y es, clasp them to your arms mother,
and let your tears mingle, then on
with the CHEEKY anthem again. They
wonder, but the meaning some day
will come and the memory of this
Christmas night shall be to them a
talisman, through the darkest paths
of life
Were you thinking of the few fit
ting days that shall steal your little
ones away and send them care burd-
ened men into the wide, wide world?
They are with you to night and your
heart grows full as the chubby faces
crowd near and your eyes brifn with
grateful tears. What marvel that
you sadden as the wild way ahead of
little feet opens to your eye, and turns
in an agony of supplication to the
greet soel of Love who, seems so near
tonight Oh, mighty thing is lovel
Listen at the whisper that breathes
in this Christmas night, Peace, Peace.
Fear Eot, out into the maelstrom of
lite your bearded boys must spring,
but the. memory ofthese evenings by
yonr side shall be with them always
more beautiful than dream, and
above the turmoil of life your sweet
voice shall come to them like bene-
diction and the words of tenderness
and love son speak to night shall not
be forgotten.
The years are winged. Tomorrow
the old house will stand. deserted
No noisy boots will stamp and scatter
mud, no bruised fngers to be kissed
and healed, no rest disturbed at night
with crying or days made busy With
finding bread. And then you'll wan
der through the silent home and long
to see the ragged boots by the fresi1e
again and wish for tear to wipe
from dimpled face. They are with
you tonight and you may forget the
chain that shall bind their souls TO
yours forever. So let the grand an
them, swell, and ring out the childish
voices with, Peace towards men and
glory to God in the highest
Through the half drawn curtain
the moon looked and her face seemed
not 80 cold in the winters night. But
.ho! The wind is rising, and see how
the moon scurries by the silver edged
clouds. In gusty spasms the blast
howls among the chimney tops, slams
the shutters and then is still again.
Listen at the roar Into the silence
it comes from afar. Through the
leafess branches he flies nearer with
wall and howl till he storm elf is pass.
ing once more. he retsrs about an
old house Oh the hill top. On the ewes
be lights and Whistles and screams
IN Wild sport he catches a tile from
the chimney and hurls it, away and
then like mad kites sends che loosened
shingles flying, HoI Hot he howls
I'll fling the old house from the hill
to night and he grasped thestout cave:
and shook with might andpsain. He
shook till the house rattlei and the
chairs and taDle within, AID pile oi
gold that lay on the table,
Heavens, how the wind blows to
night, nanitered the old man ane
turned to his ledger again. Was thai
a face at the window No, only th,
1neenight breaking through ths
clouds He listened, there was 1lt
sound but the wind and his own beat
ing heart. For the house was empt1
and had been these fifty years, al bu