The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-12-26

y
and unsuspecting maiden is appraised Of
its presence by the ready kiss of some
gallant who has been watching his op-
portunity and who at once seizes the
privilege which the mistletoe bough af-
fords. This is one of the joys of Yule-
tide. OF all places in the world in
which to spend Christmas and in which
to enjoy the innumerable delights, the
happy associations, the joyous home
gatherings, the kindly greetings and
the bursts of song that are but the eX-
pressions of human hearts throbbing
with human love, England must ever
rank first. Here ii is the peoples fes-
tival in the truest sense. 1t is not en-
shrined within the stately walls of
Westminster or entombed with dead
heroes within the majestic cave Of st.
PauPs cathedral. 1t is time of great
national rejOicing--the one grand sea-
son in which every man calls his neigh.
Dor brother and feels something of the
rapture that comes when hearts are
akin. 1t is both holy day and holi-
day. In every city and village and ham
let, from Northumberland to Cornwall,
there is more harmony and music and
love among men in December than in
any other month of the year. Hospi-
tally is never more kind, charity is
never more bountiful, sympathy is
never more real and humanity is never
more Christian. Were it not for this
Christmas time, or rather, were it not
for this time of the Christ, there would
be less compassion in the world than
there is to-day. Human love would
never respond to human woe if the love
of the Redeemer did not prompt it,
human philanthropy would never ale
viate human misery if heavenly beneli-
cence did not move us; human sun
shine would never scatter human dark
ness if celestial glory did not beam upon
us, and human helpfulness would never
sustain human helplessness if the in
finite pity of Jesus did not touch us.
1t is the fatherhood of God that devel-
ops the brotherhood of man and a
Christ-like Christianity that inspires n
human humanity. There are many
who 90 about doing good, and England
may well feel proud of her benefactors.
There is no poverty so poor but what is
enriched, no home so desolate but what
is made bright and no heart so cheer
less but what throbs with hope when
the children of mercy scatter their aims.
Christmas with us is time of giving
a time of loving, a time of cheering, a
time of helping, time of meeting, a
| time of singing, time of praying, a
time Of peace. Happiness which reigns
supremely is the reward of trying to
make others happy. This spirit of
brotherhood seems to move all men
the rich and poor alike. Even stern
and obdurate government officials are
pitiful and kind when Christmas day
comes round. Even our prisoners are
not forgotten. Those grim asylums of
law and discipline are soon TO be il
lumined with Christmas cheer and the
gloomy cells transformed into banquet
ing halls, where criminals feast like
men and justice serves with mercy.
Our paupers are treated so humanely
that they forget their poverty and the
cruel fate that gives them a work-house
| for home. In those few brief hours
of pleasure, when the mind feasts in
anticipation and the appetite is APP
peased in the enjoyment of long-since-
denied luxuries, they bury years an
guish and forget years woe. Tens
| Vi luOuSdHuS Ol UOu 5 uedr llUIlo chill
dren who have felt the harsh pangs of
hunger and known the bitter sorrows of
want will receive for once all that their
starved and pinched frames can enjoy.
The mere thought of the Christmas
| pudding and the minneapolis has made
their tiny mouths water fer many a day,
and their rough, uneven path has been
frightened by this stray sunbeam. Such
fathers OF our outcast children as DIR.
Barnads, Father Stephenson, Mr.. Spur
! geon, Mr.. Muller and host of others
will make the land jubilant with the
| thrill of youthful voices who will shout
huzza for their benefactors, the great,
| the noble and the good. Thousands of
weary and aged pilgrims, with staff in
| hand, will eat their Christmas meal as
their passover, and then pass out of
| Egypt into Canaan. They deserve their
rest; they have won their crown. And
thus, to those who are permitted to see
it, will the Christ's day come. We will
welcome it with grateful hearts and
| give thanks to God for his goodness.
We will strive to minister to the needs
of others and endeavor, Gin his name y
and " for the love of Christ" to become
saviors of men. In wishing you all the
happiest and hottest Christmas you have
ever spent, may | pray that the even
ing star of Bethlehem may lead us to
the Christ. C.F.C C.