The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1890-01-04
BROADBRIM'S N. Y. IlIE !.

UllUhuDu1Hl " M i, La
1t is something iD this hard wOrka da,
world to have at least one day in the year
that you can put care and trouble behind
you, when YOU can forget for the time tina
you are growing old and useless, and tina
on the Ledger of Life there are not many
more Christmas Ewes to your credit.
What of it2 You'll never be missed the
bells will ring out the same joyous jubilee;
Santa Clars will make his ghostly round
as of yore, and the hearts of millions OF
children will be made glad in the chill gray
of the Christmas morning by the treasures
that the jolly old saint has left behind
him
After completing the task to which this
night is eyer sacred, Of filling little stock
ings, have always dedicated the last hour
or two before midnight on Christmas Eve
to lonely, quiet Yifil. Yet not so lonely
Oh no; for up out of dream
land come trooping a caravan of sweet
faces that knew and loved in the lcng
ago, and which come back to me every
Christmas Eve. Not ghostly shadows,
damp with the mold of the graveyard and
the tomb, but bright and beautiful as when
in lifes springtime l wandered with them
through the pleasant fields. plucked the
sweet flowers by the wayside, and each
moment of life seemed like glorious
summer holiday. Nor was it only in the
springtime, thai this happiness blessed the
flying hours. Bleak winter with its hoar
frost, its ice and its snow was as welcome
as the spring, and the sound of the sleigh
bells was as sweet music as ever greeted
human ears. No, am neither lonely or
sad tonight, for the great majority is on
the other side, and in the blessed hope OF
an everlasting communion with them, in
a future not far distant, but illuminated
with bright light and hope, rest in
measureless content upon Christmas Eye
Come, gather around me friends of IN
bOyhood; 1t seems but span back to my
childhood's days. The grief, the tears
and the agony of the parting are all for
gotten now that you are back with me
once again and sitting lovingly about nv
feet. Why do you look at me so wonder
ingly? Oh, am so changed. Perhaps so
but you are still the same to me; not a
feature altered, not hair bleached, the
bloom on the cheek and the fire in the eye
are still the same as in the long ago. And
go in sweet communion with all l loved
and knew in the past, who have crossed
the silent river, the brief hours slip away,
and as the bells ring out the Christmas
anthem, with kindly farewell they vanish
into the night, but in their vacant places
Christ has come. Hail. Son of Qodl
Saviour of men, all haill
look up to the chimney corner; there is
only one little stocking hanging there to-
night Last Christmas Eve theee we're
two. Where are you, little boy? where
are your Come back 90 me, only for a
minute; only for a nj ute, let me once
more feel our arms abo4J my neck and
your warm cheek pressed clo .l mime AS
Il was last Christmas Eve befo, aa s
down TO sleep, that Santa Claus M. 49,
with his gifts TO the good little boy d.
Come back, little boY Oh come back,
only minute; only minutel His mother
sleeps; perhaps she is dreaming of him };
perhaps once more she holds him 10 heI
heart? l steal softly To the bureau and
opening the drawer, see a box tied with
Grape. open IL. Yes. there is the ball
and the marbles, the knife, the handker
chief, the little shoes, and stocking, and
the little watch and chain that made his
heart so glad. Yes. they are all here,
sacred and holy this Christmas Eye, but
the little boy is gone; gone TO come back
TO me no more. Good bye. little boy ;
goodee bye, goodee bye; hut not forever
Oh, no; the sweet bells that ring out
through the shadows of this starless night
bring 10 me bright visions of hope and
everlasting promise in the summer land be-
Sond, and so trust him 10 the messenger
who comes 10 me tonight on the wings of
love, and to Chusts care 1 commit him,
satisfied that in the everlasting all will be
well with him, for he has said, Suffer
little children 10 come unto me and forbid
them not; for of such is the kingdom of
heaven" and so, Goodee bye, lidles boy;
goodee bye, goodee bye.
II has been a week of toilsome pleasure
and sacrifice. Two knotty questions have
had to be solved by hundreds OF thousands
OF people-What to get2 and how TO get
itP All, the bitter struggle and sacrifice
Of that, How TO get itP Tempting as the
luscious fruit that beguiled our first
mother, are the glittering gewgaws that
i'll these wonderful windows. What
genius what patient endeaYor by which
these miracles of art were wrought Here
is little album stand its component parts
are nothing-a BIT Of pasteboard, a strip of
satin and a few pigments spread deftly on
BY 4 master-hand Yet what a vision Of
loYelluess il ia. On earth there is nothing
Ike il. Il Is Greenland aud the home Of
angels. TIE eunning Of The artist hR.