Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-12-24
Christmas Meditations
" RoX.u


The following WHICH appeared in The Ga
ZgTTE on Christmas eye of several gears ago
is repubiished by request.
Jast at this season OF the year, more PEI
ngpsthap at any other, the air is filed With
pleasant memories, and thoughts go back
10 the time when shepherds watched their
focks by night on the fair Judean hills.
Though nineteen hundred years have rolled
agay ence the star of Bethlehem giittered
10 the eastern sky, yet The touching LESSONS
of love and charity then taught To men ere
as fresh to-day as when Ia tToG the esrth in
humsn form, and will ever remain with ps
to bless and sapctifg Cur common brother.
hood eLd never more than cow shoulc
these tender teachings reach the hesrt.
Through the clear, criap, wintry cir the JOY
Gus Sounds Of a"MerIy Christmas" break
upon tbs ea!, sud in cur churches the holly
branch with its green aud glossy lenVes is
twined De loving HANDS to Geek lis altar
Around happy iresides bright faces gath
er in Anticipation Of expectnnt 1888, and the
Silly night is thick with dreams CT goolin
visits when good old Santa Claus shall sweep
Gowu the chimney, bearing through the ire
end Il ma b;a precious load OF fsiIy treas
ures. That, Indeed, was chilGhood's happy
hour. Yet .befe ere some homes In deys
gone by he always visited which this gear
he may pass unnn.iceG The,e ere come
not many, fortunstely-in cur midst where
want Stands like gin sentinel al The poor
mans door, where, IN ali probability, even
the necessarles Of life are absent. Within
these sad homes b.;ghi-eSed children Gus
ter, sonnet N 30 10 watch tbs dying emoers
barn sway. which hardly keep th5Il from
the piachDg cold, and rs they watch the
fantastic shadows on The 8aii fall asleep aOo
dEesm of the happy days, now gone, Wnei
plenty smiled upon their pathway.
OF course there must always be want
aud misery ia the world for it s the sad
chapter of life, but much can be done &c
alleviate ihs wants Of cur common hoDar-
l!V. Much has already been doue 10 CTR
ai.y isteiy by the blessed hand OF Charity
Much s bsing done now, but more caa be
accomplished by those who have beer
me,ie hia stewards and servants Oh earth,
and especially those who he7s been
the recipients CT houoteops iavofs at KIND
fortunes hand, Il is We'll for eli such TO
make their homes more bright With pre-
cinrs Gifts at this festive Hes son. Ii ls vel
as lbey push through the well flied end
cse qgded- stores to think Of those at rome,
whose eyes grow brighter at their coming,
AID they Can feel tie thrill Of pleasure Ii
gives Sd they reel.za the feet "thei
il is more blessed to give than to receive"
Yes, to these who CAP, it is their duty 10
surround their homes With all Size com
foS s and luxury that weath ccu orioe,
but at The Same Tins lei them listen Wild
becoming patience TO thu tender teachinee
that sweep down through the centuries past
to remem5ar those wbc by sad sdversitl
aud misfortune are not 80 veil provl;ed fcr
Each can help bis brother. esch can scatter
around him sons little bounty which ilke
| ores scattered upon tbs Wstsfe Will return
to him, after many dag. How man!
! changes have taken place within the pas
shor. year Jss drawing TO cioee-ho"
many households this Christmas, Tbe0 ths,
meet around the festive bosrc, VIII miss
SONS dear, familiar face. ard Sc they gsz'
unou their vacant piece how gloomy vii
tic reminder bs! Perhaps IL may be
parfns, sister, brother, or soma slocere oio
frisnd who nay be coz In lar CT iano' CT
bstter etil. in g heEo heyond the STARE
WHARF 1t is one eternal cay OF icy. Inett
sre some too. who in GeTs psst, have troo
the psth to lame ana glory, neen higs
In power aDl place, end who, no",
by the stern decree o. fate, hnd tnem-
selves opce more battling with tae
world. Some who, by their best endeayoFs
schemipe aud wel-,aid plane, have tIiec
acsin to remouus the iadder Of success, 0a'
often al! r.oyes vain END fu;iie; they ale
froyred down, pushed TO the wall, the busy
world gocs on, and they are soon forgotten.
Nov, le. us ell On ,his holy anniversary for
get Tbs cares and Troubles that latest ori
l;yes, sod for at lsast ono dey In The yser
trace up end look ri the bright eide Of HE
and when the sky ia tinted with the Chris,-
uass dewn there may be heard 90 the still
corning brer z, the same gsd tldinss that
gere proclaimed to the weird over eighteen
aundred gears ago OF Glory to CD In the
highest, aod on earth peace, good "!l' to
ward msu."