Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1890-12-26
A MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christmss Of 1889 on rough waters, and
often under fair skys-along the sunny side
of the stream where the wild flowers grow
and the soft wind rustles midst the bushes
and the reeds. We have met griefs and their
twin, but unlike, companion pleasures. We
have seen sadness and sorrow and bruised
spirits and detection and imperiled or lost
lives, and have known gayety and frivolity
and mirth and the beauty of love and the
delights of realized ambitions Sorrow has
not walked alone, and neither has Joy.
Deaths have been chronicled, but along with
them have come the records of births. The
year has been sufficiently filled with broken
vows and the proceedings of the divorce
courts, but to the music of wedding marches,
and all burdencd with the aroma of orange
blossoms, happiness has been consummated
in the same old way, and the dull monotony
OF bachelorhood and maidenly lonelinessand
loveiness have been cimaxed and relieved
by the uniting words and benedictions of
the ministers.
The records of the various years do not
widely vary. When analysed and reduced
TO their component elements they are alike
made up Of sorrow and of happiness. In
those people who make up the unfortu.
nate part Of our communities, the sorrow
weighs more heavily than the happiness. In
those whom the world considers fortunate,
happiness is the ontweighing ingredient of
their lives
To these two classes alike Christmas is
much loved holiday. 1t means to all a day
in which cares may be laid aside and the
soul and mind dedicated TO the most
thorough enjoyment OF all the blessings
that lie in our way, ignoring and shutting
out entirely the trials and vain pursuits of
the year that has gone and of the present.
The glad Christmastide that this morning
celebrates, the eighteen hundred and nine
teth anniversary OF the birth Of the Saviour
of all mankind knits the world into one
common brotherhood of joy. Throughout
the confines Of the globe, whether in the
junges OF far-away Africa, where the soil
tary missionary pours out his soul in an
excess of gadness and rapture, or in the
crowded drawing rooms Of more crowd
cd cities, where lie moves ever swiftly
onward, looking back ward never, there is.
10 day one vast, deep overwhelming sense
OF gladstone ecstasy. For this day marks
the event Of all events in the history of the
world-the birth OF Christ ifal
The round of SORROWS that must ever
come To all--the thorns In the pathway of
even those most truly blessed-are to be TO.
day as If they were not The heart of man
Tor briet season shall be free from the rack
)of pain that comes from the struggle of exist.
lrpce This morning we are indeed all
a, aslsharers in the joy that compasseth the
lie earth. Tomorrow the trial begins once
more. Let US enjoy the surcease Of sorrow
while we may.
The springs Of the human heart do not lie
upon the surface of our common nature.
Men are not moved to deeds of goodness by
showercd upon us, measured full to the brim
and running over-a very overlooking cup
of gladness. Some great, some mighty, yea,
some supernatural event-some grand up,
heaval OF the emotional depths must come
To show us that one touch of nature truly
makes the whole world kin. s.8
Such a pause of mighty interest was the
birth of Christ the Saviour, whose ami
versary we celebrate this blessed Christmas
Day. To that far off divine event the mind
reverts with a JOY such as the ship wrecked
sailor feels when he discerns a sail at sea.
From IL the mile posts of a happy world
begin. Upon ita JOYOUS and enraptured
civilization looks back as TO the author of
its being And to it men will turn To mark
the day when the poor in spirit come to
have hope and courage and fortitude for
the battle of lie. gag
II is a fact OF obvious significance that
Christmas is the one festival of the year
which we celebrate by the giving of gins.
\ the@ days we keep. other ways, but the
pression of the Christmas idea takes this
Zone peculiar form, and SO nearly universal
lis ii that throughout the Christian world the
character of trade is influenced by it, the
mpsNextensive preparations are made for it.
In ,whas way, indeed, could the greatest,
freest Giftip the history of the world he so fit,
ly commemorated as in the making of gifts.
How could the Babe of Bethlehem be more
truly honored than in making Christmas
the brightest in the year for childrenp And,
even though we are hardly conscious OF the
TACT, what are the good wishes of the season
which we exchange on Christmas Day but
the echo of the angels song with the mes
sage OF "peace on earth to men Of good will p
But there are gifts-and gifts. 1t is quite
possible TO keep the outward form of Christ.
mas observance and to lose its spirit. Let
it be remembered that the spirit of Christ.
mas Is pre-eminently one of unselfishness
and sacrifice. This IL is for which the day
stands. When we give only in the expecta.
ton of receiving again, when We go YEARLY
through lists OF presents which represent
merely past or anticipated obligations, or
when our bestowals are limited TO those OF
our own households, we enter but imper
Iectly, If at all, into the Christmas spirit.
Among all, or nearly all, Christian natio MS
there are legends which represent the Christ
Nchild re appearing in some form of want
of>need and bringing happiness or misery
In Nose TO whom He comes, according as
they recognize and minister to Him, or fail
SO 70 Sdo. These worldwide legends con
yey a sacred truth. Everywhere there are
those if-distress and trouble, in brighten
ing whose lot we may exemplify the Christ
spirit. Just 10 proportion as we take upon
ourselves to extend to those who are less
fortunate than we something OF the Joy OF
sthis Christmas season shall we honor the
- harmony with its spirit 1t
often preached and. to the
Iii said, often prac.
of Christmas plans
a,a,.