The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-02

watching the gambols around some bril-
lantly lighted and heavily laden Christmas
tree echo the pathetic words:
Backward, turn backward o Time, in your fight,
Make me child again, Just for tonight.
And yet how few would really be willing
to return TO childhood, we're that possible,
If compelled to again rass. through the
vlcissltudeS oil an ordinary life?
While the foregoing may be called the
holiday aspect there is another side TO the
picture, which always feel like calling tne
holow-day aspect, because. seeming SO
empty, so utterly devoid of everything
which makes the merry Christmas, for even
nope which springs eternal in the human
breast" lies manned and bleeding. There
are vacant places by the freside and at me
taDle-plaees which may ever more behileu
by the dear ones whom We loved SO
dearly and now miss so bitterly. All sun
shine seems taken from our lives by the ab-
sence of those who have "g0na from our
gaze" after having borne their share-and
many times our share as well-of the burden
and heat of the day, and who perhaps have
GLADLY LAID DOWN
The cross and the armor for the white robes
of rest and peace. Christmas is indeed
a hollow-day, as to happiness, without them,
of than and their loss. Resignation, says
Socrates, lis placing God between ourselves
and our troubles" What a shield 1t is like
the pillar of cloud by day" and the pillar
VI ny uiSnt. IL Is well LOT us W
Der this and putting aside the sacred me-
mentoes of their love for us-Cbristmas
gifts, it may be, of former and happier
years-feel that however 1t may be with US
ut is well with them," and SO be resigned
to His will.
1t was a popular superstition IN En-
gland several centuries ago that scrofula
was cured by the Kings touch, and many
grief-laden heart feels in its keen anguish
thai the only touch which they can endure
10 thaKg nj ftn lnxyI a,.h ,Et IL MI n-A
birth Christmas commentaries. Many
times the heart Is full of tears which the
proud eyes refuse TO shed until this kings
touch softens and melts the icy barrier
Ihackeray in some of his writings beautI-
fully compares the loss of Gear ones by
death TO their having gone into the adjoining
room and closing the door there await our
coming. This room in which we, per force,
remain Is desolate indeed without tile ever
green and holly of their love and presence,
but perchance that other into Which they
have entered unfolds TO their view such gar
land Of the unfading evergreen Of eternal
peace and love as 10 far surpass our hnlte
comprehension or dreams. For he shall
give his angels charge over thee, to Keep
thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee
up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot
against stone," and may not
THESE GUARDIAN ANGELS
Be the purified spirits of those whose hearts
have been so indisSoubly linked with. ours
here on earth-whose pathway has run
parallel through joys and through sorrows
with our own? God is. love-" and love,
like himself, is immortal, and this being
so, how can their love for us die, or their
interest in our welfare cease? Could we
realize this, We should not so bitterly mourn
the loss of those gone before" nor should
We mourn las one without hope.
The great yearning for just one touch Of
the hand we loved so well, on G tone of the
voice which was sw eetest music to our ears
would not be so unconquerable, and the
pathetic words of Tcnnyson:
Oh for the touch OF n vanished hand,
And the so und Of voice that is stiil,
Would not recur TO our minds with such
haunting frequency.
Now TO the "Woman's Column" and its /,
readers a heartfelt Christmas greeting.
May prosperity aud happiness attend their
1ule-t;de; may their Xmas boxes" be full
10 the brim with gifts of fulfilled DESIRES
and may the blessings which they confer
upon others be returned TO them hun
bred fold.
All the human joys these seasons know
Is but solem act OF recognition
silent homage, paid to that best vision,
or him-the Lord in heayeu-the Oh Id below.
December 90 L