Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-25
THR BENIGN HOLIDAY.

There ia softening and benign effect
in the recurrence of Christmas which
no other holiday in the year brings
forth. New Years is a conventional
day and has its Importance more from
its situation in the calendar than from
its tendency to bring people together in
hearty and friendly conjunction. 1t is
the milestone in the worlds great
highway, and one stands on its threshold
with the awe which the contemplation
of eternity always provokes. On one
side is the eternity of the past, on the
other the eternity OF the future. We
are placed, as it were, on an immense
height where the rotundity of the earth
does not shut out the ininity of years
that are gone or the in6nity OF time
that is to come.
All the other holidays subserve the
splendid purpose OF reviving the
spirit of patriotism, and making US feel
the elevating effects OF love of country
and pride in her past prowess. her pres
ent greatness and her future illimitable
progress as nation. The flag fills US
with emotion at the heroic deeds done
under its majestic folds by Columbia's
sons, and nerves US to meet and over
come whatever trials of arms or suffer
ing may be in store for us.
But Christmas-joyous, soul-inspiring
Christmas the day desoted to chill
dren, to the poor and TO
the softening influences of the
family annual reunion. 1t came to
us az the birthday of the Man-God, who
appeared to US to succor the weary and
give consolation to the heavy-laden. Its
incarnation is seen in the Man OF Bethle-
hem. who went about doing good; who
brought hope to the disconsolate,
strength to the poor in spirit, tidings
of great JOY "to all men," and whose
soft and loving nature drew around
Him the weak, the suffering, the lowly,
the lame, the halt, the blind, and
brought out1of their despair an efful-
gence OF hope that lighted their sight
less eyes and tottering steps to the goal
of a life OF everlasting bliss. Out Of
the dark tomb of helplessness, He led
them to the threshold of the pearly
gates, gave them comfort they had
never before realized, and showed them
that though they were the lowly and
neglected OF this world they could claim
a rich inheritance in the other.
Above all He was the sweet consoler
of the poor and suffering. His teach
ings gave new apostolate to the earth;
He brought the weaker sex under the
protection of His divine wing, and by
His doctrines elevated them out OF the
terrible depth of dependence and slavery
into which paganism and its apotheo-
sis of brute force had plunged them.
He said, "Suf'er little children to
come unto me, and forbid them not, for
of such is the kingdom of heaven" and
His birthday at once became their
peculiar holiday, and was set
aside as the time when all hearts
should 20 out with soft and tender
emotion, and with limitless love to the
little ones. Hard, hard, indeed, and
unspeakably callous must be the nature
which on this day cannot count a
pleasant word, kind action, a charita-
BILE thought and deed not only to glad
den the little children but to all OF
Gods creatures whose paths are beset
with thorns and whose ways are in the
dark and tortuous alleys and by-ways OF
this world.
"Giye me-" said great writer and
practical philanthropist, "give me, when
/ for the last time turn upon my pillow
to look back upon the passing world,
the consciousness OF one good and char
table deed performed by which some des-
pairing fellow-creature, some weak and
suffering son or daughter of humanity
has been cousoled and helped and up
lifted. Such deed will stand in the
balance against all the conspicuous