New-York tribune., 1891-12-30
SOME SEASONABLE REFLECTIONS.

Christmas Day has once more come ana gone.
T. would bc a better world for all of us, rich and
poor. happy and fortunate, or unhappy and huhteh
bv misfortune il for us all IT did not emu Win
the midnight chimes. 1t is wonderful when one
thinks of it, how great share OF the sorrow thaV
makes life burden to many would DE removed,
II only there were in the life OF every day the
sprit and feeling which the joys OF christmas
awaken in so many breasts from Whole year
slumber For once the eyes OF the Dllhd are
opened: there il caught glimpse OF the everias-
ing truth that selfseeking is not the pain thao
loads 10 real Happiness Pleasure comes that
way sometimes but pleasures fade. Comforts ana
luxnries often come that way, but the soul trained
70 be greedy of these will always find ily In the
amber. Even the simplest enjoyments grow tame,
while the widest revels of excitement always
hiring a headache or a burnt-out life. Literature
and culture presently tire and sour the soul oe
him who de,sbtes to them alone life endowed
with the possibilities Of higher and sweeter Joys.
The blessing Of Christmas is that II reminds
lis once each year at lcust Of the truth which our
lives need every day. The curse for many is that
they remember that truth only while the day
lasts if SO long Millicent goes out in the morn
ing. With "a sweetness Of heart no ball OF Dahk
account can give, because she has learned OF sor-
row which she remove. Little selt-denlhl IL
NAV cost her to take away the suffering from one
family for day. and yet the satisfaction she thus
socures is one that mere money cannot buy, and
one which she could feel every day, with money
or without it, II comes with the sincere desire
and the earnest effort to make the lives OF others
happier, and the poor widow who has only her
mite to give may find rich and glorious happl-
ness in her scif-sacrce as II she had millions 10
scatter.
Christmas tells us all that we can find nowhere
ON earth any other happiness 80 complete, so
lasting and satisfying. rs il self-denial for ire
happiness Of others. We catch the thought from
the earliest Christmas bells; we find it IN the
service or the sermon, whatever our creed; 1t
comes TO us with tie smallest act OF Kindness
done in observance Of the day. But how many
take il into their hearts and lives, and make Il
their rule of action even for single week
What a different world il would be. for the hum
bcst or the most distinguished, the poorest or the
richest. if only that one thought could dominate
our lives for single year.
The employers and employed would then join in
work for all with one heart. Wrangles and strikes,
leuds and controvcis would vanish in the en-
Gcavor to do each his best for the Happiness OF
mankind. The embittering and degrading dis
:inctions Of class would be melted in the fires OF
brotherly kindness. The worlds strongest and
lest would cease to give aims, and begin to do
their duty. employing their treasure aud their
powers and their gifts to the uplifting. the en-
lightcnmcnt, the helping and relief OF all around
them What world it would be- then, with tn
Christmas spirit in every heart and the Christmas
light on every face, all the year round. Then
indeed, each one might know that it would not
lie an empty form to wish for any other Merry
Christmas for all life would be to all full of glad
ness and Of Joy.