Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1894-12-19
81 A YEAR In ADVANCE
Christmas.

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The dear word, Christmas, marshals
iegions OF precious memories out from
the past and crowns the future with a
halo OF golden, CHEEKY promises. Out
from the shadows come the festive
times when Santa Claus was a verify,
with his fat paunch and great rosy
cheeks; when, on awaking, stockings
filled to bursting greeted the eye, and
at eventide the flashing Christmas tree
fairly laughed its satisfaction at the
joyous gladness it was diffusing all
around.
Day of the children. An infantine
laugh is the divinest of songs in the
ear of the Christ, who was once help
less babe, His only shelter mothers
loving breast. The Man Christ took
little ones in His arms and blessed
them, declaring that all must be as
they in trust and innocence, if they
would be heirs to His everlasting king.
dom.
Day of home bringing and home
gathering, when the loved ones meet
and unselfishly live in the pleasure
each of the other. Tender affection
banishes self and man lives in touch
with his fellow, glorified of the divine
benediction OF love. He is nearest to
divinity who gets furthest from self,
and the gifts of Christmas tide are SO
many pledges of disinterested esteem
for the recipients. A time is this when
care rolls away like scroll in the fire
and mirth and good will become the
all prevailing genii of the household.
Love and joy cross the threshold and
kiss one another, as they pronounce
blessing up"n all beneath the roof.
Peace covers the dear ones as man
tie, and gladness so abcunds that it is
the day of all days throughout the
metes and bounds of Christendon.
Christmas of sleigh bells and crystal
snow, Christmas of warmth and flow
ers, for the Christ day girdles the earth
and embraces all climates and all ma
tions, and everywhere, thank God; it
is day of festive joy and happiness
fitting commemoration of the fulfil
ment Of the promise made by the her.
aid of God in the glowing words: II
bring you glad tidings Of great joy,
which shall be unto all people,"
1t is peculiarly the Christ day, time
when the beauty of His self abnegating
life is reflected in sublime majesty.
Never selfish shadow obscured His
path; His the grandest of all epitaphs;
He lived and He died that others might
live forever. A man without home,
He has gladdened and frightened mil
lions of homes. He was a man of sor-
rows, acquainted with grief, yet from
His presence an ocean of consolation
has spread out and covered the earth
"Aeh iso VoeOio VI uCdlluRs lib ldbt
prayer was an intercession for His ene-
mics, and His last sigh breath of con-
fidence in God.
The glory song of the herald angels,
sung at the first Christmas, that paean
of praise to God and pledge of peace to
man, shall never die. The grandest of
all carols, dearest of all angel hymns,
time has destroyed none of its sweetness
and has preserved all of its promise.
Peace and amity dwell where the spirit
of Jesus prevails, and each Christ day
is benison indeed to those who see
His face through the clouds and the
mists of mortality.
Christmas, the home day, the Christ
day. May its lessons and it's blessings
gladden. all hearts and make truth of
the common salution: "A Merry
Christmas be upon you."
WIN. RossER CoBBE.