The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1894-12-20
Christmas


/ legions OF precious memories out from
/ the past and crowns the future with
halo Of golden, CHEEKY promises out
from the shadows come the festive
times when Santa Claus was a verify.
with his fat paunch ana great. rosy
cheeks when. On awakening. stockings
filed to bursting greeted the eve. and
at evenude the flashing Christmas tree
fairly laughed its satisfaction at the
Joyous gladness it was difusing 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 a mother's
loving breast. The Man-Christ took
little ones in His arms and blessed
them, declaring that all must be as
they intrust and innocence, if they
would be heirs TO HIS everlasting king
dom
Day of bringing and home
gathering, when the loved ones meet
and unselfshly live In the pleasure
each Of the other Tender affection
banishes self and man lives in touch
with his fellow, gloriied of the divine
| benedictiOn of love. He is nearest to
divinity who gets farthest from self
and the gifts of Christmas-tide are so
many pledges Of dsinterested esteem
for the recipients A time is this when
care rolls away like scroll In the fire,
and mirth and good will becomes the
all-pervading genii of the household.
Love and JOY cross the threshold and
kiss one another, as they pronounce a
blessing upon all beneath the root.
Peace covers the dear ones rs a mantle,
and gladness 50 abounds that it is the
day of all days throughout the metes
and bounds of Christendom.
Christmas of sleigh-bells and crystal
show, Christmas of warmth and flow
ers, tor the Chrst-day girdles the earth
and embraces all climates and all ma
tons, and everywhere, thank God . it
Is day of festive JOY and happiness
a fitting commemOration of the ful-
filment of the promise made by the
herald 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, a
time when the beauty Of His self-abne-
eating life is reflected in sublime males
tv. Never selfish shadow obscured
His path His the grandest of all cpl
taphs; He lived and he died that 9TH
ers might live forever. A man with
out home, He has gladdened and
frightened millions of homes He was
man of sorrows, acquainted with
grief, yet from His presence an ocean
of consolation has spread out and coy
cred the earth with its waters of neal
ing His last prayer was an lnterces-
sion for His enemies, and His last sigh
breath of confidence in God.
The glory song of the herald angels,
sung at the first Christmas, that poem
Of praise to God aad pledge OF peace to
man, shall never die The grandest of
all carols, dearest Of all angel hymns,
tlIIic HAS ucStloN 0u none OI us sweet
ness and has preserved all of its prom
Use. Peace and amity dwell where the
spirit of Jesus prevails, and each Christ
day is benson indeed to those who
see His face through the clouds and
the mists of morality.
Christmas, the home day, the Christ
day, May It's lessons and its blessings
gladden. all hearts and make truth Of
the common salutatiOn "A Merry
Christmas be upon you"
WILLIAM ROsSER COBBE