The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-23
CHRISTMAS.

The celebrations Of this blessed season
are the bright golden. jeweled clasps,
that bind our years together and inn
part a divine beauty to the long or short
SUGGESTIONS that constitute our lives.
What is life in Christendom without
Christmas? There is a flavor Of business
and solemn duty and apprehension about
New Years Day. \ year lies before US
blank; and what shall be It's ming
Christmas is chl!dhoodS birthday III
the fullest enjoyment Of the glorious
liberty of the children of light, the fest-
val Of the lilies OF the field: the birds Oh
the air. natures holiday; the beautilul
vision OF the Kingdom of Heaven AT
hand. How happy the world might be-
if people would only be themselves as
God made them TO be! For real life the
day so full Of brightness, JOY and sincere
happiness. the season, is sort OF slaHu-
ard OF value. "A legal tender of lie.
1t is like gold: good, enduring Deauu-
ful in itself and the measure OF value
OF all the rest of life Certainly anyone
who has not enpOyed sweet, "aIh'
bright, loving and joyous. ana happy
home. Christmas. with its tullness OF
mutual Kindness and good viii ana WEI
ship of the Father OF all; musical WIN
the voices and laughter of children warm
with the maturing and Strengthening
affections Of the young and beautiul'
under the booming. hopeful smiles OF the
old. cannot measure or judge of human
life. In the dreary waste of his igno-
rance and uulucky experience he may
living
dav. one taste of the Christmas IN the
happy family, settles that question lor-
ever; it assures life's pilgrim oil the
Heavenly home, and sends him on his
way with a bright jewel of hope set IN
his souls sanctuary and gltttering win
its own light.
Fortunately. people do not, in these
DAYS and in these parts, have 10 be ar
gued and persuaded into the enjoyment
or sharing of christmas joys. Christmas
f.; In The air. il Is in eVerybody's tones;
il is in everybody's face; 1t IS IN their
voices, their gaits. their every mopop;
IL is everybody's business for the time
being. And all the business Is peace ana
good will, JOY and kindness. And the sur
Hest and the coolest, In spite OF theV-
selvest, reflect the glow Of the chlldlight
that is everywhere. There is nothing hid
from the heat thereof
Still there are some honest, good souls
that will not work as they ought to- ana
who growl nightly at the extra trouble
of the holidays, and are glad that Christ
mas does not come but once year. w ell.
so We all are. Otherwise it would not
be as highly priced; it could not be as
bOuntifully kept, and everything would
not then date from II. and move towards
IL, and prepare for 1t. as for a sort OF
Heaven, as now things do. O. IL is time
and money. and thought and earnest
ness. we'll bestowed TO help the happi-
ness Of Christmas in special places, 10
special dear ones, and 10 diffCse It's holy
10y and light over all, everywhere. 10
exalt II, 10 make IL preach its own SER
mon. TO teach its own lessons, and wake
up all hearts TO true and warm SYM
pathy with Him whose coming joyous
angels welcomed; and who now, from On
High, sees in happy hearts OF the travail
OF His Soul and rs satisfied.
II is a good thing 10 show realities, 10
press them upon the eyes and ears and
hearts. The world Is sick OF mere talk.
mere words, mere sentiment, mere no.
tons and ideas. 1t Graves. II starves for
realities. Men set drunk, because of