Democratic messenger., 1894-12-22
SNOW HILL, MD, DEC. -, 1894
GLORIOUS CHRISTMAS.

GLORIOUS CHRISTMAS.
RAPIDLY the old year is drawing to
close, and before the MESSENGER
again greets its readers, Christmas, the
great holiday of old and young, rich
and poor alike. the day which is Gel
ebratsd in every land where the story
of the Babe Of Bethlehem has been
told. will have been ushered in Nearly
nineteen centuries ago, the shepherds
who watched their aocks by night on
the Judean plains, heard the angelic
hosts as they sang with voices of sur
passing beauty. GLORY 10 God in the
highest, and on earth peace, good will
to men, and the proclamation, unto
YOU is born this day, in the city of
David, a Saviour, which Is Christ. the
Lord" Christmas. the birth day of
our Saviour, the Mighty Counsellor,
the Prince Of Peace As the years
glide by, men grow more ard more
enlightened upon the import of the
doctrines and teachings which He
taught and which were at first received
only by few of the ignorant fisher
men of Galilee. and entirely overlooked
by the sages of Rome and Greece.
Well may we celebrate the birth day
of Him who stood To us in the relation
of an elder brother and pledged His
own merits with the Father for the
redemption and salvation of the human
family. Christmas is the great national
holiday of The Christian Church. 1t
is fitting that its annual recurrence
should be remembered and celebrated
by all mankind. Ii is "a time for
memory and for tears" and vet il
brings with it untold delight. The
day is hallowed to the recollection of
us all. from infancy, and the lamp Of
love would shed hut a feeble glimmer
upon our homes and hearts were il not
for the JOY and gladness inspired by
anniversaries like the one we are to
celebrate next week. Men who mingle
in the busy cares of active, outdoor
life, and who are brought in daily
contact with an uncharitable world,
would find it easy TO steel their hearts
against the appeals OF the widow and
orphan, the half.clothed and homeless,
the miserable outcast, were it not for
tie tenderness and sympathy that
creeps unbidden into their breasts as
they gather around the warm iireside
in their own cosy homes, and have
their better natures. their nobler i'm
pulses, warmed into life by the prattle
of youth and the smiles of innocence.
Charity and kindliness spring up
under the breath of such influences rs
the memories of the day inspire, and
happily the world is better for it, since
we are stirred 10 more considerate
interest in the welfare of Others As
Washington Irving has said, Christmas
is indeed 1.-The season of regenerated
feeling-the season of kirdling not
merely the fire of hospitality in the
hall, but the genial flame OF charity
in the heart" In accordance with the
time-honored customs of the past, let
the bells ring out, let carols be sung,
let the churches and our dwellings be
decorated with holly and evergreens.
Whether chaplets he worn or not, the
girls and boys will doubtless kiss
under the rose and misletoe." In the
midst of the general rejoicing and
feasting, let us remember the poor.
The happiness derived from relieving
the wants of the needy is one OF the
purest on earth. Let us then, as we
Join in the mirth and festivities OF this
holiday of holidays, not forget the
kindly word and little gift that sends
a rill of happiness through many an
aching heart on whom the shadows of
life are hanging and on whom the
darkness has come down heavily. We
can all do something, even though il
be but little, in relieving the cares of
others. There is not one of our readers
but who can find some worthy object
of charity. To each and every reader
of the MESSENGER we tender very
Merry Christmas and Happy New
Year.
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON, the
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