Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1896-12-25
MERRY CHRLS7.MAS-REST AND
RE TIA NRFVL.

Who has a heart-however scared and
cold by contact with the baser side Of crea'
tion--that connot cherish In memory sweet
incidents of some Christmas spent in days
OF slang syne," or that cannot appreciate the
loving kindness that dictates the bestowal
of Christmas gifts, even though the gentle
reminders are simple and useless, as far as
utility is concerned, for we know the hand
that gave them was prompted by the purest
motives Of love and the heart felt naught
but kindness ior US. The thought reminds
us Of the many who know no Joy, whose
homes are desolate, whose hearts are blurred
and wearied with the toll Of years spent in
fruitless attempts TO acquire something it
seems fate has decided shall not be.hers.
To them we can only say, God be 71er.
ciful.
There are other homes, though they may
be humble, where the beacon light OF love
burns on, where happy hearts decorate the
worn and rugged walls with garlands OF
beauty, and the sound of merry footsteps
are heard ever and anon along the olden
corridors, and there are homes darkened by
passion, or where the inmates are crushed
from love of strong drink, and are dealing
out death to themselves, while they chant
a dirge TO the fond hopes of loved Ones
But If they would only pause and consider
for moment they would stop in the down.
ward career and bring sunshine back TO the
desecrated fireside Of home.
God has given US Christmas in memory
ofthe birth of the one Preserver sent US from
the dark ages Of the past, from whom we
and find pardon for all the sin committed on
this mundane sphere. May He give US the
faith, the love, the divine inspiration TO
place our frail barques under His guidance
and permit Him to carry us through life till
we reach the silver strand on the other side.
The river of life Is flowing on TO join the
mighty ocean beyond through the valley
of the shadows we II dst co." but from the
shadows we will come TO the limpid tide Of
the "River of Life" and to the submits Of
the invisible hills from whose crested tops
will descend the dews of love, brighter,
purer than the crystal drops from Mount
Harmon
"Rest and be thankful" was the rather
celebrated piece of advice given by great
political chief to his followers. Like much
other modern counsel, it did not meet with
entire acceptance. Yet the precept must be
admitted to be an excellent one for certain
occasions, and we cannot but feel that no
more appropriate occasion for applying it
could be made than occurs during the Christ
mas season.
A time of rest is grateful to the hard
worked farmer, whose crops at length are
housed and safe-to the merchant, who is
his books, and watching for the
promised revival Of busir~r- - q
happy children whom this
looked forward to with aoala- 81
unmixed enjoyment 1t IS p0e q rost {
i1g s.i.
We must not, however,
Is one eless among as who
MOI gbare IN the pleasur
yS9sr zhrough our aie
tte alwaps Wit
the approach Of Winter,
scant employment, brings
The coming winter. in Pc
mo yeais OF depressed Dus Hs 10
be an especially hard on a0z Eaar
sole dependence is on alr Of
hands. II has often be-
cannot be too frequently ~
every family, whose means rightly used, will
afford a surplus, would assist. much want
and suffering would be saved to Gods poor
Last but not least-it is time in which to
be thankful. There have been financial
troubles, differences among the authorities,
heart burnings, and perplexities, and there
have been innumersble excursions, recep.
tons, professions, speech markings, and per
petual runnings to and fro. All are now
happily ended, and we can reflect and be
thankful for the browning merces that have
attended us all the while.
We have passed through another presi
Dental election-the party that has triumph
ed is rejoicing, and the party which has been
defeated is comforting itself with the refiec
ton that its defeat is virtually a victory, and
promises success hereafter. Meanwhile, all
parties are pleased and proud to know that
the American people have shown their Ca
pacty for electing the Chief Magistrate of a
great nation with less disturbance than in
other regions would attend the choice of
some petty local officer. And with this con
viction, and the assurance that the country
will manage to govern itself tolerably well
under any administration, all are willing,
for the time, to indu se in season ofthank
full repose.
This morning, Christmas morning, whilst
the glad peals from church and campanie,
the deep mouthed clangor and the sweet sill
Gle around the world, proclaiming the re-
turn of the holy night when the shepherds
on the Eastern hills saw the star that stood
over Bethlehem, aud angels sang, "On earth
peace, and good will towards men," whilst
from mighty cathedral and humble chapel
are heard the songs Of praise aud the solemn
mass-the SENTINEL enters the doors of its
friends and readers and wishes each and all
a Merry Christmas-and trusts that every
blessing that the bounty of Providence can
yield will be theirs to cheer them in this
holiday time of thankfulness and rest
THE ORIGINAL SANTA CLAUS.
Santa Claus is, for the time being, the