Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-12-22
.9cz@sel ONE mi s snn1ksIso

'SetSs( ONE mi 1 Bringing
and home happiness are the bright
features of the Christ day through
out the metes and bounds Of
Christendom. Callous is the heart,
and dead to all impressions of light and
gladness, which is not quickened to
gentleness and unselfishness upon the
natal day of Him who taught the broad
est humanity and the most disinterest-
ed love. Had Dickens written only Of
Christmas, he should occupy COM
manding place in the affection of hui
manity because of the CHEEKY scenes
he pictured and the CHEEKY halos he cast
about this day of all days in the year.
The very pathos, which at times seemed
part of himself, when he wrote, quick
ened and frightened under the light Of
that day until it was nearly Invested Of
all its sadness.
The tragedy of Calvary was years
after the birth scene at Bethlehem.
The God-child had need to grow up to
mans estate and wrap about Him the
mantle Of infinite deity before He be-.
came man of sorrows acquainted with
grief. The Christ-day tells of the vir-
gin mother and her glad smile of Joy
as she looked upon the face of her new
ly-born child. 1t recalls the cherubic
song of the angels that startled the
shepherds of Salem and the effulgent
star that guided the wise men to tho
manger in which He lay. 1t brings out
OF the past the happy circumstances ct
those who were led into the Divine
presence, bringing with them gifts of
gold and frankincense and myrrh. So,
too, clearer than when first uttered, be-
cause now better understood, is heard
after the lapse of 1000 years the Heav-
emily promise of peace, good will to men.
Comes also the teaching of mercy, for
the older law of eye for eye and tooth
for tooth. When He came the dark
night of cruelty and wrong and oppres-
sion rolled away, ushering in the gray
dawn of an endless day of love for enc
mics and prayers for those that use
their neighbors despitefully.
The example of the sages who came as
gift-bearer is universally followed, and
meet is it that it should be SO,
because the heart that gives III
love has sure promise of bless
ing from the Lord. The inspiring
motive of donatfves is the love that
thinks no evil against the recipient of
the favor, and love is the dominant
ruler of the heart that is good. The
Christ taught nothing if He did not
teach the infinite beauty of home life
that is builded upon love. The heart
that loves and is cheerful gives freely,
thus communicating pleasure to others
in the reflection that they are not for
gotten, and happiness to the donor in
that he perceiyes he has communicated
happiness. Love is contagious. as hap
piness is contagious, and blessed and
thrice blessed is that household which
welcomes Christians with ringing of
bells and singing of glad songs, with
makes memorable the day by tokens OF
affection, whose value rests in the mo.
tive which prompted the giving of them.
Did He sorrow? Not for His sins or
follies did He grieve. Did He sweat
great drops of blood in His agony?
Then was it that men might be freed
from sin and be capable of appreciat-
ing and commemorating and initiating
the infinite good of His nature. The
face that was marred is now litwith the
ineffable Joy that comes Of mans re-
demption, and from His great throne
He regards all earth's children in love
and smiles responsive to the gladness
of those homes which make merry and
bright the Christ-day, Christmas.
WILLIAM ROSSER COBBE.