Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1897-12-23
Uncle Ned.

Dear Little Readers AS good old mer-
~ Xmas is near at hand, / don't know a
subject more suitable for you. 1t is a
time when joy reigns in every heart,
both old and young, with few exceptions.
Il have once seen in my life one poor
creature that never laughed. was then
quite youth, but looked deeply into
that face and that character, and it has
taught me valuable leseons). But am
speaking Of merry Xmas, when the world
over is filled With joy and gladness-
when the fond parents lay aside their
cares and mingle their joys with the lit
tie ones-when the fond husband clasps
his loving companion to his bosom and
speaks out, as it were, children, behold
thy mother-when eloquence is poured
forth throughout the world from every
press and pulpit, proclaiming the light
of a Saviour is dawned upon the world,
that He comes to welcome alike the sim
ner and the saint to His great heart of
hearts-when thousands of voices from
every choir ring out the anthems on the
midnight air, and the organ peals out in
laundering tones to do honor to Him
who comes to bring the ''glad tidings of
great joy"-when smiles are seen upon
every face and gladness plays round
about every heart-when the poor hope
less urchin is startled by some gift from
the hand of charity, his little heart
bounding with joy to know that he too
is remembered-when the tables are
spread with all the delicacies and daint-
les imaginable and the heart is filled
with childhood's glee-when gifts and
well-wishes are exchanged and the open
ed door bids welcome to all-when the
world is mass of artificial light, the
heavens ablaZe with Elimination amid
the roar and laughter of Gods little ones
when the aged and infrm whose
cheeks are furrowed and whose once
manly and graceful forms now bent down
with years cry out in their hearts with
Simon of old, Lord, it is enough that
mine eyes hath SEEN" &c-when the lit
tie babe is lulled to sleep and the moth
er's heart goes back across the long
bridge of centuries that span the time
when the infant Saviour was nestled in
a virgin mothers arms. 1t is, my little
readers, a time of universal joy.
1t Is a time when the merchant stands
behind his counter exhibiting his toys
and his dainties and he likes to see the
little folks and the big folks come in and
supply themselves for joyful time, and,
by the way, L. n. is requested to say
that there is nice lot of stockings kept
on hand at the Three Gates store
all sizes-some of them, think, would
hold about bushel, and some would
come in for the babies. Then there are
some suitable for the boys and the misses
-and.-well, the beaux will take care of
the larger ones.
|. Well, little readers, / don't know when
you will hear from your old friend
again, perhaps not for long time. He
stole these moments from himself as a
benediction for the outgoing year. Il
is hard to tell what may take place be-
fore another Xmas comes after this.
He may hang up his fiddle and the bow
for what he knows, but he hopes to be
in the land of the living for many years
yet and to give you soT,e more lessons
in the future. Ii has not been his aim
TO mislead you, and he hopes that you
have or viii profit by his simple notes.
II he has said anything, politically speak
ing, he is sorry for, he is glad of it, and
whilst he departs from you for the pres
ent he still clings to the old "forsaken
bough," believing as he does that the
best policy is to be what you are and
nothing else but that one thing. He
now bids you good bye for the present
and wishes you and all his friends. young
and old. merry and n very happy Xmas.
UNCLE NED.
p. S. Would like some of my little
readers to tell me the monster alluded 70
in last issue through next issue of the
BEACON. Z. y.