The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-23
ETCHINGS FROM
CURRENT TOPICS,

There is a touch of Christmas in the
cold, crisp atmosphere.
On the blasts of the December winds
come waited family, the notes of that first
Christmas carol, that angels sang to the
startled shepherds in PARKWAY Palestine.
Away off in the east the glimmer of the
rising Star, begins to be seen across the
hills which separate heaven from earth.
The divine radiance will soon illuminate
the universe, for unto US a child shall be
born, son shall be given"
The heavens bend low in tenderness, to
kiss the earth, which shall cradle the in
FAINT King.
The eyes of all christendom turn long
ingly toward Bethlehem, for thither jour-
ney Mary and Joseph to fulfill the prophe-
cies of old, and ere long the great, throb-
bling world in this noisy, pulsating nine
teenth century, will stop it's traffic, cease
it's activities and stand in silent adora-
ton, while the angels sing Peace on
Earth, Good Will to Man."
| From afar across the arid desert are
coming the wise men, lead by the Star in
| the east, and soon their journey will end
at the humble door of that Judean stable.
There is an expectant hush throughout the
Christian world and towards the orient
Prince of Peace.
Everywhere the holly berries are gleam-
ing, rich and ruddy and the pearly mistle-
toe glistens in exquisite grace. Side by
side in the mansion and in the cottage
they are telling their Christmas story.
They bring from their forest home into
the crowded cities their freshness, and
loneliness and drive out of the hearts of
sordd, struggling humanity, all carping
care and the pettiness of every day living.
The holly and the mistletoe have their
mission to fulfill at this Christmas tide,
and to rich and poor alike they minister in
silent, tender beauty.
All over our busting city there are
punches of mistetoe and sprigs of holly,
which tell of the sentiment of a people
which Is stronger than even the desire
for gain, or the demands of trade. In the
handsome show windows these two silent
messengers from the hillsides lie in af-
fectionate proximity with jewels and ar
ticles of virtue; with dolls and toys, and
with those beautiful things that will greet
the children of the rich on Christmas
morning, or those little, cheap gifts that
will carry with them all the fullness of love
from many warm heart with a slender
purse. Christmas would not be Christmas
without the holly and the mistletoe.
The streets are crowded with eager buy
ers, some with long, heavy purses, others
| with pocketbooks that contain but a few
| paltry dollars, but each and every one
with hearts that are beating in sympathy
| with the generous sentiment of this Christ
| mas season.
Everybody has some one to buy for; ev-
| erybody has some one to give to and at
| no other time in the long twelvemonths1
| do human hearts come close together
| as at this period of gift-making. COM
| mon impulse actuates humanity and men
and women seem nearer to hearts, be-
cause they are striving to make each other
happier, and to bring into other lives the
spirit of that first Christmas. when God
gave His Son to mankind.
But there are homes, where no holly
mistletoe will hang; where no tiny stock
| ings will depend from mantels, well filled
with Santa Claus gifts; where there will
be no Christmas cheer of any kind, for
| grim, gaunt Poverty hovers at the door.
There will be many a bright-eyed little
| child who will only know it is the blessed
| Christmas day because the church bells
rem are making din and racket with their
horns, and fire crackers. and the show
windows are gorgeous with beautiful
things. Many a poor mans child will
think of the story of the Savior's birth at
| Bethlehem of Judea, and that of Santa
| Claus as two mythical legends, born of
| rich mans brain. They shut out from
all the glorious meaning of this Christ
| mas season, through no fault of theirs. but
| because the hard hand of poverty holds
| them. in it's grasp. But in this Christian
| city, where the church spires point heav-
| onward and where good men and women
worship, there should not be a single gift
| less child, who shall awake on Christmas
| day only to sob itself to sleep, when the
| night falls because of bitter disappoint-
| ment. For as much as we did it unto the
least of one of these, we did it unto Me-"
There will be many an empty chair In
| many home at this Christmas tide. Many
a blessed, precious one keeps Christmas
| day, beyond the stars But they abide
| in an eternal Christmas, and are at rest
whether life's journey was long short.
| Tomorrow night little curly heads will
| drop to sleep to dream of sleighbells and
reindeer, through the long December night
| the midnight mass will call the faithful Ia
! prayer, and all nature will await the COM
| ing of the Christ child.
There should be brightness and happt'
ness around every Preside in this big city,
| for the Joyous Christmas has come.
BALL.
uanpeniups of the Unexpected