Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-12-22
Blessings of Christmas.

Precisely nineteen centuries have
passed since there fell upon the ears
of very youthful Jewish mother the
most gladsome sound that ever comes
to mortal-the first wall of her first
born child. She was scarcely more
than a child herself, being but about
Is years of age but tradition at
tacbes to her most excellent Judgment,
and a maternal instinct intellectually
strong. Besides, did she not know
her boy had been toretoli by the
angel Thou shalt call His name
Jesus, because He shall save His peo-
pie from their sins. She might not
love Him the more because Of His il
lustrious destiny, but her heart could
not be but lifted up in commendabIe
pride at this reflection, as she galed
for the first time into His dear, sweet
face and His tiny blue eyes looked
wonderingIy into hers. Then the
news quickly went abroad, angels
from Heaven bearing about the tId-
ings Of the birth Of their King. They
told the shepherds upon the plains OF
Salem and the wise men Of the east
and all OF them entered the little car
avausary Of the village Of Bethlehem,
and saw the babe and Its mother ly-
ing down in the same room where
were the camels and horses and oxen
of strangers, who had come up to
Jerusalem to be taxed. Angels sang
the praises Of the newly born and a
new star appeared in the sky. The
wise men brought gifts and laid them
at the feet of the mother.
This was the first Christmas and
Mary was the first person in all the
world to receive "a Christmas gift, and
hers was infinitely greater IN value
than all combined, that have been
since received by all the people who
had lived or died. Her gift, the
Christ-child; she honored above all
the women who have lived or died, IN
being made the mother of Him who
should "be called Jesus, because He
shall save His people from their sins.
The angel song to the shepherds
had for its burden peace to men OF
good will. One could scarcely think
of a Christmas that is other than
gladsome and joyous. The clouds
may be thick overhead, while in north
countries the earth may have a sheet
of snow, and in the southlands there
NAV be thunder and rain. But there
are warmth, sunlight and gladness IN
the heart-the best place in all the
world for them. In the heart birds
sing carol songs of joy; in the heart
flowers bloom, leaves are out upon
the trees and velyety grass covers the
hills.
O, the Christmas hde-Christ's $
birthday, day of all days in the calen-
dar. How hearts glow on this day
and warm each to the other How
strifes and bitternesses end, and all
cares, from without and from within,
take on quick wings and fly far away.
How self is swallowed in love for
those about one, and all become, like
the Mag who visited Jesus, bearers Of
gifts-gIad-heart gifts that make ra-
diant the cheeks of donors as well as
recipients.
O, the Christ day. Would that the
cheer Of the familj board, the Joyous
home-bringug and the gladness Of the
heart might be in every day Of the
year. That, indeed, would be a
bringing down Of the New Jerusalem
from Heaven to earth for then there
would be no more sorrow or tears, and
wickedness and sin would end IN the
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