The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-12-23
In all Christian lands Christmas has

In all Christian lands Christmas has
a significance which endears it to the
heart above every other holiday and
commemorative time On that day
we celebrate the birth Of the Saviour.
Jesus, the only begotten son Of God,
through whom the grace Of God was
extended to oil the people Of the earth,
and life and immortality brought to
light.
When the Saviour was born the earth
was in silence, while the angelic host
broke forth into the new song GLORY
to God in the highest. peace d on
earth. good. will to men. " Now the
angels are silent. while humanity s
hymn Of praise and gratitude will as
cend on this coming hallowed ami
versary.
There is something almost incon-
gruOus in that division OF the calendar
by which the great festive and Joyous
holiday Of the year comes on in the
winter season, when the natural land
scspe is Invested entirely Of all It's
beauty OF floral sweetness and leafy
magnifcence. The woods are bare, the
flowers faded. and the fields, scared
with frost. offer no inviting view 10
the eye in the fragments Of harvest
that is past To the comtempIative
mind nature presents nothing in har-
mony with life and love and over
flowing joy .iWhether or not this date
was chosen for us by our ancestors OF
the far north to mark the time OF the
return OF the sun, and was appropri'
sted by the church and converted into
holy festival to oonciliate those ma
tions to the new Christian faith, may
be a matter Of tradition TO which the
rising Of the Sun Of Righteousness lends
brilliant semtlance Of truth and rever-
ence, it is and ever will be an accepted
time when the best elements Of human
nature. the ties Of kindred, the love Of
ueighbor and the charity that never
faileth fud hearty and unselfsh ex.
preston. Although the year is closing
its record nearly made up, and the time
suggestive Of serious thought, the heart
breaks forth into song. every gentle
and generous impulse is awakened, the
whole world unites in rejoicing and the
great field Of humanity blossoms with
fragsnt and gorgeous etfiOrescence
in deeds Of love and kindness.
The heart knows no winter and
the year OF labor and struggle
closes with gladness-a picture Of the
groves Of the topics whose boughs bend
beneath the weight Of ripened fruit and
at the same time wave in the gentle
wind rich clusters Of sweetestscented
flowers.
1t Is specially true wherever the
English Language is spoken this day
has charm above all other days in the
memories Of the aged and the hopes Of
the young. The reunion Of long.sep.
arated kindred about the old hearth
stone and around the hospitable board,
the gay and innocent pastimes OF the
young, the untrammelled delight Of the
children in all the homes, whether
OF the rich or poor, have in description
enriched our best literature.
And oh what a pity it is, that the last
Christmas but one Of dying
century, and the last year, but one
Of dying century. should find such
warning aud marring occurrences
as the English. Beer war in South
Africa and the effort to subjugate the
Filipinos, now being made by the de
scendants Of those who successfully re-
sisted George the Third century ago
Verify these be blots on our Christian
civilization aud a sad remembrance at
this time of otherwise great rejoicing
among all English speaking peoples
They who would best enjoy Christmas
should minister to the pleasures
Of others and share with those who
have not the blessings which the year
has brought them. Thus, through all