Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1899-12-22
A DAY OF GLADNESS

Onrlstmas means TO all day in which
cares may be laid aside and the soul and the
mind dedicated TO the most thorough en-.
joyment of all the blessings that lie In our
way, ignoring and shutting out entirely the
trials and vain pursuits Of the year that has
gone and Of the present. 1t knits the world
into one vast common brotherhood of joy
Throughout the confines Of the globe, wheth-
er in the jungles Of far.away Africa, where
the solitary missionary pours out bis soul in
an excess of gladness and rapture, or In the
crowded drawing rooms OF more crowded
cities, where life moves ever swiftly onward,
looking backward never, there is on this
day one deep overwhelming sense Of glad
some ecstasy. For this day marks the
event OF all events in the history of the
world-the birth of Christ.
Christmas morning-how the bells OF
memory tingle-wAat tender and hallowed
"reminiscences this magic word calls up
how like the murmurs Of lost music come
and go the purple lights Of the beautiful
loDg.agol
How the page Of life rolls back, and we
read, maybe with fearful eyes, the charac-
ters written there, and through the long
closed corridors oil the past we hear the soft
echo of the footsteps OF those who have gone
out from among us, and come back no
more.
But while Christina saddens, 1t is ever q
season of rejoicing. There is hardly any
home 30 poor In this broad land, let US hope,
where the music of happy and innocent
childhood will be hushed or little stockings
be hung up in the hope Of finding something
in them when the morning dawns.
And II there be such homes, would 1t not
be quite as well for people who endow COL
leges, already possessed OF ample means,
who build churches with steeples which
pierce the skies, who sport diamonds that
do them no earthly good-would it not be
just as we'll II they would set apart yearly
portion Of what they spend so needlessly,
as a fund to give the poor around them q
happy and comfortable Christmas
God can hear prayer just as we'll from the
modest little mission house along the way.
side as He can from the costly and luxuri
Gus church ediflces in the crowded and fash
ionable cities. Christ was born 10 man
ger, and He never preached in any costly
cathedras, yet His words have come down
to us through the ages--ever new, ever beau
tilul and sweet, TO fill our hearts with hope,
and to make glad these lives OF ours which
otherwise would indeed be miserable.
And, remembering what Christmas COM
memorates, it should ever be season of
"good will toward men" Petty differences
and personal animosites should be forgot.
ten-so far hushed that no winds Of idle
gossip would be able to arouse them. We
should remember our own irailty, and have
charity for our neighbors. And when the
Joy bells ring on Christmas morning, happy
is the man who can listen 10 them and ssy
truthfully: 81 have no hardness in my heart
this day Tor any living thing"
1t is fact Of obvious significance that
Christmas is the one festival of the year we
celebrate by giving gifts. Other days We
keep In other ways, but the expression of
the Christmas idea takes this one peculiar
form, and 30 nearly universal is il that
throughout the Christian world the charac-
ter of trade is influenced by 1t, the most ex.
tensive preparations are made for it. In
what way, indeed, could the greatest, freest
gilt in the history Of the world be 80 fifty
commemorated as in the making of gifts.
How could the Babe Of Bethlehem be more
truly honored than In making Christmas
the brightest day In the year for all And,
even though we are hardly conscious of the
TACT, what are the good wishes Of the season
which we exchange on Christmas day but
the echo OF the angels song with the mes
sage Of "peace on earth 70 men Of good
will" Let II be remembered that the spirit
OF Christmas is prominently one Of unself.
ishness and sacrifice. This 1t is for which
the day stands. When we give only in the
expectation Of receiving again, when we go
YEARLY through the list Of presents which
represent merely the past or anticipated OBJ
legations, we enter but imperfectly, II at all
into the Christmas spirit.
On Christmas day let us lay aside the
cares and the remembrance Of all troubles
aud perplexities, so far as we can. Let US
enjoy our turkey with no thought that per
haps tomorrow we may have TO sit down "a
salt pork and bones And for one day in
the year let charity, patience and love pre-
vail In our homes and In our hearts, and lei
that day be the anniversary of the ever
memorable and glorious day on which Christ
was born.
As we close this article, the stars have
long since gone up on the watch In the deep
mystical blue Of the heavens. May theil
light shine softly and sweetly over the Stun.
bers of our friends and readers all through
the long hours Of the night, and may the
coming Christmas morning be filled with
Joy aud gladness for them is our earnest
greeting.
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