The Somerset reporter., 1903-12-24
For the REPORTER.
The Song of Christmas Cheer.


GLORY to God
In the highest:
And on earth peace.
Among men in whom
He Is well pleased"
Ii was many, many years ago that this
song of the angels WAS first heard, and
only few watching shepherds listened
to it then. But in the centuries since it
has been repeated until its words are
known the wide world over. All sorts
and conditions of men have listened to il
with hope and wonder. Il utters The
deepest desire of the human heart; ii
voices a longing that all good men feel !;
1t speaks for the aspiring soul. II men
lived for the glory of God what Won
drous world this would be. II there were
peace everyH here between man and man
how beautiful this earth would seem.
Without doubt the spirit II Christ
mas time approaches nearest the spirit
of the angels song. Now it is the seq
son Of coed cheer and Of peace among
men. For a little while the selfish pas
sions are put under lock aud key, and
the evil desires of men are chained in the
dungeons of the soul. Goodness has a
chance To live and breath, and love has
opportunity to rule. In these days We
are thinking Of others more than of our
selves, and of what we are to give rather
than of that we are to receive. A
strange experience to some, we find our
selves being made happy by the happ.-
ness of our friends. We awaken to the
fact that we can get the rarest and sweet
est kind of pleasure by giving it to
others. We don't think of it perhaps,
but the Christmas Joy, its happiness
coming through our thoughts of Others.
is rich fufllment of the Masters
words, HE that loseth his life shall find
it, he that giveth joy shall have it,"
Has any profounder maxim of conduct
ever been written? | think not. How
much 1t would mean If the Christmas
spirit might last through all the year.
Have faith, my friends, that good day is
coming sometime, if not for US, at least
tor our ehildren's children.
But the best evider ce that the Christ
mas spirit has really taken living hold
upon US is that we are not satisfied to
include in the circle of our kindly
thought simply our relatives and our
friends but feel compelled to seek out
some of earth's unfortunate ones, that
by s0me token of sympathy We may
cheer their lives. How utterly lacking
s the Christmas spirit in the well dress
ed, well goomed man with money in hi
pt ekef, who at this season Is buying
ST only for wife and children aud for
friends, who like himself are possessed OF
launy of the good things Of lie. u,h al
one knows not what Chi tmas means.
The flowers sent 10 the shut in invalid
the dress of pretty color given to the
child whose clothes are ottenest plain
and lbreadbare, the substantial aid SEM
to the home where dollars are few ano
bills are large, the little gift of remem-
branee to some humble soul that r. joices
not to be forgotten, these are the deeds
that make Christmas happy and holy
day. No one truly keeps this birthday
Of the Christ who does not thus go oul
into the broad world and do some good
Iu this Christian land where one out of
four are openly confessed followers of
Jesus, and where / is spirit is by no
means limited 10 the confines of his
church, it ought not to be that single
man could live among US without some
of the Christmas cheer being bestowed
upon him. Surely there is need Of great
uuseltishness. Those who know ,ell US
hat all the year round, Christmas night
included, one out of five of the people in
the largest city of the land go to bed
hungry, not having had food enough for
the nourishment of the body. HARD
work ng men, weary women aud pinch
checked children these. And we here in
this little town will have to be very
lhoughttul else there will be some home
where Christmas brings no cheer. Tn
Master left his throne in heaven, WAS
born in a manger and became servant
that he might bless The world. Shall "
not follow in his steps and in this gli d
Christmas season of the year mnist,r
10 the needs of me-?
FAkRY W. knIBALL.