Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-12-12
LEWISTOWN. MONT, Dec. ~ ~
CHRISTMAS GREETING


How quickly the weeks and months
pass by is forced upon our notice by
the fact that in a few days Christmas
will once more be here--a season
more intimately associated with our
tenderest memories, more closely con
nected with our domestic and social
life than any other in the whole year.
Well nigh two thousand years have
come ana gone since the angels first
proclaimed their glad tidings of
great JOY" and sang the first Christ
mas carol above the quiet hills OF
Bethlehem. and still the story is
and young feel glad as the holy sea-
son comes again. Still from countless
steeples rings forth the joyous peal
and from countless cnOirs the trlum-
plant song telling Of the wondrous
love which stopped 50 low-even from
heaven to earth-and of the new high
Bc''t'i''~
mysterious union between the human
and the divine. Not all, it is true, re-
joice with true Christmas joy. 1t is
tne worlds fashion to observe the sea-
son, with its good wishes, its many
Sits, its happy gathering OF the scat
tered family circle, its bright memoir
les and its innocent mirth. And it is
well that it should be so observed,
even if it be not from the highest
motives. 1t is well for all that in ev-
cry home in the land there should be
JOY and glaslness, feasting and mirth;
that selfishness and greed should, for
a time at least, give place to kindly
thoughts and open-handed generos-
ity. But it is better still for those
who know the happiness of keeping
the season as the anniversary of a
birthday, for those who know what it
is to hear with ever new delight the
glad tidings of great joy for those
whose happy gatherings are warmed
with the glow of more than earthly
love, whose hearts are full of the
sense OF mighty mercy. These in
deed keep happy Christmas. There
may be a vacant chair in the dear cir
Gle, which tells them they have had to
srieve since last they met together;
there may be sickness in the once
cheerful home, and weakness where
last year were health and strength :;
there may be poverty and anxiety
where once there was enough and to
spare, but through and in spite OF
all there will be a depth and a real
lty in their Christmas JOY such as no
outward circumstances can give or
take away.
Christmas, 'Tis tne childrens own
season by virtue OF the birth of the
Child who was born to bring happi-
ness into world of sin and sorrow
and care. Sometimes We older ones,
who have learned more than they Of
the worlds wisdom and perhaps tast-
ed already the bitter of lifes cup. are
inclined to think and speak cynicalIy
OF Merry Christmas" It is all very
well, We say, for children TO indulge
in merry-making and laughter ana
the happy anticipations of the visit
OF Santa Claus. For us, on whom are
falling the shadows of advancing
years, such things are past and ov
er. True, sadly true, to a certain ex
tent, for
80, Christmas. Merry Christmas,
This it never more may be;
We cannot bring again the days
of our unclouded glee
But Christmas, happy Christmas,
Sweet herald of good will,
or peace and holy gladness,
1t can and should be still"
We can all. if we choose, taste agar
something al east of the former JOY:
of childhood in witnessing ana shar
ing the innocent pleasures OF the chill
dren, and happy indeed is the MAI
or woman who at this season cal
keep something of the child heart o
former years.
peace and good will" Such wa
the burden of the angels song OF lon;
ago. But as We look around Us ~
confess with sorrow that there is ia
less of these than there should be. Ey
erywhere are the jealousies of oppos
ing factions, the open wrong and tn
secret corruption. The world and it
ways seem all awry, and mems mind
are confused by the babel of discorC
ant voices, each shouting it's panace
for human ills. christianity is
failure!" is cried aloud with bite
scorn by some and whispered Wit
cowardly misgivings by others. Bl
not SO. The old, old story told on tn
first Christmas day is still as true a
ever, though forgotten or ignored b
the world at large. Let us only ge