The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-12-20
CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS.
Memorable Day OF Song, GIadness. and
Gifts Written for The Fulton
County News.
BY PROFESSOR GEORGE W. ASHTON.



IT is the birth day OF thy King
The Christmas song still ling.
ers. If not IN the fields and up
on the streets, yet in our hearts
and homes we still sing sweet
Christmas carols. Love runs IN.
to oetry; gladness finds express
sion in song. Even upon the birth
of Christ poetry and song were
laid uuder angelic contribution to
celeb ate the ausplcious event.
Ever since, poets have sung their
sweetest strains when their
tongues we're touched with this
heavenly fire.
God loved and gave. The gift
was the most costly, precious,
beneticeut, the universe afforded
The gift of all the stars would nave
been infinitely less valuable. The
gift OF all the angels would have
been trifle ompared to it. The
gift of His own glory, power and
wisdom would not have equaled it.
The gift of His Son, to reign AMI
serve IN his might and glory,
would have been lmmeasufably
less than the gift of that Son as a
sufferer to be clothed IN mortali
ty, poor, despised, tempted, in
suited, sorrowful, the brother of
every lost sinner, the burden.
bearer of our lace, offering
for all, On the anniversary of our
Lords birthina manger we should
remember the gift and the giver,
Such wonderful love should beget
love in return.
Real love always gives. Thlt
IS It's nature. 1t cannot be re.
strained. Christmas is the day
of gifts. Jesus takes pleasure in
such celebrations of his birth.
There is fragrance IN the bloom
ing of love, far sweeter than in all
flankincense and myrrh. Let 1T
break forth freely All possible
expressions of 1T are worship.
Give to the old, The mlddle-aged
and the young; give to the rich
and the poor; to the loved and the
pitled; to the joyful aud the sor-
rowful, give for Jesus sake; cele'
brate generously and joyfully.
Give trinkets and treasures, toys
and mementoes; the useful and
ornamental; the cheap and the
costly; the homely and the beau
tiful; both food and clothing; tc
the body and the mind; to the eye
and the heart; to the family and
the church. Wherever love ex
tends gifts should go on Christ
mas day, that the whole earth nay
be flooded with gladness and al
hearts filled with praise. The
Lord will recognize and approve
1T all; the clatter of presents viii
raise a sweet melody to the skies
not note will be lost, and not
discord permitted. Loves work
is harmony; loves gifts on X'm 's
day, whether to the grandmother
or the baby, the relative or the
stranger, raise a Psalm OF praise
to the Savior, and send a brlgh'
smile of pleasure over His glori
Gus face.
Love delights in receiving as
we'll as giving. Jesus has pleas
ure in saving, and being welcomed
to souls redeemed. Oar GIFT di
rect to Him should be our hearts
Christmas is a good day for con
secration, and entering INTO The
Joys of our Lord. There are many
hearts no gwen to Christ. LIE
them be gwen as a Christmas
present. They will gladden. Hi'
heart and call down HIS benedic
ton. Who will send a thrill Of JOY
to heaven Who will add to thu
pleasures o. Christmas in glory
Jesus longs for gifts; angels avail
them with strong desire; IN oul
giving let us give our hearts t
Christ.
Upon this good, glad day mor'
than upon any other day In tn
whole year do we seem to reallz
! the fulfillment OF theangelic song
A