The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1907-12-19

Christmas Greetings.
Geo. t. Davis in Carthage News.

IeO- l. DaNIs III Ssti SHASS -Nt"S.
At Christmas, play and make good
cheer. for Christmas comes but once
year. The time for the holly and
the mistletoe is almost here. The
time for bright faces and generous
impulses-for gladstone greetings-a
time for noble resolves to be born,
time for old animosities to die.
A time when the benevolent side OF
ones nature should eclipse the sordid
side. 4 time when the thoughts
should be turned towards home; a
| time when the usurping claims OF
business should be ignored. The
time when the child with its golden
curls, the man with his silvered locks
alike cry GLORY to God in the high
est; peace on earth, good will to men.
These words have been chanted by
all Christian nations since the infant
Jesus slept in the rude manager in
Bethlehem. The organs in the grand
| cathedrals have pealed forth these
| words aud the worshipers have been
| filled with alteration; those trea ding
the fiowerless paths of poverty echo
tilt Ia
The poor mother in the hovel, as
| as she bends over the smouldering
embers upon the desolute hearth and
weeps over the empty stockings OF
her neglected children-evens she hears
| the strains in the distance and her
| plaintive voice. so full of want, joins
in the chorus, :='tGlory to God in
the Highest Perhaps this mother
is thinking OF the Christmas days
in her childhood when plenty crown
ed the board, and these memories
may be feeding.her hungry heart.
| Theologians may $cayil over the
date and originsof this day, but will
hold fasterto our Christmas more
| heartily celebrated than in our own
Ecountry The spirit oof good cheer,
of good will and of gift-giving seems
to fill the very air. And as the Christ
mas Of 1907 is being ushered in by
the merry, pealing of the bells, may
every being in general catch some
thing of the heavenly enthusiasm of
the music and may it bear this vi
brant message to us all. AS we are
about ready to let go of the old year
we realize that to most of us it S been
a kind year. TO few the dark side
has been turned; to others the sunny
side. We must not forget that upon
some OF the homes of our loved ones
since Christmas tide a shadow has
fallen and the mantle of sorrow has
wrapped the inmates in it's sOmbre
folds. Other homes are like the
empty nest that hangs on the with
cred bough, desolate, because the life
and song went out with the birds.
New homes have beon made, new ties
formed and old ones severed.
But in our onward march it is not
we'll to stop to measure the load each
one carries. No life is either all sun.
) shine or all gloom. If the new year
brings prosperity let us rejoice; if ad.
versity let us be thankful, for every.
thing reminds us that we should be-
and share our blessings with Others
We won't have to look far to find
want and suffering The world is
full of it, and we will be happier our
selves by making others happy. So
let's be thankful that our lines have
fallen in pleasant places, that all is as
: | we'll with us as it is, and use Oul
utmost endeavors to make the new
year a happy one. Let's turn over
l the sad page and look at the bright
pictures THAT await us, and let us
quickly penetrate any cloud that
floats over our pathway, and view
at length the beautiful silver lining
beyond. You may think me tardy
! with my Christmas greetings, yet they
are none the less cordial on this ac
4 count. We are holding on to oul
t Christmas with one hand and reach
S ing out to the New Year with thu
' other.
A merry Christmas and happy New
Year to all.