Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1920-12-24
Id The Christmas Country.

Christmas this year falls on Saturday
next. On that day let US all take journey
to the Christmas Country. We will find it
stretching from the bright lands Of Child
hood through the flower-studded gardens
of Youth. across the rich and fertile acres
Of Manhood and Womanhood. even to the
end Of the green fields Of Old Age. 1t is
out Of sight Of Care, it has an insuperable
wall against Trouble, and the storms Of
Strife and Temper never reach its shores.
1t is the land of gorgeous plenty, with
every gift that invention can devise or
kind hearts suggest. 1t is a land flowing
with the milk of human kindness and the
honey Of sweet thoughts. Its valleys of
peace are guarded by the Mountains of
Protection, which tower into the clear celes-
tial skies.
Lit with the sun of countless smiles, the
air rings with the music Of the laughter Of
children. Santa Claus may be its king, but
he is an invisible monarch who never needs
to punish his subjects. whose DEGREES are
transmitted by wireless telegraph and are
carried out in secret. In his reindeer sleigh
he comes and goes, and you only hear the
tinkle of the sleigh bells. But we know he
has been there by the splendid gifts he
leaves beside million freplaces and the
stockings he fills hanging on millions of
maptlepieces.
Intensely selfish people whose minds are
filed only with thoughts Of themselves. and
what they can get out Of others. can never
get into the Christmas Country, and they
wouldn't appreciate it if they ever did get
in. But millions of men and women, boys
and girls, whose hearts are young, who are
filed with pleasant thoughts for others,
who are unselfsh as they are kind. will
find the gates wide open, and as they enter
"a little Child shall lead them"
For 1t is particularly the land Of child
hood. as 1t is the land Of innocence and
purity and unselfishness. II was founded
by the lOveliest Being that ever dwelt upon
this earth, Who mingled in His own person
all the best of earth and all the best of
Heaven. He loved the children and seemed
to feel kinship with them. He loved to
take them in his arms and bless them and
when older disciples tried to keep them
away, as if they were troublesome to the
Master. He rebuked them, saying. Suffer
the little children to come unto Me. and
forbid them not, for Of such is the King
dom Of Heaven"
1t is fitting that this celebration of the
anniversary of His birth should have grown
into the great Festival of the Children. He
was born in manger in stable, in Beth
lehem; therefore the poorest child who ever
was born into the world has something
in common with Him. He was exalted as
King Of kings and Lord of lords; therefore
the proudest prince may look up to Him
and call Him humbly Father"
Even those who do not acknowledge His
Divinity believe in His goodness and great
ness. So that all Of us. of whatever church
or creed or race, no matter how poor OF
how rich, how humble or how exalted, can
join in this happiest festival of all the
year. All Of us can put aside the cares
and sorrows, the trouble and strife of this
old work-a-day world and. with the chill
dren. 60 for at least little while into the
Christmas Country.
Aside from the children. this is the time
not only to give free rein to any eener.
Gus impulse, but to originate and cultivate
generous impulses. and if not capable Of
that, to give away something from stern
sense of duty. There is ample opportunity
on every hand. There are relatives ant
friends who, If not in poverty. are pinched
and hard pushed. Ease up the load little
Then there are thousands of poor and sich
people who have little reason to think thai
any one in the world cares in the least fol
them or their troubles. Show them they
are mistaken, and convey to them, alon,
with the relief they need. little genuine
human sympathy. So doing. you will give
a happy Christmas, and have one.