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Show I CHRISTMAS. Christmas carols are already ringing on the air; Christmas bells will be ringing soon; children are all expectancy and whether Santa Claus comes with the traditional reindeers and sleigh or with a celestial automobile, it will be all the same to them, so that his stock for 1902 is inexhaustible. The Christmas of ancient days was the feast day for the harvest that had come and disarmed the winter of its terrors. The Christmas of Christian countries is a time of double rejoicing, rejoicing for the harvest that makes sufficient the winter's food, rejoicing because it marks the signal station that was set up nineteen hundred years ago bearing bear-ing to mankind the promise of redemption, and everlasting peace. Hence Christians hail it with the gratitude and joy which becomes a day so auspicious of peace and hope. In the cathedrals its coming is greeted with ringing bells, with all the pomp and solemnity of organ and choir, of robed priests, of swinging censors, incense and praiea and prayer. In the homes of the people are the babblings of children's voices which may be ascend higher than the organ roll and the singing sing-ing in the churches, for no mediator can come nearer catching God's ear than the voice of a child. There is feasting and merriment for "joy to the world, the Lord is come," and Christmas day symbols sym-bols that day toward which men" look forward to when Peace shall be the rule and when Care and Sorrow shall have been driven away. It is right on Christmas day to rejoice, right to put care aside, right for the earth to be glad, for around it centers all there is of hope for this world and the world to come. It is right for neighbor to greet neighbor in all friendship and heartiness; it is right to fill children's chil-dren's hearts with gratitude to Santa Claus, for when more years come to teach the children that the saint is a myth, the gratitude will not be lost; f H will only be changed to the real Santa Claus, J Parents and friends; it will expend into love of t home and love of home when perfected culminates (t to love of country and boys so reared are worthy to become soldiers, girls so reared are worthy to i become the mothers of soldiers. 4 The day is so sacred that anything rude or coarse grates upon it; self-respect should cause all I men to respect the day, to make it a joyous Sab-? Sab-? bath. I Again there is nothing that will so sweeten its B hours in the thoughts of men as to know that they I have been true to it; that no poor neighbor has j been neglected; that there is no child near who I has been denied a gift; that there is no home near so poor, that above it there is a break in the carols that are being sung. Those carols are continuations of the echoes that rang back from the ether. "Glory to God in the highest and on earth to man Peace and Good Will" because the Lord was born, and they should on Christmas day swell in louder and louder volume vol-ume until the angels come again to join in the immortal im-mortal song and to repeat THE CHRISTMAS STORY. While lowly shepherds watched their flocks by night; God's angel came and panoplied in glory That filled the world with a celestial light-Announced light-Announced O wondrous story That in a manger rude in Bethlehem old, Unto an earthly mother had been giveh. The child, by seers and prophets long foretold The Lord of earth and heaven. ' The story of those shepherds, by their sheep And what they saw and heard has thrilled the ages; For history holds no other half so deep In all its sacred pages. Uncouth those shepherds were, but gentle souled, Nothing they knew of learning's higher missions, Their thoughts were bounded by the rude sheep-fold sheep-fold And by their race traditions. They talked, and told maybe, of their great King, How in his youth his fathers' sheep he tended, And how against the furious lion's spring The boy his flock defended Maybe they marveled as the tale was told Which had survived a thousand years of telling; , And gave their version that in days of old Giants on earth were dwelling. Maybe they told how Pharaoh's host was drowned, Of Moses' wisdom or of Miriam's singing, Of men inspired who, mightily renowned, Had kept their history ringing. With deeds that shook the world, with thoughts sublime, A history marvelous, a chosen nation, Watched over, cared for by the power divine, The elect of all creation. . The night was still, the young moon had gone down. Through clouds like white-winged birds the '"stars were sailing; On earth and air the midnight's heavy frown Was drawn a sable veiling. At last one shepherd raised his heavy eyes, When lo, a new star in the east was blazing; Startled and trembling in a vast surprise At something so amazing Ho cried, "O, see! In the pale east the night Has taken on a new unnatural glory! What is the portent of that wondrous light, Above our hill-topB hoary?" Then on those watchers fell a mighty fear, For the bright star forsook the east, and sailing Above them shone so radiant and so near, The bravest heart was failing. When through the night a voice came sweet and 1 if jH clear, I P'V "Fear not, for lo! glad tidings we are bringing;' n r L'B The Lord is born, O! earth be of good cheer, j$ fl ' i The heavenly host is singing 'I'iSm' )' 1 The Lord is born!" Thus did the herald cry: i; jkiM 7' Like a grand anthem swelled the mighty rhythm, J i bjj- '' "On earth be peace, and to the God on high, ! ! M& 1 jj,! Hosannahs!" God in heaven i Wm ' M Did ever such a message come before? w if ' jH Peace and to man good will," that was the greet- i m jl The air was thrilled and from the mountains hoar, W Wv rjH Echoes rolled back repeating &! W 'fB The tones august "Peace and to man good will" . f I f, kjJH In full acclaim: While on the bare ground kneel- W (k.B The trembling shepherds heard rare music swell m ( $:;'-?jjM Like solemn great bells pealing. m 'ft 'J Mighty in melody, a glorious strain; m OTjHf jjH A stately paean rising, falling, swelling; M It'lj:! ' A triumph song, and in its deep refrain If itj The Savior's coming telling. m if 2 1 H And then the bright star ceased its onward way, I yfl , H And o'er a lowly manger hung in glory, i ' mH The lowly manger where the young child.lay. 1 1 l"i! f'l That is the wondrous story. Pi'MOluH It has a lesson to the sons of men, HkP iH Aside from its enchantment and its splendor; p! H It is a symbol beautiful, that when In-IH We faithful service render, M If J $H And falter not, the books are kept above, llM And credit for each honest effort given, . i JF jr fjyH And it comes back in peace, good will, and love, l I&tiilliB And makes of earth a heaven! llflPilllll |