Page:Rural Hours.djvu/496

Rh with which men trifle with the precious boon of peace, the very sunshine of life; perhaps there is no one folly which so generally, so frequently, and so lamentably reminds us that we are indeed “very far gone from original righteousness.” But, on this holy day, when we especially celebrate the Nativity of the Prince of Peace, the solemn import of that high event, the perfect meekness, the pure humility, the unfailing fountains of patience and charity revealed to us in His sacred character, are not so easily forgotten as at other times; our cold hearts are touched, our impatient spirits are calmed, our evil passions are lulled to pious quiet by the noble devotions of the day. Probably, of all those who on this festival gather in the places of Christian worship, there are none, unless it be the wholly blind and unbelieving, who leave the house of God without some touch of pure and healthful influences; carrying with them, for a while at least, something more than usual of the light of Truth. Upon this holy day, there is indeed an increase of “peace on earth:” those who love already, love more truly, with more of that “pure and fervent affection” enjoined by the Apostle; friends draw nearer; and even those who in the struggle of life have held themselves as enemies, look with a milder eye upon each other—they feel, perhaps, some drop of better feeling, falling like oil on the stormy waves of evil passion. In short, on this day of blessing, the Christian meets no fellow-creature with absolute indifference, he parts from none with heartless carelessness.

Merry Christmas! Throughout Christendom, wherever the festival is observed—and there are now few communities where it is entirely forgotten—alms and deeds of charity to the poor and afflicted make a regular part of its services, proclaiming