The Christ Day

OrW OME-BRINGINQ 1 M&QJFI and home-loving nd home happiness are the bright features of the Christ day throughOut the metes and bounds oí Christendom. Calious is the heart, and dead to all impressions of lightand gladness, which is not quickened to gentleness and unselfishness upon the natal day of Him who taughtthebroadnst humanity and the most disinterested love. Had Dickens written only of Christmas, he should ocoupy a commanding- place in the affection of humanity because of the cheery scènes he pictured and the cheery halos he cast ebout this day of all days in the year. The very pathos, which at times seemed a part of himself , when he wrote, quickened and brightened under the light of that day until it was nearly divested of all its sadness. The tragedy of Calvary was years after the birth scène at Bethlehem. The God-child had need to grow up to man's estáte and rap about Him the mantle of infinite deity hefore He becarne a man of sorrows acquainted with grief. The Christ-day tells of the virg-in mother and her glad smile of joy as shi looked upon the face of her newIj'-born child. Tt recaJls the cherubie of the angels that startled thii shepherds of Salem and 1he effulgent sfar that guided the wise men to t.he mangor in which He lay. It brings out of the past the hUppy circumstances of those who were led into the Divine presence, brinpfing with them gifts of gold and frankincense and myri-h. So, too. elearer than wben first uttered.because now botter understood. is heard after the lapse of 2.000 years the Heav : 1 1 v promise of peace, (ind 'ú tomen. Comes also the teaching of mercy, forgiveness and charity as substitute for the older law of eye for eye and tooth for tooth. When He carne the dark Dight of cruelty and wrong and oppression rolled away, ushering in the gray davvn of an endless day of love for enemies and prayers for those that use their Deighbors despitefully. The example of the snges who eame as gift-bearer is nniversally follovved, and meet is it that it should be so, because the heart that gives in ]ove has a sure promise of ablessing from the Lord. The inspiring motive of donatives is the love that thinks no evil against the recipiënt of the favor, and love is the dominant ruler of the heart that is good. The Christ tnught nothing if He did not teach the infinite beauty of home lif-.ï Ihat is builded uixn love. The heart that loves and is cheerful gives freeiy. thus communicating pieasure to others in the reflection that they are not forgotten, and happiness to the donor in Ihat he perceives he has eommunieated liappiness. Love is eontagious. as happiness is eontagious. and blessed and thrice blessed is that bousehojd whieh ■welcomes Christians with ringing of bells and singing of glad songs, with ]anghter and merry voices. and that makes memorable the day by tokens of affection, whose vahie rests in the motive which prompted the giving of them. Did He sorrow? Piot for His sins or follies did He grieve. Did He sweat great drops of blood in His agony? Then was it that men might be freed from sin and be capable of appreciating and commemorating and imitatinc; the infinite good of His nature. The face that was marred isnow litwith the 5neffable joy that comes of man's redemption. and from His great throne He regards all earth's children in love and smiles responsive to the gladness of those homes which make merry and bright the Christ-day, Christmas. WILLIAM ROSSKR COBBE.