The Daily News MONDAY, DECEMBER 24. CHRISTMAS AGAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81911, 24 December 1906, Page 2

The Daily News MONDAY, DECEMBER 24. CHRISTMAS AGAIN.

Christmas! What a flood of memories the more word stirs! Mostly pleasant memories to those who haw tried to act up to the injunction given on the first Christmas, "Peace, goodwill to man." There isn't anything in any literature sacred or profane that is simpler. <■!•';: rev. more adequate than those same old words. If only mankind learned the leson! If only peace and goodwill to man didn't stop sliorl at Christmastime! Outside Christendom the heneliceut influence of the season is not felt, hut wiierove* people have accepted the Biblical story and believed in tile Biblical Man. there always has with the recuiTcnc(<of the anniversary brought a cessation of sordid care and mere business. Christmas has healed hostility, mended broken friendships, reunited the long-severed. Christinas is the time for mirth and gladness, the time of genera! rejoicing that Christendom hasn't had such a bad time after all. Whether we accept the season as sacred or no, wo gladly aeeept it as the bright interregnum between a year that is passing and a year that is to be.

We have worked for good or ill for twelve months since last we gathered round the Christmas table. If it has been for ill, perhaps the occasion and the thoughts inspire us to put away the old soiled page and turn a failnew leaf. If for good then we may be glad indeed and turn the page with greater confidence. The thoughts of many of our readers go winging to otlipr lands at this season so sacred to 'old association, to old friendships, to the old folk at Home." One may conjure up a mind picture of the aged parent sitting in the inglenook alongside the yule log with a British,snowstorm howling outside. One may even imagine the aged person reminding herself of her oversea son or daughter by gazing at the treasured photo. One may imagine the old folk, inspired by the occasion, offering up a simple request that He whose birthday it is will not forget the wanderer _ In the Old Land the winter festivities that have become familiar to the young colonial through many famous books and in pictured story, 'till possess the ancient fascination md the ancient mystery. What child is there who does not know that Santa Claus is un old fraud in the shape of "mum" or "dad"?

It is good for these old sentiments to live. It is good that our children Jiouhl have simple faith in the liurni-ic-is, beautiful customs that are rooted so strongly in the British nature. It is good for the optimist and the growler. It is good for the drone and the worker. It is good to do good. Christmas is a good time for doing good. You've got leisurebarring cows—to patch up that quarrel with our neighbor about the boundary fence. Both of you hate to make the first advance. It's Christmas time. Get it over now. I'erhaps; yuur son Jack cleared out some time last year. Ue didn't understand vou 01- you wouldn't understand lii'ii You'll kill the fatted turkey for the prodigal if lie turns up, won't vou v Jf be doesn't turn up, send a wire. It is Christmas time.

■ n Taranaki during the venr Xaturo has absolutely laughed and Providence has been good. Even without oil 1 things m general were fairlv well lubricated, and the wheels of success moved a little faster, but there is always the consolation that thev mioht have been slower. It isn't anv use growling over spilt milk. It k better to be thankful that a couple of cans remained upright when the milk cart bogged. For ourselves we could not complain of a roadless back country if we tried. The season won t permit grizzling. If during the past twelve months we have pointed the linger of scorn at any abuses, we do not apologise. One peed not apologise for having tried to do one's duty. If in any humble wav it has been our good fortune to help airworthy cause in a spiall degree we are grateful. If we can touch the consciences of anybody whose conscience Heeds touching it i* still open for na to tuke me old-time advice, "Physician heal thyself/' •

Come to think of it, more world v progross and iiiiiiiici.ll prosperity arc not tl.e only tilings conducive to a .Merrv [ Christmas. Tiler* may be million, i aires that are not so liappy (.encow dairy f armer 01 . a ' locky. 1 oucanbe happy oniiveshil ings a day and want to commit suicide on live hundred pounds per diem, lour present of a monkcy-on-a-stick . to your child may give you as much genuine pleasure as the present of a diamond tiara would give a Oim-in-n lard king. The value of an olfcrin" : 18 K u;l S™ l»y the sacrifice it entails and not by $c Rr j ct . one pavgi you can t miss the fact that ihu and asylums are just as full at Christmas time as at any other time. Don't assume airs because you are enjoviu" good mental and physical health,'and are therefore outside such an institution. Perhaps you've had no temptation or have beeu strong to resist temptation. This is 110 credit to vou. , ;u t I«-Jp being a paragon. Perhups others couldn't be if 1 , liUle is bettllan ,llllcll smnon; a -jujJpimr more potent than y bundle of tracts* a alieu of Christmas pudding nioiv sustaining to the starving wau than a uelugc ox moralising.

llic.Gospel is iiidissolul.ly wrapt up m (liristmtis.' CJ.risti.iiis j* t|,!. gospel. "JJehold . bl . in ,, V(|U |i((1 (Imp ot great Joy"-U,rist,„as was t din -P' m' V g0 " 1 ""' 1 ' ""- v f-""" 1 ' U. .n s s won!, sprculiug. Jt (!u , s ><>t matter I.mcj. M-J.ctlier t!:c purlieu. Jar gosp,d you are going to preach toniuiiou or the m-xt (hiy is tiiv .s>me was preached <m tl.o lirst Chri-t " li,s - A chwrfnl fa„. is th,. gospel Christmas present given whole-heart-ed y, a U ,I v ll ' 1,0 "*]»-«l-t<)-catch-a-,Mackerel' ide« is ihc gospelpaying 01.l .l.'hts ; „„1 mendin- „|, r.;...js are t!:e gospel. X!«. gospel /, ;r Ciiiistnia.s does,ft he.i,, with u w|]jm . ;>»<! end Willi a s„il!le. If In "l'° !l '«' |>r■acliin-' than doiie- leel»r.ng than helping, you've got°so„ieV""8 tK ' lmUtl ''' "'ill. you. M C( . the doctor. Doctor .Nature is tlic hest ~hv ■-iifian. -Jhrow care to tl u . wind, hut lII' Hire when you throw you don't hit anybody M h v a j u .,j aiivaclv,

t. Uiclus ,„,l lan; j [ ■ ii you I,: iM H|. ti.ii.gs u,r t(,<- An,,.,- H , . in !! ' l| '' t« have i. "real f:;f : i ,i " u - ii »i v«u c„„. umtiol It for 5um,.,),,,. You'll gft ;l <lunl.iL- .lose „f j„v |, v |.. (Un „ .vuur heller nature l mvi! a r'", 1 l " lmu ' :l i>c nant lo have a .rood j ,T h in H " sl 7" !d b; ' (?l;ul ir Knv I 'y™ »W> «M *n,Un,enl t-x H ßed 111 ,«» »W. «w way potent enough to ins,„r<- universal Happiness. jlut while U 'e know that Kleins iiix* Hoi. mere wonls the n |,| sentiment ;-ljps iV.iiii us as cariiestlv - in wry (rsi.h it of achieving our ilc.-irc, that vou unl yours and all of u„ may >peni[ A .ueiuu ojiavrAus AXD A iUl'i'V xm YKAIi.