Pursuit of Knowledge Under Difficulties

Rachel Foden: A Tale of the Plague.........

Restored Leper.............

Reward for Well-doing

91

125, 146

201

196

Sea Gardens

Seasons

11

..36, 65, 132, 181

179, 199, 219, 231.

Review and Intelligence........ 18, 39, 59, 78, 98, 119, 137, 159,

Subjects for Sunday Lessons .........20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140,

160, 180, 200, 220, 232.

Sunday School Penny Magazine.

A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

What a happy time is Christmas Day! How gladly is its annual visit hailed by every Christian soul the wide world through! Even when English people go far away to countries where the sun blazes hot upon their heads at this festive season, they gather round the table, and eat their plumpudding with all the zest that we are doing here at home; and friends rejoice to think that, though the whole round globe lies between their feet, their hearts are still united in affection's bond, and whisper to one another, "A merry Christmas to you far away."

But let us think of Christmas round our English fireside. The wind may bluster cold and shrill all round the house, and the snow lie thick upon the ground, but still you shall see a smile upon every face. Trouble and care are forgotten for the time. Families-for this occasion only in the year-are gathered together with a joyous greeting. Old and young; father and son; brother and sister; parted for long months, once more meet together on this day with gladdened hearts. Even in the poorest cottages, where poverty conquers on other days, she is put to flight on this. An extra lump of coalthe old YULE LOG-blazes cheerily on the fire. Father spends the whole day away from work; his children clamber on his knees, or perhaps accompany him to church or chapel. (Why should not they go together oftener than they do?) Mother has nothing to do all day long but cook the most comfortable and cheery dinner they have had since Christmas

last, and for which they have perhaps been subscribing for months past at the grocer's or the butcher's shop. And some one has thought kindly, too, for those poor old lonely men and women and those orphan children in the workhouse, and on Christmas Day they too rejoice in the merry Christmas dinner of roast beef and plum-pudding.

Do you remember, dear children, while your hearts are filled with joy, why Christmas Day, above all others, is a HOLY DAY to every Christian? I should think every Sunday scholar would be ready at once to tell me, "Because on this day Jesus Christ was born." Do you know the hymn? Hark! what mean those holy voices, Sweetly sounding through the skies? Lo! the angelic host rejoices; Heavenly hallelujahs rise.

Listen to the wond'rous story!

Which they chant in hymns of joy:

"Glory in the highest! Glory !

Glory be to God most high.

"Peace on earth, goodwill to mortals;
Christ the Lord is born to-day!
Wide he opes the eternal portals,

Chasing sin and death away!"

That is why we have set apart Christmas Day as a day of festival. On that day we rejoice to think that He came who taught men that God is their Father, loving and caring for them constantly; who bade them do all things to His glory, loving "Him with heart, and mind, and soul, and strength;" who gave to men the knowledge and the hope of that peace which passeth understanding, and which God's Holy Spirit will give to all who seek it; who preached the gospel of "good will among men," and went about doing good, finding pleasure only in doing what he taught, in living to promote God's glory and man's salvation.

Because we are thus saved from ignorance and idolatry, from vice and sin,-because we "know to do good," and have the strength to do it offered to us through Jesus Christ, we rejoice on this happy day to commemorate the Saviour's birth. On this day of "peace on earth, goodwill among men," we assemble together in our families to renew the ties of affection, which separation might have weakened. We meet together in the house of worship, that, in the brotherhood of Christian discipleship, we may offer our thanksgiving to God in Simeon's words, "For our eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people: a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel."

It is no unfortunate thing that New-Year's Day follows so closely upon Christmastide. Perhaps everybody feels, in some degree, at New-Year's Day, as each one does on his own birthday. Another year has passed from us. It has brought some joys and some trials. It has taught us some good things, and seen, alas! some errors and evils in our lives. A new year is opening before us. We do not know what its course may bring forth. It may have happiness or sorrow in store for us. But that we can leave in faith to His care, who "maketh all things work together for good to them that love Him." A more momentous question is, Will it find us wiser and better at its close than it does now? Are we so guiding our steps through life, that, as we grow in years, we may also grow in grace? Are we trying to preserve in our hearts those qualities of simplicity, and innocence, and obedience, and faith, and affection, which make children such that Jesus said of them-"Suffer little children, and forbid them not to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of God." That is a