CHAPTER XXX

THE CHRISTMAS CANDLE=

_Objects used; A Small Candle; in a Common Candlestick; A Representation of a Window. This is a Story Object Sermon_

THE CHRISTMAS CANDLE

CHRISTMAS fires and lights are as old as the story of the birth of Jesus. The earliest form of lighting was the wood fire in the cave. Around this light the ancients sat and told the stories of old. Around the fire on the field of the shepherds, sat the ancient guardians of the sheep, as they read from the holy parchment, of the "coming ONE" and as they sat watching the dying embers of some such fire, were startled by flash of heavenly light and heard the angels' song of the new-born King. That was the first Christmas light. Ever since that day, whenever the glad Christmas day approaches, lights, beautiful and cheerful seem to shine out the glad light of the first Christmas day and so from window on hill top or valley, from tree and toy room of countless homes, the Christmas candle plays its happy part in the drama of Merry Christmas. To illustrate this Christmas candle story, construct a large background like the inside view of a window, and place a tall candle in front of it. If the window cannot be erected draw one on a blackboard or sketch one on a piece of muslin. If there is a small window in the alcove of the pulpit platform in good sight of the people, use that. Then tell the following story: A little crippled child, in one of the back alleys of a great city, wondered what she could do to brighten Christmas day for some one else. She was too poor to give even "the widow's mite" yet she had a kindly heart for other children poorer than herself. Her mother, with tears dropping from her eyes, said "God had not made it possible for us to do anything for the rest of the world except just to be glad and they would both try to do that in the name of the little Lord Jesus, who was once as poor as they." She remembered that in her own native land, far over the sea, the children of her childhood always put a lighted candle in the window (here light the candle in front of the window) which sent out a cheerful light over the snow on Christmas. They could do that, at least, and with a glad heart they lit the candle and prayed "God bless the light." From the outside the little glittering light looked like the star of Bethlehem. The darkness hid the ugly surroundings of the dilapidated home and it looked supremely beautiful on the "Night of Nights." A laboring man, hastening by to the corner saloon, with his wages in his pocket, thinking only of himself and a night of sin, saw the light in the window. Said he, "It is Christmas eve" and all about him he saw, hastening to and fro, men and women bearing Christmas gifts to the loved ones. It had been many a year since he had made his little ones happy by Christmas gifts. He had forgotten Christmas was so near until he saw the little candle in the window. The light held him--a prisoner--It called him back--back to his childhood days and the happy Christmas time he had spent in his own home. His father and mother had taught him in the early days to love God and keep His Commandments. He wiped away a tear--turned about face as he looked again at the Christmas candle, and went home. They had a Merry Christmas in that home that glad day, and the poor little girl's Christmas candle blessed of God, brought the wayward son back to God, home, and Christmas. Just across the narrow alley, a window of a room, in which an old man, worn out with years, trying to sleep, heard the snow beating against the window pane, arose and looked out at the falling snow. As he did so, he saw the light in the window across the way. That reminded him it was again Christmas eve. Not for long years had he even given it a serious or religious thought. He had lived for self alone because he was alone. His children had forsaken him; wife had died long years ago, but somehow this light had "got him" also. Memories of other years came back and rang the Christmas bells of long ago. In his thoughts he was back to his childhood day. How happy those memories made him feel. "Christmas back again" said he as he looked again at this lone light in the window across the way. "I'll put one in my window" and he relit the candle he had extinguished as he slipped into bed. Another window with a candle in it was shining out until, when midnight came, the dark alley was aglow with lighted windows. The old man said as he closed his eyes in slumber, "Tomorrow I will make the day merry for the little mother and child across the way" and he kept his promise.

A lady of high degree and great wealth, passed by in her car loaded with Christmas gifts, saw the little girl's Christmas candle in the window. She stopped at the house, hurried upstairs, there she saw the poor little girl trying to keep Christmas with one candle. The good lady's heart was touched by the child's simple faith and beautiful little deed, left for her toys and little comforts, that the dear mother and little girl accepted with tears of joy. When Christmas day came, the sleepers in the alley were awakened by the carol singers chanting "While shepherds watched their flocks by night." Our little girl who put her Christmas candle in the window was the happiest little girl in the great city that day. Yes, and not that day only, but the good lady, attracted by the candle, became a constant friend, and in all the coming days helped her to win out in life's battle. So it was Christmas day every day in that humble home, and the lone Christmas candle in the window had been a candle blessed by God.

THE END

=Benediction Taps=

_To be sung at the close of evening meeting_

Day has gone Night has come Day has gone Night has come God is near God is near All is well