* THE CAMBRIAN. * A NATIONAL MONTHLY MAGAZINE. VOL. XVIII. DECEMBER, 1898. No. 12. CHRISTMAS. Rev. J. Vinson Stephens. than any other one of the year. The gospel is preached with greater power to the poor on this day than ever. Our sympathies are stirred to their centre at this season. Neither the priest nor the Levite passes the fallen, wounded, naked, and halfdead traveller by the wayside along some other road, but both on this day, like the good Samaritan, come where the helpless and hungry lie. Why? Because the story which tells us how Mary wrapped her firstborn son, and laid him in a manger "because there was no room for them in the inn," has enlisted our sympathy towards the needy for the It comes when the nights are longest, and the cold intensest, and yet it is the merriest of all our festivals. The very name of Christmas has a wonderful reforming influence upon men. No matter how cold the day may be, or how bare the landscapes are, it is always a cheerful day. What excites our delights under such gloomy surroundings? The simple story of the new born king. The day is cold, but the Sun of righteousness shines upon it; the fields are severely bare, but frankincense and myrrh diffuse sweet perfume over their desolation; the night is dark, but a new star appears on its black abyss; the whole at nosphere is chilly, but an angelic in a manger. The contemplation of Lost cheers it with a new song. Sun and star, incense and song, earth and heaven's best unite to make it a day of mirth and joy, and should not fail to thrill Christendom with ecstatic raptures. Not only it is the merriest, but also the kindliest season of the year. sake of the One whom we cradled Christ's birth excites in men the spirit of charity. As Jesus enthroned our needs in his heart so does our true happiness depend upon self-sacrifice. I am a staunch believer in Santa Claus, and in the expediency of increasing his burden in order to More alms are given at this day lighten those of the little ones who have already begun to dream of his arrival. Neither do I possess any misgivings that he will ever dethrone our Santa Christ, whose name and fame shall endure forever. And a "Cambrian's" Christmas number would be most assuredly incomplete without a word about him. There are a few incidents touching his birth and infancy which appeal perfectly to our minds. And in an age when people speak so patronizingly about the man Jesus, it is refreshing to see the divine superscription written upon the child's manger-cradle at Bethlehem, as plainly as on the water pots in Cana of Galilee. Men explain his wonderful career by the inspiration of genius which they say was upon him. But let us learn this truth concerning the Christ; that his wondrous provision can not account for events in his infancy which transcend the reasoning of the Magi. Guided by a mysterious star these sages left their country in search of the new-born king of the Jews; and as long as they followed it every step they took brought them nearer his presence. But when they drew near Jerusalem, the wise men forsook its guidance and trusted in their own wisdom to discover him. Of course, they were sure that the King of the Jews would be born in the metropolis. There was no need of any star to point out that selfevident fact, and thither they hurried to do him homage. Reason and religion were divorced when they set their judgment against God's unswerving guide. But science and Christ were on the same side even then, as ever. The king of the Jews was in a country village whither his star would have led them had they less confidence in their own conceit. Many wise men besides these eastern The sages have gone astray from Jesus by following their own reasoning rather the plain guidance of God's infallible word -the star which is to lead the most learned unto his presence. things concerning Jesus of Nazareth are above human reasoning. The babe is never found in men's cradle of conclusions. They go up to Jerusalem to seek him, but he sleeps in the manger at Bethlehem! The same truth is further illustrated in the part played by Herod in the awful tragedy of the infants' massacre. He supplies the world with an instance of the most valid reasoning on his part to discover the new-born king, proving a complete failure. The proud king is troubled, and his only way of unravelling a knot is by cutting it with his sword. Unsheathed it glitters in his hand. But where is its victim, for it must be found in order to satisfy his anger? Two facts must be ascertained concerning him, namely, where he is, and who he is? To learn the first he called together the priests and the scribes of the people, and demanded of them, where according to the prophets was their Messiah to be born. They said, “In Bethlehem of Judea." But there are many children in that village, and how is he to know which of them is the destined King of the Jews. How will he solve that problem? He calls again the wise men to his aid, imparts unto them the ascertained information, charges them to search diligently for him, and to bring him a word as soon as he is found, that he may also go and do him homage. All this is capital counsel. But suppose the wise men will not return with the desired news? These foreigners may frustrate his plans by returning along some other way into their country. The shrewd Herod has taken precaution to meet that emergency by inquiring diligently what time the star appeared. The wise men did not return unto him as requested. But he knows where and when the king was born. True, he did not yet know which of the many little babes of Bethlehem was the Christ, but he solved that difficulty by killing them all. We find no fault with his reasoning process. The method adopted was as likely to succeed as any plan Satan himself could suggest. But the new-born king had fled to another kingdom where Herod would not dare to rest his foot. The angel had warned the parents of Jesus to flee to Egypt, and had arrived before Herod's soldiers. And the wise men, though they missed the road, and was delayed accordingly were there even before the angel. God makes "everything beautiful in its time." How could a poor village carpenter take his flight at the shortest notice to a foreign country had it not been for the precious gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh which the wise men brought unto him. Every incident in the history bears unmistakable signs of divine intervention. God's star leading the Magi, God's dream warning them not to return to the cruel despot, God's angel charging the child's parents to flee to Egypt. All these things are the works of his hand. His stars, his dreams, his angels, and the gold and the frankincense and the myrrh of men are still at the service of God to promote the interests of his king and kingdom. THE BRIGHT SIDE. Ey John D. Morgan. A cheering rainbow oft succeeds Most furious storms and showers, Then let your heart be glad and light, With smiles your face adorning: Should there be sorrow for a night, Joy cometh in the morning. IN OLD ENGLAND. Windsor Castle is one of the most notable royal residences of modern times. The picturesque beauty of the surrounding country, as well as the fact of its being royal, adds to its fame and popularity. Many attempts have been made to interpret the etymology of the name, but probably it will remain a mystery. Some of the etymologies of Windsor are fantastic, based on similarity of sounds, such as "Wind us over," "Wynd is over," "Gwyn y ser" (starwhite), &c. It seems that the most rational is "Windlesofra" from the winding of the course of the Thames in this part. Ed The place is of considerable antiquity, some of the Saxon Kings having resided in the neighborhood before the Confessor's time. ward the Confessor held his court here. William is said to have commenced the erection of a fortress near the site of the Round Tower of the present Castle. Henry I. enlarged the castle in 1109, and added a chapel, and subsequently removed to the new fortress. Edward I. and his Queen, Eleanor, often visited the new palace, and one time a grand tournament was held there by 38 knightly competitors. Very soon it became a place of great strength, second only to the Tower of London. King John lay at Windsor during the Magna Charta conferences at Runnymede. But Windsor Castle owes much of its glory to Edward III. who, in fact, changed the rude fortress with an adjacent chapel into a great and durable royal palace. Edward's architect was William of Wykeham, Bishop of Winchester. A pretty legend is connected with Windsor, that of the honorable conduct of Edward towards the Countess of Salisbury, which originated the well-known motto of the Garter"Evil be to him that evil thinks." Edward was born at Windsor, and it was also the birthplace of Henry VI., but he added nothing to it. Edward IV. added St. George's Chapel; Henry VII. and Henry VIII. the Tombhouse and the Gateway. The Round Tower stands on an artificial mound encompassed by a dry ditch, and is entered by a flight of steps, a second flight leading to the battlements of the keep, from which twelve counties may be seen. This was used as a prison until the time of the Restoration (1660). James I. of Scotland, having been captured when on his way to France, a boy of 10 years, was incarcerated here for 19 years, during which time he fell in love with Jane Beaufort, daughter of the Duke of Somerset. She became his wife, and after his release they both lived happily. Henry VIII. often resided in the Castle, and held his court here. Queen Elizabeth first formed the Apartments. The Queen's and Visitors' Apartments contain upwards of 369 rooms. South of the Castle lies the Great Park, a part of Windsor Forest. The Long Walk leads from the Castle to the Forest, and is considered one of the finest in Europe. It is perfectly straight, and over three miles in length, running from the principal entrance to Snow Hill. was a foreign writer, and therefore he thought it safer to follow "our owne hystorians, especially in our owne historie." Shakespeare's play of "Merry Wives of Windsor" also has helped to popularize the place. Belvoir Castle is also one of the most magnificent structures in the kingdom, and has been the seat of the noble family of Manners. The name is derived from French words Windsor did not escape being signifying "fine view" from the fine used by poets and romancers to adorn their tales, and so King Arthur is said to have held his Round prospect from a steep hill. It is situated in the line between Leicester and Lincoln shires, and the Vale of |