The sentry stands on guard at the Front. Night and the stars around him—one planet shining in full glory before him, This Christmas night his, thoughts must go to his English home. His duty binds him to his post, but his thoughts are free, and the dear faces of his home folk smile upon him in the light of stars, and in the mysterious night the voices that he loves come to him to bear his company in his lonely vigil. He knows as he walks his path of watchfulness that longing hearts are counting the days that shall bring him home again. He knows that his dear ones eyes will be dim with thoughts of him, and hearts will be sad because he is not in his accustomed place. And the mother on her knees, is agonizing with God in prayer to keep her boy and bring him back to her again. Ah! He remembers now how she used to pray with him at night, and his eyes fill as the reality of the mothers love comes over him. And his mothers God! Does he realize this Christmas night that “Christ was born in Bethlehem”? That twenty centuries ago the heaven were filled with glory and the angels sang “Glory to God”?
May God bless him, and the others like him, who will have to spend their Christmas day face to face with death. Let us pray unceasingly for our dear soldiers and sailors—on land and sea; they need our prayers and loving sympathy. Let us offer special supplications this Christmas for those exposed to all the terrors of merciless war.
God bless them! God bless them! “Oh! God, we are seeking to send them Thy Holy Word; bless our efforts, we beseech Thee, for Christ’s sake!”