Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-12-31
LOCAL INTELIIGENCE-

y
CuRrsrMAs.-"Merry Christmas" was somewhat
sborn Of it, usual proportions Of innocent sport. and
pleasing diversions by tie synchronous occurrence Of
Christmas aud Sunday. But judging from the I'M
usual number Of unusually anxious papas ana
mammas whom we saw late on Saturday inspecting
jewellers cases, bookseller, sheve. and the counters
of toyshops, and the still larger number hurryiug
home with suspicious looking bundles carried in a
siuguary furiive manner, looking rs if they would
every minute eXclaim, "you don't see H. but if Won
do don't tell any body" we think the Younger Dor
ton Of our population were made to believe tia,
Christmas not only merry but very agreeable
Many were the rooms that were decorated with ever
greens, and many Christmas trees laden with he.uti-
full gifts spread their boughs within happy home cir
cles in our village last Saturday night. |, was icy
cold, clear yet cherries without. but within all was
warm and pleasant, made still warmer and more
pleasant by and loving heart, yc,ug with each
other in manifestations Of love and affection Such
seasons strengthen the home circle wonderfully while
they enlarge that other circle whose boundary lines
touch upon the rc1notest Of our race.
~ j., usual on such occasions the Episcopal Church
was decorated with eyergreens, and appropriate rei-
gous services and exerc.es duly characterized the
event which uslrcred in the Christian Ira.
The Sunday School connected with the Unitarian
Church, held Festival, through the kindness OF Mr.
Francis. at the Saloon of the Wessclhocit Water
Cure. At this Festival exercises were arranged in
which the children took promeucnt parts and
Christmas tree was there found standing on which
present for each teacher and for every scholar
This Festival altogether private nfiair intended
for the entertainment Of those connected with the
Sunday School but we cannot forbear the temptation
to reproduce the following beautiful hymn. written
for the occasion by the Hon. jonathan Blake former
~ of Warwick, Mass, but now of this place MIR.
Blake is in his soth year, and yet it i, but few
months since that chrouiced his remarkable skill
at making stonewal, exercise that he has followed
all summer for amusement, and in the practice of
which he has reached degree of perfection that we
have never exceed, lie retains his mental fac
ultes equally WELL and the reader will agree with
Us who has seen the wall and will read
CHRISTMAS HYNN
Written ~ Mr. Blake who has reached his sOh year aud
read st the Sunday school Festival the
Unitarian Parish.
Peace, peace on earth, good will to man
Resoundcd first IN Palestine,
That glorious high-iavorcd land,
Blest with the bgtree and the vine.
But still more glorious /. that spot
That ope'd the portals Of the Skies
And myriad hosts Of angels sought
Where Tor the infant Saviour lies
boy, such as earth had never known,
Aud songs that earth had never heard
Proclaimed that Gods beloved Son
'Fulhls the sure prophetic word.
He came to save the world from sin
And death, and dark and bloody strife
And teach mankind the way to win
Immortal, everlasting e
This day reminds Us Of his BIRTH
Reminds Us how he came to save
His erring brethren here on earth
From all the errors Of the grave.
Il opens an immortal state
OF life and glory far away,
And tells us that the good and great
Shall find the straight and narrow way.
Now let u MI keep Christmas Eve
In honor of our Snvi0ur's birth
And strive while lie shall last. 10 live
As he directed when on earth.
Brahe6OIO, Uec. 2Oh, 1883. ,.,...