Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1861-12-25
The Holidays.

oAnSt $500,
of gladness floated earthward sweet and
pure from angel-voices. and by a divine
ly poised star that shone through the
broken roof, was born Child, such as
u1der heaven had never been known be-
fore.
From that night date New Era
Now Rergion-a New Civilization
and New Hope to the sorrowing Ia
tons.
Looking now over a world partly re-
generated by this hope, we can see
enough of the New, cleaning ia Glory
and in Love through the darkness and
blindness of the Old, to justify the cho-
raj chant of the angels, and 10y means of
memory and faith, to warm our hearts
anew.
With the dawning of this Evangel of
Mercy on the earth, came Light and Ii
bettv-twin sisters and co-workers of CIV
ilization Superstition retired among the
shadows of the Past - Paganism was
driven back TO Chaos and Old Night"
BY the silent example of those in
whom dwell the same spirit that was in
the Son of Man; BY the heroism born
into human souls through i" faith that
works by love-" by the charity that is
alone Impaired by the Gospel of Peace;
have been extended knowledge of the
fruits Of that event which Christmas eel
ebrates.
We do wisely and well to observe this
occasion. 1t speaks of hope and glad
ness. 1t celebrates the advent of that
Light that shall, in Gods own time, fiji!
the whole earth. Christmas is day Of
gifts. 1t commentaries a day when an
unspeakable gift WAS bestowed upon
man. This gift makes all the Future
radiant with promise. Over the tombs
of tho friouda of other doyo. ovnr the
sorrows that have eaten up our youthful
freshness, and poured the molten lead OF
disappointment upon our young buoy
ancy; over the wreck of fortune; over
baffled thought that has attempted to
solve the problems of Nature, or joined
in death-grip with the unfathomablo
mysteries of the Infinite; over the petty
controversies, tho small jealousies, the
hearts of hatred, malice, and unclean-
ness, that have been very often the por-
ton of many;-it filings glorious con-
ISOLATION. We see that not in vain was
chanted that chorus of ineffabe affec-
ton, that not in vain the Child of Mary
lived on earth, an example to the centu-
ries past and to come of n forgiying and
kindly nature.
Therefore, my brother. look out upon
the world cheerily this Christians NOR :
ming If You need sympathy, stretch
forth your stricken hand, and some good
Samaritan will gently heal thy wounds
If you are stout of heart, do q good
deed, and some suffering nature will re-
joice; speak a kind word, and some
fiiendless ear will listen. So long as we
shave the poor with u.s." while human
nature retains the infirmities inseparable
from living; while want and wo SO rue
fully yex us--the means of initiating, in
your poor way, the Divine gift of the H.
carnate Son, may still be yours to use
for the cheer and com fort of some need
ing brother.
And following close upon this sacred
Anniversary, comes the New Year, bring
ing with it at this time many troubled
thoughts and fearful apprehensions.-
There is war in the land. The CHASTITY
faces of the dead look up to Heaven,
and the earth holds in its silent bosom
thousands who were not long ago the
joy, the hope, the pride of homo, and
many whom the Nation looked up to
with love and respect and admiration,
have fallen in the fight, and lie pulseless,
pale and dead, leaving us nothing but
the memory OF their nobleness and the
worship of their exalted beroism.
But in all this we can calm our grief,
and soothe our sorrow by the thought
that our friends are battling and dying
for the Rigbt-that they are waging war
for Law against Anarchy; for the grand
est ideas upon which Government has
ever been reared-for the Flag which for
nearly a century has been symbol of
hope to the sorrowing nations. Thus
feeling, we can almost rejoice that we
live in day when such great sacrifices
are so urgently demanded and SO cheer
fully made, and we will hope that the
drum-beat and the bugle blast, the sharp
crack of the picket's rifle, and the thus