Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1863-12-25
CHRIST MAS.

emotion as he beholds once more the risen
sun OF that day which to him comes freight
ed with its ten thousand Joys and pleasures,
and casts them before him in the waning
light Of his tme-worn recollection. Now
it is that his weary frame throws of its
trembling, and his lettering steps forget
their measured care and as he casts his
mental eye over the many buried days and
years ofthe long long past, he feels the fire
of youth re-kndle, for the moment, in his
soul, and he moves in memory with the
elasticity and bouyancy of very child.
Holy day of love aud happiness Never
within the lifetime of the present genera
ton has there been so much occasion TO
welcome its presence. Never so much to
make ii day of solemn ms well as joyful
reflection. Anticipations and hopes that
were wont to dance upon the dreamy
thoughts of our waking hours, and leap
about our midnight visions only to assure
and re-assure us of their approaching reali-
ty, have been disturbed and shaken in more
sion. The red hand of treason has sunder
ed many families, and rent with pitiless fury
the loye-ties of numberless hitherto happy
homes. 1t has hung dark and -mournful
pail about thousands of once gleesome
hearthstones, and turned the bright rosy
hue of countless smiling cheeks of Joy to
the ashy paleness Of slow, keen, bitter sor-
row. 1t has despoiled not few home-cir-
Giles of their dearest friends and pro-
tectors, and turned the glowing light OF
many mothers eye into the moistening
tear Of anguish and distress. In its savage
desolation it has slript childhood of it.
natural refuge and support, and hurled il
headlong adown the cold and cherries.
ocean Of orphanage, needless Of the terri
BILE waste of human hopes, and regardless o
the untold miseries and dangers OF its help
less victims. 1t has, in wild demoniac glec
performed the dance of death at tn,
threshold Of almost every homestead in tn,
land, and disturbed the holy, quiet hours o
the Sabbath with its horrd yells for limo
cent blood. 1t has assailed the temple @
| justice with ensanguined hands, and LITE,
= the sword Of destruction against the powe
y and glory of the lovely Goddess of Iibert,
4 beneath whose protecting wing million
= have grown in prosperity and happiness
1t has driven as homeless wanderers owe
the earth, unotlending fathers and mother,
and sisters and brothers, to waste and die /
ID wretchedness and want 1t has essayed I
d; deluge the land in blood and reyel in IN
= wicked saturnalia of its crime-begotte
; woe. 1t has risen as an angry beast in tn
path of human hopes and aspirations. I
, prey upon and destroy the lives and liner
- ties and peace of the people. And eve
now its guilty finger, still reeking with In
warm liie-current of its countless victims
1 pointing out yet other loved ones and othp
q family affairs as sacrifices to lis unbol
cruel mallgniiy. Surely then, while huma
patience, endurance and affection are blbot
ing under the pressure of burden SO crusl
ing, the advent of the anniversary of tl
. day that brought "peace on earth and goo
y will toward men cannot he other tim
L auspieious aud welcome. May It's glory Ell
y circle our stricken land, and its holy inf,
c ences penetrate the humblest cot an
c breathe soothing whispers of contentmel
q and happiness to every loving heart III,
dwels within it.
l. There are many to-day TO whom the r.
turn OF Christmas comes only to intensi
their grief as 1t awakens the memories
= The past, aud calls up before their min,
}. those happier hours when home resounde
il with merriment and glee, and the golde
q circle was yet unbroken by war or death
10 such may the ministering hand of plept
outstretch itself, and by its magic power
benevolence start into life, as with a fairy
u touch, their aspirations of pleasure and ca
c tentment once more Let the devote
o mother-though she may secretly sigh f
II the day when the partner of her life sba
% be ordered to break ranks" and rein,
to the bosom of his loved ones at home.
leel that, however wet with tears may
Y her lonely pillow, she yet can smile al
1t thank God, that He has sent not only
m Christmas day, but also to her prattlir
l. darlings around her welcome Chrlstm
- cheer that shall warm their pattering, max,
Q feet, made red by the icy hand OF winte
and teach their little hearts to feel that In
VI and humanity yet exist in the world An
moreover, let those who have gone forth
help stay the devastating tide of wretche
~ ness that has been let loose upon our on
ir happy land, feel that, though far away fro
he the endeared tireside on this Christm
r day, contentment still fingers about d
1, threshold, and, as they stand beneath d
te floating banner Of their country, dressed
Nv the panoply of war-albeit their meditatio
he and thoughts may he disturbed by the tim
ders Of battle-they still can hear, tbrou,
The pictured fancy Of their loving hear
- the gladstone mirth of home resoundinp
m their ears, evoking, as it thrills their bren,
the satisfying response. ALL's WELL
Il. 1t is Christmas care-dispelling lo,,
~ renewing, heart-cementng, happy Cbri
y mas In the joy that abpunds to-day in I
u light-hearted gleefulness of youth in I
ne sober retrospective pleasures of age; in I
falness of the delight of all hearts. of
ages, sexes, and conditions, let us not lort
to give thanks to God, in that He has sp
he ed us TO see this holy day in all its sereni