Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1864-12-22
rChristmas, with all its joyous


tender to our readers, our most ear
nest wishes, that to them it may
prove happy one. "Whilst to
very many, it undoubtedly will prove
pleasant, we fear there are others
whose hearts will be found unusu-
ally sad, as they miss a loved face
from the family circle never more TO
be seen within its influences. The
past year of terrible war, has carried
mourning into many households that
one wear ago knew no bereavem ent,
and the members of which, looked
forward with pleasure, to the annual
return of merry Christmas. 1t has
returned but alas! to them, is a day
of mourning. There is weeping and
lamentation all over the land
Rachael mourns for her children,
and refuses to be comforted because
they are not" The Fable habiliments
of woe and mourning meet US At
almost every step. The sad faces oil
the grief stricken wife. mother, or
sister, as they pass us on their weary
way, show that the Destroyer has
been near them,- and robbed them Of
their most precious jewels. To them
life seems burden, and in the bit
terness of their anguish they are
tempted 10 murmur sgainst that
Providence who 'doeth all things
we'll" To these mourhers, it would
seem like a cruel nockery to. tender
"a happy Christmas"
We can only hope that to them
''The Healer is there, pouring balm on the
heart
i And wiping the tears from their eyes.
Strengthening the chain, he has broken IN
twain,
And fastening it firm TO the skies"
But to those who as yet have not
tasted of these bitter waters, whose
happy homes are yet untouched by
the hand ofDeath, we can not only
wish happy Christmas, but give
them, sn infallible recipe for making
: it so in a double sense. 1t is only
to seek out these sad and sorrowing
!. o. es, and endeavor to tighten their
burdens by not only your sympathy,
, but a share of that abundance which
you may have, and they bewithout,-
very many of your soldiers families,
even where Death has not taken
away their protector, need the assis
} tance of their neighbors, to enable
them to weather the storms of thi:
; winter. You doubtless know of sue
cases right in your midst. Dom
, wait to be called on for charity, tC
: be doled out grudgingly. The mos
4 meritorious cases may never maxi
their wants knA,-..t- II II
! your duty to so to them. 1t is
: debt you owe to the brave heart
: who whilstyou read this is probabl!
far out on the front, suffering not onl.
the horrors of a winter campaign
but offering his life a sacrifice tina
!, you may still enjoy the blessings o
civil and religious liberty, under
free government. Is this nothini
to ycu3 Is it nothing to your chill
dren? If not, then your heart is no
in the cause, and the world will b
immeasurably the gamer by your al
sence But if you believa it of in
calculable benefit to you and you
children, then listen to that ''stil
small voice" which whispers within
:. you, unqualified assent to what W
!; are say ing and in compliance there
: with, seek out from your stores o
provision, sufficient for goo
Christmas dinner for the wife, an
:. little ones of the brave man, that i
, far distant lands, is even there, listen
ing to 1.-The diapason of the cannon
thunder or suffering as the victir
of "man's inhumanity to man,
= whilst you are enjoying the comfort
of your own ireside, surrounded b
every blessing smiling Providenc
can bestow. In doing this, yo
will feel as every honest man feel:
when he has paid just debt, "wha
you do, may not be know now, bu
:, it will be, hereafter" Christina
: will be to you a happy one, becaus
e e you have ade it so to others. Th
gallant soldier should he live to n
turn again to the bosom of his family
= will surely not more lightly esteel
:. you, because in their hour of Wal
you contributed the means of eI
- joyment and happiness to his love
ones. Beneyolence always carrie
!, with it, its own reward. Those VIII
desire that reward, must praetiC
tho virtna