Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-12-23
PREsCOTT j OURNAL.
PRESCOTT, WIS:
SATURDAY. DEC. %. 1865.
CHHIsTMAs, 1866.

Der Sl0wS-SnOuid fringe the OepafbnS
year with week ofioyous days, and so
with lightsome hearts, We step across
the threshold of the New.
The Holidays viii be enjoyed this year
mora than for several preceding onos.-
The black cloud Of war has disappeared.
It's heavy burdens, and the vague fears
of evils Underlined, no longer cypress the
spirit of the people. The sorrows. born
Gifts irreparsbIe loss OF cherished lives,
have been tempered by the healing hand
oftiu.e, AMI there viii be, this Holiday
season, wealth Of joyous feeling and
muniGcencs in its expression, which we
have not known for some years past.
But beneath this outward joyous man
Hesitation, there will be in many earnest
hearts an appreciation Of the deep spirit
ual significance Of Christmas Day, and
thoughtful aud rsTsrsut reception OF the
grand lesson which it teaches.
Eighteen hundred aud sixty-6 years
ago. ia Bethlehem Of Judea, in humble
shelter, uuobserved b men, but herald
ed by Heavenly host, whose song of
gladness fioatsd earthward sweet and
pn,e from angel-yoices, and by a divine
ly-po;sed star that shopa through the
broken roof YVES bora CHILD, such as
urder heiyen had never been known
before.
From that night date q New Era
New RehgiOn-a New Civilization
ard New Hope to the sOrrowing IA
tons.
Looking COW over world partly re-
generated by this hope, We can see
enough Of the New. cleaning in Glory
and in Love through the darkness and
blindness Of the Old, to justify the choral
chant Of he angels, and by means Of
memory and faith to warm our hearts
anew.
With the dawniDg Of this Evsngei of
Mercy on the earth, calno Light ana Lib
orty-twin sisters and o-worke.: Of Civ
i,ization. Superstition retired among the
shadows Of the Past. Paganism was
driven buck to "Chaos and old Night"
By tie silent example Of those in
whom dweils the same spirit that was in
the Son Of Man; by the heroism born
into human souls by the "fsith that
works bv love-" hy the charity which is
alone impaired by the Gospel of Peace !;
have been extended knowledge of tho
fruits Of that svoni which Christmas eel
ebratss.
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 Ged's own time, fill
the whole earth.
Christmas Is a DAY of gifts. 1t CON-
msmorates tie day when an ''unspeak-
able gift was bestowed upon man. Thi.
gift makes all the Future radiant with
premise. Over the iombs of the friends
of other dsys-oyer The sorrows that
have eaten up our youthful freshness,
aud poured the molten lead of disap-
PoiRtmeat upon or young buoyancy-
over the wreck of fcr;une-over baffied
thought that has attempted 10 solve the
problems Of Nature, or Joined in death
grip with the unbelievable mysteries of
the infinise-over the petty controversies
the ANAL jsaiousies, the hearts Ct hatred,
malice, and uneieanness, that have been
very often the portion Of many; it filings
Hglorious consolation. We see thh: not
10 vain was cbanted that chorus of iReffa-
Die affection-ihat not in vain the Child
Of Mary lived-s,n earth, an example to
The centuries past and to come OF kind
y and fcrgiying nature. 8a
Therefore let US icok out upon the
world cheefiiY this Christmas season. If
you neoi sympathy, stretch forth your
stricken hand. and some good Samaritan
villgeEtiy heal thg wounds. Ifyou are
stout of hearto DO "a good deed, and
some sufteriag nature viii rejoice; speak
kind word, and some frieudlcss ear
viii listsn. Sc long o. We ..havo the
poor with us" while human nature re.
tsiDs the infrmities inseperAble from liv..
ing; while want and NO SO, rusfuIIy vex
us;-tbs means of initiating in our poor
rsy. ID Divine gift of the Incsrnate Son.
nsy still Be ours to use for the ebssr
sd csufOvt efthOse around Us. gl,s|