The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-12-25
"Thank God for Chri.,ma..n

The REGISTER tenders its readers one
and all "merry Christmas" greeting.
The day Of home delights and holiday
pleasures, and all manner of happiness
is here again, and to each one whose eye
read these lines we sincerely wish a
hearty enjoyment of the occasion. We
remember the words of o friend-one
whose heart overhowed with goodness
and kindness and whose great soul ever
weat out in noble deeds toward his fell
lows thank God for Christmas"
The speaker has gone, bnt his senti-
ment remains to glide with his own
bright memory all along the Hereafter,
"Ldbitur et idbetm in OmHe rolaNlis
arHm."
Snch men as he know how 10 "thank
God fer Christmas Not with mum
blcd words and lips framed to set
phrases, but with the heart and hand,
do they proclaim their gratitude. So it
is that VIXEN their homes are filled
with the evidences of JOY and gladness,
and mirth makes music for their happy
households, they remember those upon
whom chill penury frOwns. Want re-
lieved, distress alleviated, nakedness
clad and hunger fed-these are the
means wherewith srue Humanity and
true Christianity unite to "thank God
for Christmas"
Who has not cause to "thank God
for Christmas 7" In the homes of opu-
lence, where plenty spreads her board,
peace smiles and contentment reigns.
tha Giver of all good surely should not
be forgotten the bounty surely will
not produce forgetfulness of the Bene-
factor. Poverty, in her rags with Fam
iue for . guest by the side of her cold
heqrthstone. may forget her gratitude,
but such as she was the holy Christmas
Child. Friend ofthe poor, Hin self"with-
out where to lay his head" He gave to
lowly humanity the riches that are not
of this world, and clad the nakedness
of want with robes whose lustre and
richness earth cannot equal. If not for
temporal blessings, yet for the benefi-
cence of mission that gives penpry q
title to eternal riches, there are none
30 poor as to have no cause to "thank
God for Christmas"
Many there are whose lot i. surround
ed with all temporal blessings, yet
whose JOY will be tinged with sadness
to-day, because the family circle is less
than upon other occasions when it sur
rounded the Christmas board. The
vacant chair" cannot be hidden, and
alas there are many such in our midst.
They tell of goodness gone, and youth
ful promise blighted, and q household
grace forever dead, and the unbiaden
tear attests how much is missed
the touch Of a vanished hand,
The sound Of q voice that is still.
But the Christmas Child, triumphing
over death, left behind him hope for
the mourner and the sweet assurance
that the gloomy portal of the tomb
leads to land ofimmortal light, where
dwell the blest for whom He died.
Even to the house of bereavement His
life and work bring gladness, and ena-
hle the stricken heart to "thank God for
Christmas"
Others, again, sit in the shadow of
grim despotism. Their once happy
homes are in ashes, desolation walks in
irfields; silence and ruin brood over
their cities, and the dried grass rustles
above their bravsst and best beloved.
Even to them this is blessed day, for
at the birth of Him whose coming it
commentaries, there came from the
skies such words as these: "Glory to
God in tho highest; and on earth peace,
good will toward man" Such tidings
as these will not lack fulfllment; the
Prince of Peace is already softening the
hearts of the people towards their
stricken brethren, so that the victims
Of unnatural hate may not forget to
''thank God for Christmas"
And so it is with all classes and con-
ditions of humanity. Rich and poor,
the mourner and the glad, the down.
trodden and the free, and all who wear
the mantle of mortality are partakers
of the universal benefactions which this
day recalls. Remembering our duty
with our blessings, let US manifest our
gratitude with sincere purpose, so that
the close of the day may witness some
deed from each hand 30 show that in
spirit and in truth we "thank God for
Christmas" gs