Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-12-29
THE RUTLAND HERALD
SATURDAY, DECEMBER "a, 1870.
Christmas.


more upon US with all its pleasing re-
membranes and ,oherished tokens Inc
welliknown, ever repeated, never wearying
story of the watching.of faithful shep-
herds, and the singing angels. making all
Heaven and earth ring with their suoiime'
vet sweet and tender chorus when the
Prince of Peace was born-this Is ever
welcome to theI Christian heart. None
may monopolize the blessings OF this fes'
tival-it is;the august heritage OF all.
The Christian Church throughout the
world has set apart the 25th Of December
as the day,on whichsto celebrate the birth
of Christ, its founder. 1t matters not
whether this be the actual anniversary OF
the great event which gave Savior to q
fallen race, nor doesit seem appropriate to
discuss the wisdom of appointing any day
in time to call up specially the gift of God
which lengthens out our time into eter-
nifty. We know there was night when
Shepherds watched and morning when
angels sang, and on, this festival we look
at the great fact then and thus brought
to light.
All attempts to supplant Christmas
have been as fruitless as they were unholy
and unohristian. The good old Christ
mas is preserved-and not merely pre-
served-its FOSTERING scenes have been
passed over to other festivities-it has
now become worthier memanto of him
whose advent, it was intended to com.
memorats-a day of social and religious
revivings, for rational enjoyment and JOY
GUS home comforts.
In the medieval times Christmas was
a season of carol and carousal, of wassail
and worship, the legacy of the saturnalia
of Pagan centuries. :. At the present day
we celebrate it more in accordance with
the civilization and culture of our age,
and separating it of the reminicenses of
heathendom, conseorate it wholly and en-
tirely to the central fact of our christian
faith. The words of love we utter are
symbols of-the prayers and praises we
chants ARE thanks for--the gifts we bestow
are tokens of-the Lore and browning
gifts of God.
Welcome the day with rejoicings. with
evergreens typical of the Saviour's I'M
fading memory, with kind wishes and
simple gifts of remembrance. for His ad-
vent brought that which gives new signi-
fcanee and value to life and revealed i'm
mortality, without which life is a mock
cry.
We wish the children all "a Merrie
Christmas" How many sweet and sunny
memories are associated with these pleas
ant words. They carryius back to happi-
err hours of childhood. We remember the
happy faces, bright fires, kind greetings,
peace, love, good will to all. How fresh
how bright, how joyous is the garland OF
sacred memories, that Christmas has en-
twined. May it be yours, in after years, to
find these garlands fresh in your memo
ries of the past
Now to all our readers we present our
"Merrie Christmas" trusting that with
open-heartedness and remembranceaof the
poor which this almost sacred season is
calculated to inspire, they will be fitted
to receive and diffuse their full need of
enjoyment and happy observance of the
anniversary of the earthly beginning, as
Lowell sings:
''Of the unfinished life that sways the world" |
THE GENERAL STATUTES oFVERMoNT |
SECOND EDITIoN-rhe second edition |
OF the General Statutes of Vermont are
now ready for sale and delivery. The
new edition is printed from the stereo-
type plates of the first edition, with the
important addition of marginal references
to the session laws since 1862, placed OPP
posite every section of the General Stat
utes which has been in any way amended,
affected or added to by subsequent legis-
lation up to the last session of the Legis-
lature. The notes to the Vermont Reports
have been brought down 10 and include
the forty-second volurae. In an appendix
are added all the public session laws
since 1862, in force up to last October,
with marginal references similar to those
above described. A full index is also adj
ded to the appendix. The work of ammo
tation, etc, has been done by Judge
Shaw of Burlington, whose name is suf-
fioient guaranty for the thoroughness and
accuracy with which it has been accom-
plished. The volume, which it was fear
ed might be too bulky FOR single one,
proves to be not inoonveniently so. The
printing was done by Messrs Hurd q
Houghton of the Riverside Press, and it
is of course an excellent piece of work
manship. We need only add that the
book is for sale, under the direction of
the Secretary of State, at the principal
bookstores in the State. Price 81 80. For
sale by futile & Co.
RAILWAY ITEMS. - The st. Adams