Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1871-12-23

il would be hard to say, nov, that realities
achieved since have been stronger.
What Did that Christmas never really
come vheu We aud the priceless pearl Who
was our young choice were received, after
the hsppiest Of totally impossible marriages,
BY thetwo united families previously at dag
gers drawn on our aocount7 Whsa brothers
aud sisIers-in-lAws who had always been
rather cool to us before our relationship was
affected, perfectly dotted on Us, and when
fathers and mothers overwhelmed us with
unlimited Incomes Wss that Christmas
dinner never really eaten, after which We
arose, and generously and eloquently rem
dsret hoaor our late rival, present 10 the
company. and there exhanging friendship
and forgiveness, and foanding al attach
msut not TO be surpassed 10 Greek or Roman
story, which subsisted until dsalh7 Has tia,
same rival long ceased to case for that same
priceless pearl, AID married for money, and
become usurous7 Above all, do we really
know nov that We should probably have
been miserable, IL we had won aud worn the
pearl, and that we are better without her.
That Christmas when We mad reosntly
achieved 30 much fame; when We had been
carried in triu m ph. soms-here, for dol nc
something great aud good; -ben We had
won 81 hOnored ahd eanobled name, and
arrived and we're received at home in =
shower Of tears Of joy; 1t is possible that
Christmas has not come yeR
And 10 our life here at the best, 81 con
s,ituted that, Pausipg as we advance at
such noticeable mile stone 10 the track
as this great birth day, We look back on
the things that never we're, - naturally
and full As grAvsly - On the things that
have been aud are gone, or have been and
still Are7 IL II be so, and 80 II seems 20 be,
must We come 10 the conclusion that life
10 little better than . dream, and little
worth the loves and strivirgs tbs, We crowd
into it,
Mo- Far be such miscAlled philosophy
from rs, dear reader, on Christmas day!
Nearer and closer TO our hearts be the
ChristmAs spirit, which is the spirit OF act
i've usefulness, perseverance,, cheerful dis.
charge Of duty, kindness and forbesrancsl
II 10 10 the last virtues, especially, that We
are, or should be ngthsned by the I'M
accomplished visions Of our youth; for,
Who shall say tina, they are not our teach
ers 70 deal gently even with the impalPable
no,hiugs Of the earth
Therefore, a. we grOW older, let us be
more thAnkfal that the circle Of our
Christmas associations aud Of the losses
that they bring expands! Let rs vel
come every one Of them; ADD summons
them TO take their places BY the Christmas
hearth.
Welcome, old aspirations, glit,ering
creatures Of an ardent infancy, 70 your
places underneath the holly! We know
you, and have not outlved you YET. Wei
come, old projects and old loves, however
fleeing, 70 your hooks among the sIsadier
lights that barn around rs. Welcome, all
that was ever real TO our hearts; and for
the earnesIness that made you real, thanks
to Heaven Do we build no Christmas
castles In the clouds now? Let our thoughts
tuttering like the butterflies among these
flowers, Of children. bear witness!
Before this boy there stretches out q
future, brighter than we ever looked on
IN our romantic time, but bright with
honor and with truth. Around this llttle
head on which the sunny curls lie hsApsd
the grAces sport, as prettily, az Airly, Al
when there Was no soythe within the react
of time to shear away the eurls Of our hrs
love. Upon another girls face near !
-plaoider but smiling bright quiet
and contented little face, We see home fair
Iy written.
Shining from the word, as rays shin'
from . star, we see how, when our grave
are old, other hopes than ours are young
other hearts than ours are moved; hoV
other waves are smooth; how other hap
pinesS blooms, ripens and decays--uo, NO
decays, tor other homes and other hand
Of ohildrsa not yet in being nor for age
yet 10 be, arise and bloom and ripen !
the end Of oil
Welcome evsrythingl Welcome ak
what has been, and what never vas, an
what We hope NAV be, TO your shelter NJ
dsrneAth the holly, to your places round 10
Christmas FIRE, where what is, sits opei
hearted In yonder shadow do we see, o'
trudiug furtively upon the blaze, an enemy
facet By Christmas Day We do not 10
give him. II the injury he has done l
may admit OF such companionship, let hi
como here and take his place. If othe
wise, uahappily, 10, him go hence, assure
thu, we will never injure or accuse him
On this day We shut out nothing
pause" said Low voice. Nothing
Think
"ou Christmas Day We -ill shut out fro
our Preside nothing "
aNot the shAdow of q vas, city where u
vithsred leaves are lying deepY the vol
repines. "Not the shadow that dArkens q
whole globs7 Not the shadow OF the CT
Of the dead p
No, even that OF all the days in q
year. 20 will turn our fAcss toward tina, CT
on Christmas Day, and from its silent hos
bring those We loved among Us. CITY
the dead 10 the blessed name vheretn
are gathered together =, this time, and
the presence there is here among Us sceor
ing to the promise, We will receive, and n
dismiss, thy people, who are dear to usI
Yes. We can look upon these childr'
angels, that alighs so solsmbly, 80 beau
fully, among the living children By the hr
and can bear to think how they depart'
from us. Entsrtaining angels unawAres,
the pAtriArcbs did; the playful children a
unconscious Of thsirS, but We can see the
can see radiant arm around one favor
neck, - IL there we're = tempting Of tb
child away.
Among the celestial figures there is on
poor mHnuApth ooy on shftuf VI ~
rious beauty nov, OF whom his dyir
mother said IL grisysd her much to lea
him here alone, for 20 many years rs il -
likely would elapse before he came TO her
being such = little child, But he We
quickly, and was laid upon her breast, al
q her hand che leads him.
There was . gallant boy, who fell Z
away, upon q burning sand, beneath
burning sun, ard said. Tell them =, HON
with my last love, how much ! could hs
wished 10 have kissed them once, but tina
died contsnted, and had done my dutv
Or there was another, over ~hom they rel
the words, "Thsrefors We commit his DO
TO the dsepl" aud so consigned him TO I
lonely OCEAN aud sailed on. Or there "
another who lay down TO his rest 10 the da
shadow Of great forests, and on earth awo
no more O,shsll they MT from sand, a
see aud forest, be brought home at such
ne2
There was dear rirl-Almost . -om
CSnevsr to be Que - who made q m0urui
''@A' in house Of JOY, and went |