Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1871-12-28
For the REPUBLICAN
Christmas Time.
BY EDWARD d. CLAIMING.


time. Merrily the snow crunches be-
meath the travellers feet, and the FROST
flakes, dance in the red, morning sun
light. and sprightly little snow-birds
hop from twig to twig. Right merrily
do the keen winds chase each other
through the bare trees, rush over tail
chimneys, and whistle around corners !;
even wrestling with the passers-by, with
blue noses and tingling fingers, who
gaily call to you "Merry Christmas. =
Oh, the joys of Christmas time, and the
long rides over the fieecy snow, through
meadows of glistening white, through
forests with their bare, black branches
forming tangled network in the sky,
over bridges, through clustering little
hamlets, and past happy homes with
cleaning hearths he must be misan-
thrope indeed, whose heart does not
gladden. at the thought. And the rare
sport for boys, coasting on the hill with
many a shout,or skimming away OH the
ice-bound river; surely he must be Il
gloomy recluse whose heart does not
thrill at sight of the sports of his youth
full days.
The old folks too enjoy these days, the
joy Gus days of Christmas time: and as
they sit around the fire, their faces
brighten at thought of the good old
times when they were young, when the
hot blood sped swiftly through their
veins, and when they We're wild and
wayward, with the thoughtless spirit OF
youth. All over the land, where shines
the splendid pageantry of pride, and
where virtuous humility dwells; where
safety nestles in the lap of wealth, and
luxury among the softest robes, and in
homes of the artisan and laborer, are
happy gatherings around the cheerful
board, and nut-crackings beside roaring
fires, and old tales of the past. Even in
the hovols of wretchedness, where mis-
cry and the sordid rust OF care warp and
enervate the mind, the good old custom
is kept up, and few treasured shillings
lend new glows to the fiickering flame,
and long unknown dainties to the scam
ty meal. All over our land, and i'm all
Christian lands, Christmas is set apart
as day ofhappiness; day of reunions
when the old circle is complete, and of
fond meetings of the long separated; q
day when friendliness and social cheer
are dispensed with lavish hand.
More than eighteen hundred years ago
the birth of Christ was heralded by an
gels and the guiding star, to shepherd
watchers on the hills of Bethlehem. To
them appeared the glory of the Lord
and heavenly hosts proclaiming-"Glory
to God in the highest, and on earth,
peace and good will to men,
The morning stars sang together, and
the hosts of God shouted for joy, while
the blest earth received the veiled glory
of her incarnate Maker, and man the
blessings of the holy benediction. In
commemoration of this great event; !;
this first great act of condescending
love-for. God is love-it is well that we
Danish dull care and toll, and join in
thanksgiving and praise. Let the little
rompers ENJOY their merriment and glee,
and long may this great national holi-
day bless and cheer our land.
But with the happy holidays the old
year is drawing to u close. How gaily
we hailed its earliest. dawn, and how
I'VE rejoiced in its vigorous prime. We
loved its nial,sunny spring,we dream
ed through the twilight of its long sum-
mer evenings, and. plucked with joy the
first ripe fruit Of its mellow autumn.
But the rude winds brush rudely around
him,now scattering g thickly white snow
flakes in his frosty hair, and slowly, un-
willingly the. Old. lear is hurried along.
Grim Time, spectre of the glass and
scythe, laughs at his hoary locks, and
trembling ,decrepit form, when he thinks
that soon he will number him among
his thousand sheaves. But pity the Old
Year that has borne our griefs, and
tenderly assuaged our sorrows and
joys. He has brought us many varied
scenes, some lit up with the glow of hope.
some checquered with the shades OF
sorrow, many hopes have been accom-
plished, many have recoiled upon the
fainting heart, withered, and consigned
to darkness and despair.
The lamp of the past burns brightly
in memory's halls, as we take last ret
respect Of the departing year, and its
changing scenes pass again before Us
with forcible distinctness. The blush
ing bride,in orange wreathes, trembling
ly led to the holy Altar, plights hel
faith and trusts her peace to him who
long hath woOed and the wan sufferer
in the lOwly cot, feels the dread ap-
proach, but now he fears it not, there i;
none to care, none to smooth his pillow
or to court again healths roses to his IA
ded cheek the cold death dews settle up
on his brow,his eye lights up with IA
) dience not of earth, and with last,con-
vulsive shuddering gasp, the freed spir.
it wings its flight to him who gave il
t being. Now light Terpsichore lead:
the throng through the may figures O
! the dance, now sickness and disease bin(
unwilling victims to their restless coucl
1 In the palaces of the high, and in thu
dwellings of the low, in crowded cities
in secluded valleys, aye. in mid ocear
where the tempest driven wave run!
mountain high, death, dread intruder
5 has, OH yellow fiaged ships, tattered ant
l tossed by the warning elements, poor
! suffering humanity, wrapt with the fou
e contagion, has sickened and died, un
t cared for, and alone; Stunned by thei
fellow-mortals, and often consigned tt
a living, watery grave. Now pass th'
! light and gay, with laugh and song
: with hearts free as the gossamer tina
Y floats on the breeze, now decrepit OLE
j age, toothless and gray totters tremb
|, lingly on, drawing nearer, still neare
n to the verge of the grave.
: Still the long list come flocking on
!, each half-recognized scene, superseded
and elbowed out as it were, by new re
4 collections pouring thick and fas
throgh our busy memory. Here is TIL
well known face of a loved friend and