Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-12-31
HOME CIRCLE.
CARRIERS ADDRESS.


ONCE more the pealing Christmas bells,
Tell of the Lords glad natal morn,
OF peace earth, good will to men,
E.nrs their glad matin chime again,
To hail the day that Christ was born.
Once more a backward glance we cast,
To view the swift departing year,
While DER the world glad prayers arise,
To the Great Father in the skies,
To whom we owe cur Christmas cheer.
Ia solemn sequence slow have passed,
The long months of the dying year,
Through sorrows sombre shadows sad,
Through hopes bright sunshine, gay and glad,
Since rudy Christmas last was here.
Scarce has the war-cloud passed away,
That, hurrying on the southern breeze,
Came, waited from that batmy isle,
That basks beneath the day-gods smile,
Gem Of the bright West Indian seas.
Tina, broad green isle of verdure fair,
Queen Of the storied tropc main,
Where still so near to freedoms skies,
O'er human slavery grimly flies,
The once proud flag OF ancient Spain.
Scarce has the war-shout died away,
That rose throughout our angry land;
Scarce is the keen sword sheathed once more,
4 ma. lately lOWaru~ THAT l~ltIlu : @ll'hSj
Was pointed by the nations hand.
When, foot advanced and weapon bare,
Sad.faced vet stern, Columbia stood,
Prompt to demand the nation, due,
let loath TO wake wars wells anew,
And bid the war dogs thirst for blood.
Many the blessings that the year,
Now almost passed, has brought the Lad,
Como = the shadow grim and drear,
Wars havoc stern no more we fear,
Peace, white-robed, guards Columbis's strand
and from those days Of anxious dread,
When on Us first the panic broke,
I Ike thJmderbolt from cloudleSs sky,
Md hamlet low and mansion high,
Together mourned the crushing stroke,
The nation, gathering strength anew,
Rises again erect, with power
Perchance to gain, from trial dread,
Nev wisdom that It's light shall shed,
vsr through the distant future. hour.
But chiefly where our city stands,
Watched bv the everlasting hills,
Shoilld thankful tongues in loud acclaim,
Praise offer to the Almighiy's name,
For refuge safe from direst Ills,
Wide stalked the pestilence abroad,
In lonely cot or crowded street,
The fell destroyer, fierce and feet,
Smote old and young with beautiful hand.
The kind, y ehovah pitying sent,
Fair mercy's angel from the sky,
Above our homes her wing she spread,
And while our city bowed her head,
The grim death-angel passed Us by,
e.. midst the merry Christmas bells,
The friendly greetings and the cheer,
With which our gladstone boards are crowned,
Where gathered friends throng gladly round,
81 this great feast Of all the year,
On let not kindly hearts forget,
Those hearths where glows no roaring blaze,
Those boards by plenty seldom blessed,
Where poverty, unwelcome guert,
GIares even mid our festal days,
Where sickness now perchanoe invades
The hour 10 u 80 bright and gay,
and woman's sigh and Childhood tear,
Tel sorrows story sad and drear
Even on this glad Christmas day.
Oh .e. Us then, 10 whom our Lord,
Hath comfort, peace and plenty given,
With liberal hand abroad bestow,
Those gifts whose right use here below
Aye wins tie approving smile Of Heaven
T.. must pause. One word, my friend,
On private business. Please remember,
How Oft, while snug in bed you lay,
pye ,-amped for you, at dawn Of day,
E.am fierce July to bleak December.
How many months for YOU I've trudscL,
In weather wet, hot, cold or sunny,
The fact is now, and it, no joke,
In these hard times, when banks are broke,
Poor boys like me are short Of money.
So, no, TO put too fine point
On plain business propositions.
7 want a QUARTER-that will do,
Unless you choose TO make it TWO,
Or more still, if you like, in view
OF my poor pOcket-books condition.
Tho Ranrnt. BOY OF Incprne.