The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-12-25


MERRY CHR1sTMAs.-To-dsy ID tbs
hallowed, blessed, and yet tho most
merry and joyful day OF the year. IL
will be celebrated again throughout
Christendom, as it has been tor eighteen
centuries and seventy-slx years. 10 the
grown children OF the earth it is an an
niversary replete with causes for grave
solemn and sincere thoughts and renee
tions; to the young and buoyant 1t Is a
winter celebration, tull of jolli'y, good
cheer and happiness; and to all, both ola
Al d Young il should be a pleasant,
moderate and temperate merry-maklng
time. The dav-the birthday OF Jesus
Christ-is held in honor, both by Wnite
and black, BY the Christian and the Ma
hommedan, by every one all over Inc
world to whom Christianity is either q
name or a shadow, n substance and re-
alitv; and be it said TO his credit, the
Turk will reverence his great name next
to his fayorite Mshomet. The mlracu'
lous birth, and the manger cradle herald
ed the greatest, the most VIDE
spread and permanent revolution the
world has ever seen. The change then
begun has affected every department OF
thought 1t is mirrored in the every
day expressions eff the people, and ali
alike feel its influence. In fact, so I'll
pervading is it that the childhood ana
The youth, the strength and the fading
days of age, are, IN many respects, ouI
reflex on of the events and the doctrines
of nearly two thousand years ago.
1t is fact no less extraordinary than
true, that simple child, born in the
family of simple peasant In the lowes'
ranks OF despised Roman province
should thus have influenced the
whole world and printed marx
so lndelible upon all coming time. The
great fact, that the common consent Of
civilized mankind accepts the truth Of
the gospel storyaIs the only solution
Three hundred millions of people Will
tomorrow honor and motiCe the day. In
Europe, America and Asia il VII! be
respected, and the occasion reJoiced over,
and regarded with holy memories that
appeal not only to the subhmer, but also
the simpler qualities OF our nature.
As il has been for hundreds CT years,
so it will be again and now. The bells
of Christendom, this Christmas eve and
Christmas morn, will proclaim in merry
poals the great birth, the grand Christ
mas anniversary. They will revive, III
numberless chimes and annual sounds,
the memory of the dawn Of the era OF
glad tidings and good will. And they
will ring once again FOR al the happy
children of earth, nj the breaking OF the
hight of another Christmas Holiday, as II
steals through the window and peeps
over the bed.
To those whom this morning brings
only Joy; to the favored ones whose cosy
homes are green with holiday decora'
tons, or glad with the reflection OF the
dancing freight upon pictured walls
to the little ones who sleep Us we write
wesried OF watching for Santa Clau.
but brightly and sweetly dreaming OF his
coming; 10 sll wnom these words do moi
sound like mockery, the local Ger the
hour for gong to press has passed, wishes
most heartily merry Christmas Tt
that other-that sad portion OF his read
ers-whose faces are not yet dry from the
tears which flowed through pictures OF
death, want, misery and crime, we Will
not mock them with "nerry Christmas tC
all" but Ms our heart goes out toward
them, in the trials and tribulatlons tC
which they have been subjected, Will wish
them, If not merry a"hopeful Christ
mas"