Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-12-26
PUBLISHED DAILY AND TRLwHEK.LY 81
EDGAR SNOwDEN.
WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER2 %
CHRISTMAS HAS GoNE.-Loag expected,
eagerly antici Dated. carefully prepared for, 1t

eagerly anticipated. carefully prepared for i,
came, it was enjoyed, it has vanished, with all
those which preceded it, from that on which
angels herslded to men their uew born Saviour;
il lives but 10 memory. The cabdies With which
Santa Claus filled the stockings OF tho little
ones. have ben dsvoured; the toys which low
ing p.reuts gavA to their ohildr,u Will soon De
broken or o4st aside; tho family REUNIONS, and
Tia a,,;. f.,tiy;,io. which, cnlivoD tho SEASON
will soou b. over; and tho world wi, aga'o,
settI, d,wu to its everyday life tif it has Tot
already d,aa so) as though Christmas had not
beeo. The childr.n will wond their way, asaln.
to soho u; the housewife will. ssalo. resume
cher busy c,re;" the merchant aud the mech
auto, the professional man and The farmer, will,
seaiu, rlod on in their Respective ways; Christ
mas will be almost forgotten by those who 50
lately r. iced 10 it. But has it left 90 trace
behind j.? D, half-burnsd powder CRACKERS
,nd battered horos, and broken toys, aud dis
n,an,led Christmas trees. acne remalo OF lt?-
Are indigestion, and headache, tbs sure and
swift aveuyer. of glutony and druckeouess ny.
olth,s,w,o pfofao ID its holy hours, it., only
1,lluuiae?
Look back, dear reader. upoa your owu life,
the past, ADD aosser these questions TOR your.
eslf Woull you wish to blot out from that
vision those you, ones vi passed 10 your
happy ohlah ,oi. beneath your fathers ro' f!
~ vth and 81
though occasion lily darkened, e.taps, by To-
distortions which you now wish you had avoid.
I'd, the OCCASION Of regret? Are those 90 which
you mnistered to the deligh Ut your owo child
len, bitter rememtrAuces? o.. if you have
sseo may, are those 10 which your children
aud graudohi drsu crowded around your board
aod N 3D., your quiet house on5a more ring
with tit. .norrmeot Of childish, voices, dis.
tisteful2
W. tsc dat to all these questions your heart
will an'wcr, ~. frey wsro bright GASES upon
the d,s'rt VI hf,, and the waters Of gIadness
which y1n drank then sustained you through
The e ,r7 trials Of he year which followed them.
Lot theu, the Chris:mas We have just en- joyed,
ooN
soca spirit Animate Us Throughout the year We
bro Approaching; let VI give glory to God.
VIII, has p rmitted u to come 10 peace aud
tribq ii ity to the ooio OF another Year. and
good will to mau" who are, equAiIy with our
selves, The objects Of His tender love aud care.
tt auy hsv, offended us. let us pardon them
,.lier Ills tx4mlli il 80 have offended aOy, lei
us has'eu 90 max repsraii"u. To those whu
tIr tom huWau frail'y, let us BE- merci.uI aud
compassionate; those who cell and stIuslle,
let US x.euG the kin-l, hsHl OF assisianc ; to
rho 81 VITO uh t.u, ath ihu Weight OF poverty
mi s)rrn~, 1T Us b., true fiji, o g 10 Tia, ir tour
ofneeI. g. shall We dese,Q e MANY anoi,r"Mer
~ Christmas aud Happy New Year. or. il our
days OIL earth are numbered, 5, shall We erj w.
forever, the vision of Him whose nativity W.
have just celebrated.