Connecticut western news., 1879-12-24
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 The lively imagination can we'll picture the circumstances surrounding the inauguration of Thanksgiving Day. The almost unbroken forests; dotted here and there with settle ments cleared in patches for farms, the woods all alive with beasts by night and throngediby day with savages. Our forefathers in their troubles had appointed fast after fast, till one year, after they had gathered in their crops, they bethought themselves that gratitude might be more acceptable to the Creator than continual complaint and self abasement and that God, whose highest attribute is love: would be better pleased with the happiness than the misery of His creatures He had made. So the old mountain sides echoed with songs of rejoicing and homes thrilled through and through with warm greetings, feasting and merriment, and this jewel of November has dropped from generation to generation, till it has girded our entire land, with it's brightness But four weeks later comes day, the anniversary of an event that transcends in grandeur all other days since the creation; of man. Christmas, the brightest pearl on the bosom of time, inaugurated 1900 years ago, and glowing still in every Chris tian land. Beautiful Palestine, the old Can- aan of the Jews, embowered in verdure, blos- somed with flowers, studded with groves of the oak, palm and olive. Rushing streams had channelled out ravines, leaving dripping grot- toes and hidden cayerns along their paths pools of waters flashed upon the surface of the ground and fountains leaped into the air mountains rose abruptly, vine woven at theil base and hoary at their crowns; cities all alive with the hum of trade and amusements glowed upon the hill-tops. Amld these scenes of fgrandeur. and beauty Christ was born. Jo- seph and Mary had gone to Bethlehem, 8 small city, to pay their taxes for the poor in all ages have borne these burdens, and while there, they stopped at an inn in the small village of Bethlehem, but there was no room for them. Had they came in chariot liveried by servants, there would have been room enough, for pride is the same in all ages. But at night, when silence had wrapped the cities and thrown it's shadows upon the plain and the spires and minarets of Jerusalem shone faintly with their myriad lights, and the mounts adjacent loomed darkly in the star light, meteor sprang up from the horizon, brilliant and beautiful, and swept up the heavens. Meteors had been seen before but this one stopped as if fastened by pivot ov- CT the lowly manager. Revelers returning late at night have paused to gaze upon it, and the watchers with the sick and dead may have wondered at it's appearance, but what did they know of it's significance? But the shepherds, who had read the prophecies, followed the star and found the Savior. The air was full of music and out from the air came the sweet est words that earth has ever known: "Peace on earth and good will to men," Millions have asked this question: Why dld Christ come ill that lowly guise? Born an helpless infant in manager, when He could have come in splendor at mans full growth, or descend- ed as an angel? By. coming as He did the lowly knew they had friend and sympathizer who they could trust in their sorrows and hopes had He come in all the garniture of wealth they would have shrank from Him. He dignifed labor and blessed the laborer. He glorifed motherhood and raised the stand ard of womanhood. Through all His wan derings in Judea, at the cross and sepulchre, she recognized Him as her truest friend. She owes in every Christian land her present po- sition, freedom of thought and action, to No hot uOh ha turies she has been His most faithful follower, and though through skepticism and the teach ings of scientists our churches may be robbed of the masculine element as they are now in a great measure, women will fill up the pews, true to the Star of Bethlehem" To her Christmas is the signet ring of heaven. Born as an infant, He has thrown around childhood golden girdle, not only recommending the child to the care of its parents, but to the church and society, to guard, instruct and make it's life happy. Blessed is the babe who opens it's starry eyes in it's cradle upon that day. If it could be, it would have double claim upon Savior's love, Christmas has been celebrated in numberless ways since it's inauguration cities have been illuminated, old cathedrals have blazed in splendor It has been passed iu merriment song, feasting and rejoicing, and celebrated in soulless gran deur and mock devotion. The Church of England has thrown it's wealth and power in- to the week of it's observance. The Huge nots and the fleeing Waldenses kept the day in prayer and praise and millions have real lzed in it's observance the full meaning of Savior's power to redeem, opening to them the golden gates of heaven. But in no coun- try upon earth is it so generally observed by all classes as in America. For weeks women have been busy with preparation within and without their homes. The Christmas gifts have been secretly purchased or woven into shape by loving hands. The wants of trade have received new impetus and myriad of toys enrapture the eyes of merry boys and girls, and good old Santa Claus will have a busy time Christmas Eve, and in the morning what numbers of little feet will spring early from their beds, and then what shrieks of joy | will follow the girl clasping her little doll in ecstacy and the boy will grow wild with mirth | over his hobby horse or sled. And there will be love gifts between parents, and between | sweethearts, that will be treasured for long years; and sleigh rides over the snow path | in the frosty air, with the merry jingle of bells, the more the better, and with hands | clasped under the buffalo robes and many a |