Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-12-17
: When the barns matched rooI is seen,

DE sure that Chrtsfmds-hde rs near.
One Holiday brings on another, and
while the old year is lingering in the lap
of 1881, it brings hack to memory, potent
and powerful reflections of the year just
dying out-wnr, famine, fire, ship-wreck,
railroad disasters, mine explosions, murder,
rapine-cr,me walking abroad in open day,
stained with the red hand of blood, men
and women teughd with rum-homes des-
olated-while the wailing groans of or
phan's Fl II the air with shrieks of misery
and Observation-Disclosures and distress staring
every community in the face-and all this,
in land of Bibles, and followers of the
meek and loving Nazarine whose example
you would follow. Now is the time to open
your hearts, and while you are enjoying
your Holiday luxuries by your now COM
Portable fireside-seek out the poor, and see
that their scant table is provided for, and
that they have fuel TO protect them from
howl along the skies, remembering the par
ease :" but the stern demand of omnipo-
tence was: "This night, thy soul sha be
required of thee"
Until ~ o'clock at night of the 3lst
inst, the wintry and night picture Of dis
solution oppresses us, but after o'clock on
the morning OF the first of January, living
morning breezes watt the clouds away from
the soul, and we look toward the dark,
pure, morning blue, and of Spring. On
such n December day the dumb, motionless
world of frozen, bloodless plants around lis
tile insect cabinet, covered with earth
which have fallen beneath them, and the
raiters of the naked, withered, wrnkled
trees, all these inspire us with a sentiment
of anxiety. The December sun which
hangs at mid day MS low down as the June
sun in the evening, throws CHASTITY hue
OF death, like burning spirits of wine, over
the pale meadows, and everywhere, as on
an evening of nature, or of the year. The
blue foreground Of spring-the pure dark
heaven, bends closely over us, and the
whole earth seems to be white moon
whose sparkling fields OF ice meet into dark
waving fields Of flowers as we approach
nearer.
"The New Yenr opens wide its gates.
Between the reddy rising sun,
And morning vapors standeth Fate,
And hath the New Years task begun"
A few days ago n man named Powers
/ fell down stairs in Earrack Is, seriously
injuring himself and had to he carried tc
the Hospital on a stretcher. The Garrison
is rs dead as n door nail, except the busi
ness of the army life in Camp, which j,
sitting by the heaters and getting away
with Government fodder" The deat
rate is on the increase again-one and two
a day is the way they are planting" then
now.
+, Capt. Thompson informs me our Christ
mas dinner will Consist of oysters, venison
mince. PIE, oranges, apples, cranberry sauce
and all the other substantias. Nearly al
the venison will come from Michigan, ex
cept few which will he slaughtered from
our large herd in our Park.
There is 3.44 in the Hospitals; in Bar
racks, 1925; absent with leave. 7.6l
without leave, %; total 1852. Tn re i
100000 drawn here by pensions, and Their
il paid ont for construction. working mel
and clerks in this Home, IS, 600 or $ $,90O0pe
month, and every day 80 tons Of coal ar,
consumed; 800 pounds of meat are dali,
consumed itlook 2,200 pounds of tnrke,
for Thanksgiving 100 pounds OF brow
coffee for one meal; 10 barrel OF cabbage
for one dinner; 81 pounds of tea for SUP
per; 10 barrels OF Hour every day; 5000
light cakes twice week and when W,
have eggs, il takes II 900 to go round.
To the Editor, his friends and patrons
Vne anu al, +" h'tpps ShiINtih"s anu 4Ne'
Year. May no thorn obsiruct yonr path
way in 1881 health, happiness, peace an
plenty, always cast the sunshine of glad
ness around your hearthslones, and mn
prosperity attend you all; and when
shall have been time for us TO return to til
great magazine OF nature, that which "
all have borrowed-our lives-nnd whe
we shall have the last slab erected to OH
memories, and the sweet carol of lovel
singing birds shall warlle their beautiil
songs around our last resting place, frient
will gather around us in fond remember
ance, and delightfully."- exclaim--he was
constant reader and Advance paying subscrib
to that most excellent weekly, The Joul
NAL. Your Old Friend,
WM. THOs. MCDOWELL.