Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-12-25
C5e 9DaiIg Gbronitlt.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1881.
OUR CHRISTMAS,

Never in the history of the repub-
lie has there been a time when the
American people had more to make
them happy than on this bright
Christmas morning, We have passed
through year Of prosperity. We
have escaped pestilence of every
kind. We are at peace with all the
world, and domestic discord has
been banished from the land. Every
American Of whatever section looks
upon every other American of every
other section as his brother. We are
one great family sympathizing with
each others woes and rejoicing over
each others success.
Since the Christmas bells rang out
merrily year ago we have passed
through great calamity, but even
that has been overruled by
an all-wise Providence for the
national good. A beloved Chief
magistrate has been stricken down
by the mana or au assassin From
the East, W est, North and South.
came his sympathizing countrymen,
around his bedside, bemoanlng his
Affections and prayed upon a COM
mon altar for his restoration When
the sad final hour came, party names
and party and sectional lines were
forgotten and they mingled their
tears over his grave, and now vie
with each other in doing honor to
his memory. All bitterness is for~
gotten and that peace and good will
to men, proclaimed to the Judean
shepherds, reigns supreme through
out the land.
Along the shores of the Huron
swept the fierce forest fires, devast-
ing happy homes and laying loved
ones low.in fiery grave. The cry
of distress that went up was carried
along the electric wires with light
ming speed, to city, village and ham
let, and instantly, acting upon the
precepts of the Golden Rule. ma
ton rose up, and from every direc-
ton came the benevolent offerings
af the people for the relief of the
distressed.
Thus we see, that things, very sad
within themselves, and but for the
sympathy of our friends almost be-
yond endurance, are SO oyerruled as
to teach us valuable lessons, and fill
us with admiration for the Great
Creator, who has implanted in the
human breast some of the attributes
of Him in whose image we are
created
The spirit of Christmas is, sit is
more blessed to give than to re
ceive." it is from this that comes
the beautiful custom of giving press
ents TO those we love. And where is
the parent whose heart does not leap
for Joy at the gladness OF the child
rem over the trinkets they receive,
The little ones may forget it soon in
their chase after the pleasures of
childhood, but to the parents, and to
the donors Of ripper years, it is like a
thing of beauty" JOY forever.
And who can tell of the Joy, the
permanent unfading pleasure which
comes from affording relief
to the worthy poor? Some
are burdened. with affections.
The hand of disease has been laid
heavily upon them. Death may have
entered the household and taken
away the father upon whose strong
arm the family leaned for sup
port. A mother perhaps has
been taken, making the whole
world dark to the orphan chill
dyen. How sweet it is to remem-
Der such in these joyous Christmas
times. How much more do we en-
Joy our own pleasures, if we know
that we have given pleasure to 9th.
ers? Our owr we'll filed tables ana
glowing fresides afford us greater
pleasures, if we know that none
about us are hungry or. cold. WIZ
will deny that it is ''more blessed t.
give than to receive? 2"