Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1883-12-21

N was uttered by thousands Of
e,ngue. twelve mouths ago, anl by
thousands twelve months before, So
,hou.1nis are now again rciterailng the
Joyous cry Christmas is here" Yes,
this blessed asriversaEy is again there
With an H. halInwed memories and bliss
full associations Are We prepared TO
weleorue it and conform to it, require
nen,s aud customs aud sacred observ-
auces
II is essentially season Of praise and
thanksgiving. 10 this eui, We should
bring 20 the contemplation Of i mind
serene. aud heart lcvout and CRATE
full In the celebration of-0 momeutous
and glorions an event as the birth OF
the living Redcemer, M event so trans
eendently sacred in its character, It
aeems fitting that, for time at least, we
EAST aside all frivolous thoughts and
diversions, and give ourselves NJ to
salm and serious rejection rejection
upon this grandly auspicious event, re-
Election upon our past lives AMI actions,
reflection upon the hidden future with
it's possible or probable bearing upon
our coming lot touching this life and
the life hereafter
n is also season Of rejoicing let
as therefore make glad our hearts
Bat in Civ az expression to our joy let
Us rake care that It b., done in keeping
with the divine and holy nature Of the
festival; that is, With temperance and
moderation. and not in turbulent rieting
and bacchanalian rcvclry. IN ! all manner
Of unseemly sports and amusrm"nts such
80 commonly profane this hallowel peri
cd We have always regarded the wild
carnival which universally rcigus at
Christmas time as wholly Inappropriate
and sacriigeous. What u sad lscord
the sounds from such scenes awaken
when mingled with those sweet and
solemn peals which are rung out on the
air Of heaven from the belfres Of all
Christerdom
II is also season Of reunions, and
how
Sweet TO know there are eyes
That mark our coming
Aud look brighter when We come"
Myrinds Of expcctaut hearts are made to
well-nigh burst with joy at the sound of
The dear familiar foot. fall Of the long
absent one as, he crosscs the we'll
remembered threshold to fold in the
warm embrace Of love the dear ones at
home aud minglc his JOY with theirs. =
And now ring out ten thousand, thou
sand voices of mcriment and delight til
the glad mir wHicn rnears tiTe welcome
sounds away seems to vibratc will
lively sympathy. This is pleasing con
temptation, but let US not forget 20 lool
at the reverse side Of this glowing pic
thre, for it speaks to us moral it wcr
well to remember. II is this; that many
very many of those happy hearts nov
bounding with exultant hope; many, yer,
many of those bsaming eyes now lit u
with the soft light Of love; many, YER
many Of those ruby lips that now NICE
in one long lingering kiss of devotion
will, ere She passage of another h-etin:
twelve month, lie cold and low in tn
icy grasp Of death let each ono a
he reads these lincs, ask himself
"Will it be ?"
II is pre- eminently season of kind
ness. Then let us out of our supertlui
ty give to them who hath not-the widow
the orphan, the friendless We nee,
not search the highways and the by
ways to find the needy aud the desolate
They are all around us, and about u
sad appeal to our sympathles by th
heaven woven ties of a common brother
hood The partaker Of the ashen crust
and the shivering tenant Of the tatjcrc,
garb are equally our brother VT
the pampered luxurious Vanderbilt
''The poor ye have always with yon
Remember them And the little ones
those simple. guileles. hearts that arr
dreaming now Of Ssnts Claus and hi
'Kooddies Let US mini.tcr 10 thei
innocent pleasures for VIC ourselves wer,
snce little child; aud lie, the All il
All. whose natal day We glorify. com
msnded that they be allowed to come
unto" him, for of such is the kingdom
of heaven"
Lastly, it is a season Of making
Soto all our subscribers ami patrons
we cry out Justify, CHRISTMAS GIFT
But being Of a gcncron. turn Of mind
wo will let you off lightly; that's to say
If all will come forward between now
and the first Of the New Year anc
tquare up all old seoycs, we will say til,
gift debt is cancelled.
Accept dear readers, our kinlIics
greetings, and best wishes for a Merr,
Christmas to each aud all
1~=m-~<--=-~~-~~s@
4 number Of bills for retiring the trade
dollar have been introduced in Congress