Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1886-12-25
mExgY CHRISTMAS.
Communicated

Christmas only comes once q year, Dut
when is does come it is a holiday not to
be lightly forgotten. Not that its holi-
ness partakes in any degree of the sour or
the saturnine; very far from it, indeed.
1t is a feast and not a fast.
Rejoicing and dancing, and fessting
and merry making are the pre-eminent
characteristics Of this season. Ii is q
period which we celebrate by every act
that is calculated to make the heart glad.
1t is a day that represents peace on earth
and good will among men. To-day we
forget the dark, dull, dreary side OF life,
and look only to the brightness, the SUI
shine, and the triumphs OF existence,
Happily, there is much to rejoice over
and be exceeding merry. It is a sorry
heart that never rejoices. There Is some
thing wrong with it, and the fault is very
much its own. Life, after all is pretty
nearly just what We mako it. II it Is true
that we have the poor with US always, 1t
ia because in ninty-nine cases out OF q
hundred, they have squandered their OPP
~portunities, and indulge in either indo-
lence or extravaganza at a time when in
uuStTy dGu lEubdLlt1 "OulQ A1hO ioSNuS0
them from q condition of dependepce.
The earth is fruitful of good things, and he
who. diligently sows, harrows and mows,
may rely IDOL q bountiful harvest. With
out careful cultivation the richest soil
only brings forth noxious weeds. Every
mans world is q field from which he may
reap pretty much as he sows. II be
shrinks from difficulty. hesitates about bis
work, fails to take care Of the dimes in or.
der that the twenties may take care of
themselves, then when the harvest time
comes he gamers care, anxiety, poverty,
and even want. II on the other hand be
surmounts the little obstacles inseparable
from life; il he conquers difficulties in g
manner worthy OF a man; II he works
whist it il called to-day, knowing that
the night cometh when no man can
work; if he lays by the superabundance OF
his prosperity, in order that he may be
protected against the rainy day that is
likely to oyertaAe ali men, then to such u
msu life is full Of good things, and this
day ia the one of all the year when he may
most it,ingly count them Gp and rejoice at
their exceeding abundance. Such q man
will not repine because he has not got
more. He will be content with what he
has, knowing that everything he owns is
the resuls OF an effort. and if it had been
possible 10 make more efforts, he had won
more possessions.
He remembers the struggle which every
thing he has gained cost him; he is keenly
sensible of ths industry and Thrills by
which he secured, is may be, a homestead
or a deposi: in a savings bank; or by which
he has been enabled to clo.he, feed and
educate a happy and promising family,
that are the pride of his heart and the joy
OF his life. Viewing these things aud she
struggle by which he acquired and main
tanned them, he enjoys a double delight;
he looks bsck with pleasure upon his eff
forts, he looks around upon the fruits they
have brought him with a complacent self
satisfaction. He says to himself, these are
all OF my own procurement, | know their
worth, because / know their cost.
Such a man will sit down to-day to his
Christmas dinner with a good appetite and
an excellent digestion, with a contented
mind and a conscience void Of offsnse
toward God and man. His Christmas
will be a merry one. The love OF his good
wife that he has cherished, the affections
of his children that he has meritsd. will
all speak to him words Of peace, joy and
contensment.
We paint no ideal picture. We but de-
scribe a condition OF things that we are
persuaded exists in a majority of homes in
our midst.
The streets aud stores during the past
fow days have been eloquent of the happy
homes. The wife has bought presents for
her husband, the father for his children,
the young man for his sweetheart, and
even the little ones have spent their dimes
to procure some valued trfie for their asso
cistes. This all indicates prosperity and
a happy condition of social life.
II they had not happy families or valued
friends they would not care to bes.wow
presents. Every article that has been
p~archased represents love aud affection, or
at least, esteem. These simple tokens
of good feeling are souvenirs that express
a union Of hearts and sympathies. There
are so many little touches of that human
nature that makes the whole a kin. Every
little present that Expresses a kindly feel
ing is, 10 the eyes of the recipient. d thing
OF beauty. and as such conveys al idea
that it is a joy forever.
On all sides the evidence OF plenty IL
unmistakable. Good choer abounds
throughout the land, aud therefore moth
ing would seem to be wanting to enable
the readers to enjoy the Merry Christmas
which the SENTINEL most heartily wishes
them all. COPE.