Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-12-25

It had been two months and half
since the little fleet Of caravels first
found land at San Salvador and the
great explorer had forgotten the terrors
OF the voyage and was ready 10 EN- bark
on whatever Of future expeditions was
needed TO round out the fortune which
he now deemed within his grasp. lie
had been kind 10 the natives, and had
made friends with then by hanging
presents around the necks OF those whom
his men succeeded in bringing TO him
the first Christmas gifts in America!
And so, when the cross OF Christ was
uDllfted In this isle of enchantment and
the worshippers knelt to celebrate a
solemn mass, there was background OF
interested and not displeased specta-
tors.
TWO CENTURIES LATER
Here Is a colder Christmas Day. It is
a bleak and drifted Christmas, much
more in harmony with our idea or the
day than any scene which could be en-
acted amid the Hsytien forests.
The world has been getting older and
perhaps little wiser since Columbus
sailed and found and died. Two new
members have been added to the ever
growing family of centuries. James
town has been planted. Captain John
Smith has shown the Indians OF Nir-
rinia hat the palefaceS can turn out SOL
diers not 10 be despiSed by them, and IL
is now CaUtain Miles Standish's turn TO
teach q similar lesson 10 the Indians OF
Massachusetts.
For several weeks they prowled
around Cape Cod looking for place on
which TO establish their new homes
these Pilgrims Of the MayhOwer. stand
ish did not discover continent, put 10
his explorations he discovered indian
corn. and il that is not worth remem-
bering with . statue l do not know what
A LAND OF PROMISE.
At last the white men came upon
spot which seemed 10 promise what they
wanted. Here they found safe haro0r
FOR their ships and running brooks 70
Give them water. Here, too, the IN
dams had cleared away the forests ana
builu a village, but a providential peSti-
Ience had cleared away the Indians
wear or two before aud left the place un-
tepanted and ready for its new oceu-
Tbev landed on the 22nd in this place
which bears to-day the name they gave
in. Plymouth, and on Christmas Day the
first house. rude log structure, Win
paper dipped in oil in place OF glass IoI
windows was reared and the IRE Quit
within 10 warm the women and children
Of the party. 49,,
An. what a Christmas Day was that;
The buildipg Of home by stern taced
Puritsps. who deemed smile san, ano
who had little temptation for SHINING IN
those DAYS; the entrance OF new race
intotbis new England, with strong heart
tbrobs Of ioy and thankfulness that they
had found a refuge at last from the per
secutlon Of civilization, though the!
must hold IL at the price OF eohStau'
struggle with perils by sea, oy the LoI-
est by disease and by the savages Whlee
must often decimate their numbers anu
threaten their very existence.
Peace on earth? There was no peace
for them, but wars-wars constant, re-
lentless and cruel-until many years
thereafter, when their ever-strengt men
/. ing ranks had beaten down the forest
land beaten back the savages, and taught
disease that it could no longer pay
with humanity at its own sweet win,
and driven religious persecution forever
-omf - lard
~ xr--ro