The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1893-12-23
1ECEMBER %, 1897.
FEELING OF THE SEASON.

In every way, and by many a tributary
stream, and the holy and be~neicient
sentiments which belong to TN. Christ
mas time increased and refreshed. BEAN
tiful feelings, too apt to fade within the
heart of man amid the chilling influence
of worldly pursuit, steal out beneath the
sweet rel gious warmth of the season,
and the pure and holy amongst the
hopes OF earth assemble, to place them
selves under the protection of that
eternal hope whose promise is now, as it
were, yearly renewed.
Amid the echoes of that song which
proclaimed peace on earth and goodwill
toward men, making no exclusions, and
dividing them into no classes, rises up a
dormant sense of universal br ,therhood
in the heart; and something like a dis
tribution vi the good things of the earth
is suggested in favor of those, desti ute
here, who are proclaimed as joint parti-
cipators in the treasure thus announced
from heaven. At no other period in the
year are the feeling Of a universal benev-
olence and the sense of a common Adam
SO widely awakened; at no season is the
predominant spirit of selfishness so
effectually rebuked never are the circles
OF love so largely widened.
The extended space OF time over which
this festival is spread, the. protracted
holiday which it creates, points it ont
for the gathering together of distant
friends whom the passing nature of an
occasional and single celebration would
fail TO collect from their scattered places
of the world. By this wise and beautiful
arrangement the spell Of home is still
made to cast its influence along the
sterile regions as along the bright places
of after life, and from the dark valleys
and the sunny h~ill-tops, Of the world 10
call back alike the spoiled Of fortune
aud the tired and travel-stained to re-
fresh themselves again at the fountain of
their calmer hopes and purer feelings.
A wise and beautiful arrangement this
would be, in whatever season of the
year it might be placedi
Wise and beautiful il any institution
which sets up a rallying- place for the
early affections and reawakens the
sacred sympathies of youth,-which.
from that well-head OF purity and peace,
sends forth, as it were, a little river OF
living waters, to flow with reviviiying
freshness and soothing murnur along
the wastes and wildernesses of after
years; which makes of that s%pringtime
of the heart a reservoir OF balm, to
which in hours of sorrow it can return
for joy, and in years of guilt for regenera-
ton.
But now greatly are the wisdom and
the l'eanty OF this arrangement i%ncreass-
ed by the sacred season at which it has
been placed! Under the sanctions OF
religion the covenants OF the heart are
renewed. Upon the affairs Of our faith
the lamps of the spirit are rekindled.
The loves OF earth seem to have met
together at the sound OF the 'glad it'd
ings'' of tho season, to refresh Them
selves for the heaven which those It'd
ings proclaim. In may a peaceful spot
and lowly home.
'sHope springs, '~exultiag on triumphant wing,
That TINS they all shall meet in future days.
There ever bask in uncreated rays,
No more to sigh or shed the bitter tear,
Together hymning their Creators praise
In such society, yet still moro dear,
While ceaseless time moves round in On eter.
nal sphere"
-Selected.