Douglas Island news., 1900-03-07
CHRISTMAS AT PRAIRIE BASIN.
 nEC 0Q,1

DEC. 2Srd It was drawing near to Christmas time, Following lead, for gold mine, Way mp on the mountain steep, Drilling in the rock so deep. The ground was covered OCT with snow And the food supply was running low. Snow clouds hung heavy in the air As we went forth from our silent lair, In which we could no longer stay As our food supply was mile away. We get in supplies without any fear, For Christmas time to have good cheer.
 DEC. 24th. Ihe snow clouds had vanished from the air. The day had opened bright and fair, The sun ShOue out of the clear blue sky, But it does not at this time rise so high, All round us is covered with snow so white Emblem of Purity" quite. As the sun it makes the white snow glisten, Something whispers to the watcher, listen To the old, old story, ever new, Not told to many, but only few, No matter how dark the day may seem, If we look alright we shall catch the gleam Of the silver lining to each dark cloud, And lift our praise to God aloud. Sucu was the lNlSSlOu Ol CuElSJ IO Ilel' Peace on earth" shall come, oh When? Men of all sins shall repent, Then shall they rest in peace, content. Toward night the sky was overcast, Sunshine light had vanished past, But we kept it still in mind, As a moral here think we'll find, Look always to the brightest side of things, Half of our troubles will then take wings. Christ came to give joy to the earth, not
 sorrow, His birthday comes on the morrow.
 DEC. 18th. No bells rang out this Christmas morn, To tell us the Prince of Peace" was born, No star in the heavens did appear, To tell us the story, Christ is here. No shepherds watched their foclSs at night, No meteor flashed with sudden light, To tell ms heaven gave forth a son, Saying Peace on earth" Thy kingdom
 come" Good will toward men," the angels say, As Christ was born this Christmas day. Allmorning the snow was falling fast, The sky was dark and overcast, The trees stood solid on earth and rock, To withstand the cruel winters shock, Their branches shot forth like living things, To partake of the joy that Christmas brings. The suns rays pierced the clouds at noon, And banished the darkness and the gloom. As the snow was glistening on the trees, The branches swayed in the gentle breeze It may be stormy, dark and drear, And souls uncertain shake with fear, Storms without and troubles all within, The mind struggling with doubt-yet in sin Seeking happiness in worldly pleasure, And filling the heart from this measure, It may be pleasure you seek and gain, But the heart is struggling with grief and
 pain. Listen to the voice which speaks, For your own good your soul it seeks, As the sun scatters the morning mist, Be led by Christ and do not resist. He will remove all doubt and fear, And through all dangers will be near. In Him and Him only is happiness complete, And before Gods throne, you, Christ shall
 meet.
 It was in Prairie Basin, G. W. Rudd and l, Spent our Christmas on mountain high. It is twenty miles from Juneau due N. West And we had no visitor as Christmas guest, We had no turkey or goose so fine, But something good in another line. You may be assured we had good dinner, In fact good enough for saint or sinner; meat pie made of canned roast beef, 'Tis whole lot better than a lawyers brief, Because a brief is kind of dry, You cannot say this of our pie. We feaSted and thought ourselves in luck, e., ,.,,eSS vOu q dfd with yo,,r erOOsa Cr duck Your Christmas trees were grand we know, Our Christmas trees were covered with snow. Now, kind friends, must say adieu, Hoping that Christmas brought joys to you.
 ED. WILLIAMS.