Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1904-12-27
SPIRIT OF JEFFERSON.
u. CHRISTMAS And new YEAR SUPPLEMENT
PRINTERS GREETING.

Merrily the bells are ringing merrily every.
where,
The music of their resonance peryades the
frosty air.
Bells in the old Cathedrals. where ancient
moulders lay
Unknown behind the centuries that slowly
drift away,
Bells of modern structure, with tone and
note and chime
Adjusted unto music and melody and rhyme
From where the Frost King ruleth DER ICY
clad domains,
To chimes where constant sunshine bedecks
the Towering plains,
From cities by the sea, out DER the briny
deep,
To forest dense, and upland, and rugged
mountain steep,
These strong metallic voices ring out the glad
refrain
With strong commingling unison. of Christ
mastide again.
Christmastide, what glories encircle the very
name,
The years best, brightest season. The pin
acles of fame,
Whereon high human efforts look skyward
to the light,
Still higher, higher must ascend to reach its
dazzling height.
Along the track of ages, as the moments
swiftly fly.
By tombs of mythic heroes, where crumbline
empires lie,
A fellow-traveler with time, this holy FIESTA
comes
Into the present always, into our hearts and
homes.
Comes as the angel 9 Radiant" beamins
with light and cheer,
Irridescing the shadows. dispensing doub
and fear,
Comes as a winged messenger, gifted will
stentor voice,
Brings humanity divinity, bids the worlt
rejoice.
Then welcome holy season, that bringetl
such delight;
The rays of thy presence can break the
murkiest night,
To palace and to prison, into novels of thu
poor,
Benefcent, impartial, thy glory come
once more.
In homes.that long were desolate, the glaa
tenates reign,
And lives so lately severed are united nov
again.
Yule logs are burning crisply by conntles
fresides,
Beneath the roof parental each wandere
From college and from office. and distan
way and toll,
| Like needle unto magnet, they seek thei
| native soil.
No wonder that people with Saxon love TO
homes
/ @ hail
| comes.
And with it comes the record, the resume o
| the year,
A feeling to discover what lights and shade
appear,
To gather for the future, all events foretell
The buds of quick fruition, the hope tina
all is WELL
Across the sweep of passing days that mari
it from the last,
The flowing streams of human life, have ed
died far and fast.
A tidal wave of error hath swept our coun
try DER,
And buried here the cause of truth from far
ther shore to shore.
And though our chosen leaders marched
| boldly to the fight,
| Upraised the old banner, upheld the PEG
/
Projections darkest heresies, at the Trusts
golden hand
Crept quietly and cautiously, triumphan
DER the land.
The cause of truth, however crushed, vii
rise again e'er long,
Sweep from its path grim error and remed,
the wrong.
ThOuol dark NAV seem the presenf AM
bitter i'll defeat,
A clearer sky, a brighter day, its futur
course will greet.
From out the night prevailing twill sprin.
with strength newborn,
To triumph in the splendor of a bright ane
glorious morn,
Then at this joyful season, let us pledge on
Wrest from defeat its virtues, our broker
ranks review,
Move forward to the future, with steady stel
and heart,
With patriot thought and purpose to brave
ly do our part.
And in the near hereafter. Justice, nov
delayed,
Will lift aloft her banner and flourish un
dismayed.
Merrily the bells are ringing, merrily every
where
The cadence of their iron song, floats in the
crispy air
And with familiar faces, comes through tn,
opening door
Into the halls of welcome, into our lives once
more.
These strong metallic voices, beating lout
and beating fast,
Concentrating echoes from the dim and
Swallowed past,
Growing strong and growing stronger as the
years are rolling on,
Ring again their Xmas anthems. ring again
in unison.
And their ringing hath a meaning, leading
up to higher things,
Mingled with the Seasons joys are the les
sons that it brings
Lessons, duties, pointing upward to paths
that martyrs trod;
Love of virtue, love of country, love OF
home love of God