Year: 1861

MERRY CHRISTMAS Yes; but this year
our Christmas merriment will be more serious
than usual We shall think of Christ
mas as something more than holiday, and
add to other observances OF the day some re-
hection on those words,-"peace on earth and
good will to men," There is in this country
lack of peace and good will We are engaged
in most lamentable civil war, caused not by
any influence of christian civilization, but
springing from the operations OF pampered
barbarism We cannot forget this war, to-
day, nor fail to cherish an earnest desire tl'at
both the war and its cause may disappear, ana
that the christianity we recognize IN our op-
servance of Christmas may render 1t lmpossl-
BILE for any thing like either to trouble US again.


1t is not likely that the next Christmas will
find us in the same condition. Many ques.
tions now pending will be settled before that
day arrives, for this war with treason and re-
bellion cannot be a very long one. 1t will
be substantially decided before the end of
the coming year. 1t does not seem to many
that our government is doing much to force
matters to a conclusion, nevertheless, the
various movements now quietly arranged and
going forward, will ere long take another ap-
pearance, and the decision OF the struggle will
be swifter than the preparation for It, We
should be chiefly concerned to secure such
settlement of this controversy with treason as
will place the nation under the sway OF higher
principles than have ruled its politics for the
last twenty years, and redeem 1t from every
influence that contributes in any way to
hinder the great republic from being light to
the nations and the hope OF oppressed men OF
all races and climes.


An earnest struggle tor principal never
fails to exalt those engaged in it, 1t lifts them
up to higher style of thought and feeling,
and makes their life nobler. We are fighting
for our very existence as nation, for tree
institutions, for the peipetuity of the republic,
and for progress in that Christian civilization
which casts out the 'devis of barbarism, and
promotes peace and good will. We ought to
gain from this struggle such right feeling and |
such elevation CT sentiment and character |
as will make us different from what we were
before the contest began, and lead to peace
which Will not leave IL III lise power VI d Oat
barous institution TO corrupt our politics and
control our destnies. And SO it will be. We
need not allow anxiety on this point. The
slavery question will take care OF itself, and |
we wish that every man i'll congress might
have better faith in this tact than seems to
be prevalent in that body.


But let us have merry Christmas" and
if our merry mood is more sober and thought
ful than it was year ago, we shall keep our
Christmas to better purpose. The children
will be merry, and cherish the proioundest
faith in Santa Claus They might do worse,
and We do mnch worse than to euter into
their feelings with the fullest sympathy, and |
meanwhile say with a proper faith in Chris
tianity =


Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky


The flying cloud, the frosty light;


The year is dying in the night;


Ring out, wild bells, and let it die.


Ring out slowly dying cause,


And ancient forms OF party strife;


Ring in the nobler modes of life,


With sweeter manners, purer laws.


Ring in the valiant man and free


The larger heart, the kindlier hand;


Ring out the darkness of the land,


Ring in the Christ that is To Be-