Dear Readers

                        In bringing before you our paper this week, we beg of you to accept our kindest wishes, for the perfect enjoyment of a Merry Christmas and trust that by the goodness of God we may all live to enjoy a recurrence of the same. I suppose there are many who believe that Christmas is an anniversary of the birth of Christ, but on looking into the facts of the case we find that it admits of a doubt. for instance many of the ancients celebrated the 20^th of May as such, some the 6^th, while others advocated the 10^th of January as a day of celebration. And it looks a little singular that people should be compelled to go and pay taxes in mid-winter when it would seem difficult for them to make such a journey. Nor does it look likely that the shepherds would be watching their flocks by night in dead of winter. But whatever facts we may bring to bear in regard to the date of the natal day of Christ, certain is it, that it is, and has been for many years observed on the 25^th of December, and as custom makes laws, we will cheerfully and willingly admit that the latter is the proper day. The children too all look forward to Christmas as a bright day for them, for then they expect some gift from their parents and friends, and to have some part in the celebration of this day. /

 

But while so many of us are surrounded with every comfort we can ask, how many are in want, how many are thinking with aching hearts of the coming Christmas and saying, Oh I wish it would be a merry Christmas to me. Do we think enough of these things, are we not apt to be selfish in our own comfort and disregard the comfort of others. And are our spiritual wants satisfied, do we not look forward to a brighter Christmas beyond the swelling flood where we can stand face to face with the one who laid in the manger and of whom was said "is Christ the Lord". Oh for the day to come when oppression shall be only known in name, when riches shall be equallized all over the world, when our five-points in the cities shall become 5^th Avenues, when jails and prisons and [?]aling hospitals become palaces. When a mother shall no longer bear her children will go to the bad, when all men shall love each other and virtue reign where vice now dwells. There shall the wilderness blossom as the rose. Then shall we see some of the fruits for which we are now laboring in the cause of humanity and we shall have the privilege of hearing, "inasmuch as ye have done it to the least of these ye have done it unto me". Let us then labor earnestly that we may succeed in winning some one from the tempters snare and that we may hear him in the full vigor of his manhood exclaim

            There came a change the cloud rolled up

to those around him who have won him back to the light and life of society and the true happiness of life both here and hereafter. /

 

 

There came a change, the cloud rolled off,

            A light fell on my brain;

And like the passing of a dream,

            That cometh not again,

The darkness of my spirit fled;

            I saw the gulf before;

And shuddered at the waste behind,

            And am a man once more.

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Dear Mother

                        The above I have written this aft. and composed all but the poetry that I read the other day and remembered it You can use it as an editorial if it meets your wants and you think it will do. It is some of the queer ideas of my brain (for I have some) put on paper and I dont know as I should send it to any one but Mother. I am well and all right but have an awful bad cold and / bark like a bitch-pup. And I think if snot was 50 cts a peck Id be a rich man now. But I guess this soft weather will help me some. That pie was a mistake I meant to have eaten it but forgot it. well you can use it as a sample of our fare. it aint fair to give us such fare, and then make us pay more than is fair for it. Aint that joke pretty good for me. I am sharp to day. used fathers razor thats the reason. But I dont know as I have any thing more to write only to give my love to father and all the folks and to Sara and let me know in your next how you all are

                                   

Much love to my darling Mother

from George  her Son.

 

Conundrum

            Why is a water lily like a whale?

                        Ans. because they both come to the surface to blow.

SOURCES