death of the beloved Father of his Country.

In later years, the season continued prominent in the history of great
events. The most notable of these were the two Proclamations of
President Lincoln, the one freeing the slaves, January 1, 1863, and
the other proclaiming the "unconditional pardon and amnesty to all
concerned in the late insurrection," on December 25, 1868. And may the
peace then declared remain with this people forevermore!

THE VOICE OF THE CHRIST-CHILD

The earth has grown cold with its burden of care,
But at Christmas it always is young,
The heart of the jewel burns lustrous and fair,
And its soul full of music breaks forth on the air,
When the song of the Angels is sung.

It is coming, old earth, it is coming to-night!
On snowflakes which covered thy sod,
The feet of the Christ-child fall gently and white,
And the voice of the Christ-child tells out with delight
That mankind are the children of God.

On the sad and the lonely, the wretched and poor,
The voice of the Christ-child shall fall;
And to every blind wanderer opens the door
Of a hope which he dared not to dream of before,
With a sunshine of welcome for all.

The feet of the humblest may walk in the field