The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED "The Evening News," "The Morning News," and "The Echo." FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1875.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1828, 24 December 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED "The Evening News," "The Morning News," and "The Echo."

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1875.

For the cause that lacks assistance! For the wrong that needs resistance. For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

Once again revolving time has brought us to the genial Christmas-tide. Commemorative of the proclamation of peace on earth and good-will toward men, it is associated with sunny memories of happy reunions, of festive enjoyments, and in this our Southern home, of happy excursions over hill and dale and sparkling waves, where all was merriment and sunshine. But to many an Auckland home this Christmas-eve will ceme laden with memories of grief and sadness. For many a year has passed away since a year was known that caused so much domestic bereavement; and the sable habiliments of woe that everywhere appear in our streets and thoroughfares tell us how many a hearth has been saddened and how many a vacant chair there is in the homes of Auckland. Many a heart will turn sadly away this Christmaseve and recall some merry-making a year ago in which some bright and sunny face may have been the merriest perhaps of all, a face that is now laid in silence beneath the green grass waving in the graveyard, and there is many a Rachel this day in Auckland weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted because they are not. Many an aged pilgrim has closed his journeyings in the year past and laid him down where the weary are at rest; and many a sunny curl and sparkling eye associated with undying memories of winsome ways, and clinging love and childish prattle have blended with kindred dust. And many a bud of promise has been crushed, and many an idol has been shattered, and in many a heart the year has left an aching void that time will never fill. There is many a one this day in Auckland to whom this Christmas-tide will not be a season of merriment. For these the eky may be as sunny and the air as fresh and balmy ; but there is one dark cloud that casts its shadow over all, and though everything around may be in harmony with the spirit of the season, the heart in its own silent communings sighs, Oh for one touch of the vanished hand, one sound of the voice that is still. And yet even to such as these the season which brings merriment and joy to others Bhould bring the balm of consolation. For what sages and philosophers and scientists but guessed at, dimly groping through the darkness, he whose advent is commemorated brought to light, and in the life and immortality which he bought snd taught, has presented to tearful eyes and bowed and breaking hearts, the] prospect of gladder, happier reunions than ever gladdened any Christmastide, reunions where the burning fever cannot enter, nor bronchitis waste the frame; and where the angel of death can never close the eye or still the pulse or cast the dark shadow of his wings over the domestic hearth. To one and all, therefore, the Christmas-tide should come a time of joy ; and though to some of our readers who have bowed their heads beneath the heavy hand of affliction, it wonld saem like mockery to bid a Merry Christmas, may it be to them a season of mellowed, hallowed gladness. And to one and all our readers we cordially present the compliments of the season, and wish them many a return of the Happy New Year.