The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, DEC. 23, 1884. Christmas, 1884

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 83, 23 December 1884, Page 2

The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, DEC. 23, 1884. Christmas, 1884

The inevitable progress of Time has . brought us again to tlio threshold of ' that happy season which has been observed as a time for joy and thanksgiving among all Christian people for nearly nineteen hundred years. The cry of "A Merry Christmas to You," and a warm clasp of the hand, has closed many a feud, and restored peaco and harmony to places where strife and discord have reigned. In strange lands, far distant from the Home Country and Father Land, these words bring back to tho wanderer memories of half-forgotten faces, with their surroundings of pleasures and pains never again to bo experienced. Memories of blighted hopes, with the bitter past disappointments of life, crowd into tho mind to re-open wounds which tho callous hand of time had but skinned over, and set them bleeding afresh. But the gentle and soothing influences of tho memory of Him who heals all wounds and carries comfort to every grieving spirit that seeks His aid, gradually dispels the sorrowful feelings evolved from a contemplation of the past, and displaces them by imparting hope to the despondent and weary, and courage to the faint hearted, that they may meet the " ills that flesh is heir to " with a bold front. During the twelve months which have passed away since we last commented on this season, the changes which have taken place among tho inhabitants of Feilding- and it* suburbs have been comparatively few. Not many old faces are missing, while several new onos havo joined us to sharo tho labors attendant upon advancing the welfare of this most prosporous settlement, and at tho same time promoting their own good by adding to their worldly store There havo been no public questions raised of sufficient interest to provoke differences of opinion which could create such warmth of discussion as to excite personal animosities or hatreds. There havo been no " burning questions " to oxcite friend against friend, or neighbor against neighbor. There has been a good deal of monotony in our lives during this time. Tho poor and needy have been assisted with liberality and wise discrimination, while the delicate tact which has prevailed in the distribution of such charitable aid has reflected honor on those whose duty it has been to dispense it, and credit on those whoso goodness of heart provided tho means. For our own part, we must admit that the world has gone i well with us, and the pleasure we havo in expressing our heartfelt gratitude to the public, which has so amply repaid us for our offorts on their behalf, is almost unbounded, and hard to be expressed in mere words. Our actions in the future, we intend and hope, will in some degree show how highly wo esteem the goodwill of our fellow citizens, and how we will eudeavor'to retain it. If we have sometimes been compelled to be harsh and outspoken in tho exercise of our functions as journalists, it must bo remembered that what we have done has been for the good of the community at largo, and private feelings havo to be put asido altogether in such cases. Knowingly or wittingly we havo done no man wrong ; but if such there be, we frankly ask his pardon, and hope his injury, real or imaginary, will bo forgotten, and all ill feeling put aside. To our subscribers, advertisers, and readers, to whom we are indebted for their liberal patronage, wo offer our most grateful thanks, while wishing one and all A Merby Christmas.