beautiful discourse. He said:
"The greatest of all the Christmas gifts that man ever has received,
or that even God himself can bestow, was made on that first Christmas
day. Some of you may not think as I do about it, but on that day God
gave to the world his own and only beloved Son, and to my eyes, and I
hope to the eyes of many of you, he is the fairest of all the fair,
and the one altogether lovely. I lay all the gold, and the
frankincense, and the myrrh of my heart's best affections as thank
offerings at his feet on this Christmas day. Brethren, God has made
his most costly gift to us in the person of his Son; should we not be
willing to reciprocate this gift with the most precious gift we are
able to offer? And what is the most precious thing in his sight that
we can give? It is our love in return for his love to us. If we do
make this return in fullness, we place ourselves in a state of highest
blessedness, described by John in few words: 'We love him, because he
first loved us.' This is a heavenly state, and it must be the basis of
all the bliss of saints and angels."

I wish I had time to give more than this mere outline of the brother's
excellent discourse in the German language, but I must leave off. We
have night meeting at Koontz's, where Brother Daniel Miller and I stay
all night.

TUESDAY, December 31. I have traveled since last New Year's day,
nearly all on horseback, 3,827 miles. The year's work is done. The
record on high is made. Does it stand favorably in my behalf for the
life to come, or have I received my reward here? I can only pray my
Father in heaven to forgive the wrong and bless the right. This is my
evening prayer at all times, but especially do I offer it now at the
closing hour of the year.

SATURDAY, January 4. Go to Isaac Myer's on Stony Creek, and stay at
Louis Naselrodt's all night.

SUNDAY, January 5. Meeting in the Sulphur Spring schoolhouse. Acts 3
is read. Stay at Brother William Andes's all night.

MONDAY, January 6. Return home. Snows all day.

THURSDAY, January 23. Solemnize the marriage of David Hoover, near
Plain's Mill, and Mary Zigler, of Timberville.

SUNDAY, January 26. Attend the funeral of Mrs. Kootz, mother of our
State Senator, Samuel Kootz. Her age was seventy-three years, five
months and twenty-eight days.

WEDNESDAY, February 12. Attend the funeral of old mother Shultz. Her
age was seventy-five years. I speak from Isaiah 3:10, 11. Text: "Say
ye to the ri