A life in words

  • Christmas Carols in Prose #10: With Wondering Awe (a.k.a. Laudis Corona)

    The wise men, with wondering awe, saw the star springing in heaven. And with delight they heard the angels singing in the peaceful nighttime: “To his name hosanna, hosanna, hosanna!” They traveled far by starlight to seek the lowly manger—the humble bed wherein the wondrous little stranger was laid. “To his name hosanna, hosanna, hosanna!”…

  • Christmas Carols in Prose #9: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

    Listen! The angel heralds sing glory to the newborn king! “Peace and mild mercy on earth, God and sinners are reconciled!” All you nations rise joyfully. Join the skies’ triumph. Proclaim with the angelic host—Christ is born in Bethlehem! Hail the heaven-born prince of peace! Hail righteousness’s son! He brings light and life to all.…

  • Christmas Carols in Prose #8: O Little Town of Bethlehem

    Little town of Bethlehem, we see you lie so still. The silent stars go by above your deep and dreamless sleep, yet the everlasting light shines in your dark streets. Tonight the hopes and fears of all the years meet in you. For Christ is born of Mary, and the angels, all gathered together up above,…

The principal difficulty lies, and the greatest care should be employed in constituting this Representative Assembly. It should be in miniature, an exact portrait of the people at large. It should think, feel, reason, and act like them. That it may be the interest of this Assembly to do strict justice at all times, it should be an equal representation, or in other words equal interest among the people should have equal interest in it. Great care should be taken to effect this, and to prevent unfair, partial, and corrupt elections.John Adams, Thoughts on Government, April 1776