I'm reading this on Christmas

It was the middle of December, 1776. The winds and storms of winter had entered the fight on the enemy's side. Washington found little comfort from what remained of his army - if it could be called as such. They were exhausted, barefooted and ragged. Sickness, death and desertion had reduced his force to but 2,000 men; men whose morale was at the lowest ebb.

Thomas Paine was with the Army through all its trials and tribulations. Legend has it that he sat on a stone, immune to the winter's cold with his musket across his knee and wearing Washington's coat, and with a stroke of genius wrote on a drum head "The American Crisis."

Before crossing the Delaware and attacking Trenton on Christmas Day, Washington ordered these flaming words of inspiration read aloud to his freezing soldiers:

THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated.

I have as little superstition in me as any man living, but my secret opinion has ever been that God Almighty will not give up a people to military destruction who have so earnestly and so repeatedly sought to avoid the calamities of war. Neither have I so much of the infidel in me, as to suppose that He has relinquished the government of the world, and given us up to the care of devils.

I once felt all that kind of anger, which a man ought to feel, against the mean principles that are held by the Tories: a noted one was standing at his door, with as pretty a child in his hand as I ever saw, and after speaking his mind as freely as he thought was prudent, finished with this unfatherly expression, "Well! give me peace in my day." A generous parent should have said, "If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace;" and this single reflection, well applied, is sufficient to awaken every man to duty. I am as confident, as I am that God governs the world, that America will never be happy till she gets clear of foreign dominion. Wars without ceasing will break out till that period arrives, and the continent must in the end be conqueror; for though the flame of liberty may sometimes cease to shine, the coal can never expire.

Quitting this class of men, I turn to those who have nobly stood, and are yet determined to stand the matter out: I call not upon a few, but upon all: not on this state or that state, but on every state: up and help us; lay your shoulders to the wheel; better to have too much force than too little, when so great an object is at stake. Let it be told to the future world, that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive, that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet and to repulse it. Say not that thousands are gone, turn out your tens of thousands; throw not the burden of the day upon Providence, but "show your faith by your works," that God may bless you. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.

I thank God, that I fear not. I see no real cause for fear.

Thomas Paine - December 23, 1776