Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-12-29

insertions, will be published untii oroefe'
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lFrom the Sketch BoOk.]
. -" CHRISTMAS.
A man might, then behold
At Christmas, in each hall,
Good fires to curb the cold
And meat for great and small.
The neighbours were friendly hidden,
And all had welcomes true,
The poor from the gates were not Child
den,
When this old cap was new.
OLD SONG.
There is nothing hat exercises a
more delightful spell over my imagln-
alton. than the lingerings Of the holy
day customs & rural games OF former
times. They recall the pictures nv fan.
CIV used 10 draw in the May morning OF
life, when as yet only knew the world
through books, and believed 1t to be
all that poets had painted it; and they
bring with them the flavor OF those
honest days of yore, in which, perhaps
with equal fallacy, am apt to think
the world was more homebred, social,
and JOYOUS than at present regret
10 saw, they are daily growing more and
more faint, being gradually worn away
by time, but still more obliterated by
modern fashion. They resemble those
picturesque morsels Of Gothic archi-
lecture, which we see crumblipg in va
rious parts of the country, partly di,
lapidated by the waste OF ages, and
partly lost in the additions and anera-
tons of latter days. Poetry, however,
clings with cherishing fondness about
the rural game and holyday revel, from
which it has derived so many OF its
themes--as the ivy winds its rich foll-
age about the Gothic arch and moul-
dering tower, gratefully repaying their
support, by clasping together their tot
tering remains, and, as II were, en-
balming them in verdure.
Of all the old festivals; however, that
of Christmas awakens the strongest
and most heartfelt associations. There
is a tone Of solemn and sacred feeling
that blends with our conviviali,y, and
lifts the soul to a state of hallowed and
elevated enjoyment. The services of
the church about this season are ex-
tremely tender and inspiring. They
dwell on the beautiful story of The ORR
gin Of our faith, and the pastoral scenes
that accompanied its announcement.
They gradually increase in fervor and
pathos during the season OF Advent,
until they break forth in full jubilee on
the morning that brought peace and
goodwill to men. j do not know a
grarder effect of music on the feelings,
than to hear the full choir and the peal
ing organ performing Christmas an
them in cathedral, and filling every
pa,t ofthe vast pile with triumphant
harmony.
II is beautiful arrangement, also,
derived from days ofyore, that this fes-
tival, which commentaries the an
nouncement of the religion OF peace
and love, has been made the season for
gathering together Of family connex-
ions, and drawing closer again those
bands Of kindred hearts, which the
cares and pleasures and sorrows Of the
world are continually operating to cast
loose; ofcalling back the children OF a
family. who have launched forth in life,
and wandered widely asunder, once
more to assemble about the paternal
hearth, that rallying place OF the affec-
tons, there to grow young and loving
again among the endeariDg momentos
of childhood.
There is something in the very sea-
son Of the year that gives charm to
the festiyity Of Christmas At other
times we derive great portion Of our
pleasures from the mere beauties ofna-
ture. Our feelings sally forth and dis
sipate themselves over the sunny land
scape, and ave live abroad and every
where The song Of the bird, the
IuuTIIluI VI tAS StiSahh, wv oiSetAho
fragrance of spring, the soft voluptu-
BUSINESS Of summer, the golden pomp
of autumn; earth with its mantle Of re-
freshing green, and heaven with its
deep delicious blue and its cloudy mag
m6cence, all ELL US with mute but ex-
quisite delight, and we revel in the lux
ufy OF mere sensation. But in the
depth Of winter, when nature lies de-
spoiled of every charm, and wrapped in
her shroud of sheeted snow, we turn for
bur qualifications to moral sources
The dreariness and desolation OF the
the short gloomy days and
iarksome nights, while they circum-
scribe our wanderings, shut in our feel
ngs also from rambling abroad, and
make US more keenly disposed Tor the