Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-12-25
AN.D-2IAa
THURSDAY MORNING.. DECEMBER IS, 1898.
CHRIST MAS.

- Brightly DER the ch eerfuI hail. Inject,
r,r.s the heaped hea nth, An friends and Kindred
All the glad other round the festive board
HeholIs her children, separa ted long
Amid the worlds wide way. assembled now;
Aud al the sight, sffecuo n lghtens up
With smiles, the age that age has long bedimmed.'
, our S,vIouas Nativity was celebrated in the
.,rlv ages Of Christianity. u is named CHBisT.
,,s nay, from the Latin Christi Missa, the
Mass Of Christ, and hence the Roman Ca,ho>
lie liturgy is termed the NissGI or Mass-book.
Cha,ter,on gives a lively description Of
Christmas as il was celebrated in England in
the "olden times
aThe ancer, Chtis,mas gan'boLs," says The
,o,, "uere, in my opinion, superior 10 our
,noa,n speciacies and amusemeuts; wrestling,
,,rI;pp the ball, and dancing in The wood lands,
,src ,l.asures for men. is true, the coaver>
g., IL lie hearth>side was The tales Of SUPER
,,;,ior: he fairies, Robin Goodiellow, and hob
uoh,;n,. never failed 10 make the trembling au-
5,su-,e utter an avcmaria, and cross their chins;
Ln, the lauphable exercises of blihdmans but,
,;dd,inp. and question and Command, sufficient:
L. compensated for the few sudden starts oil 'er>
r,,r Adj TO these amusemcnts the wre'ched
,o;c,s of he chantrrs and sub chanters; howl
mo carol, in Lain; the Ginning of consecrAted
hills. the burning consecrated wax candies; Gu
,ioosIy2 re pre- senting the Virgin Mary; praying
"a the saint whose monastery stood nearest; the
mum, hing consecrated cross loavcs sold by the
,norks. all which eff cually eradicaied the
snec,res of their terrific stories. Nor were
,he,e the ONLY charms against the jonl tends
and nightmare; sleeping cross>lesged, like The
rfi,ies of Kuigh Trmplars and warriors, and
,he holy hush aud church-yard yew, were GER
tain anrido,es against those invisible beings
"rhe great barons aud knights generally kept
omen houses during this season, when their VII
h,ns or ,asssls were entertained With bread,
h,cf aud beer, and j pudding, was'oi'cakc, or
CHRISTMAS ki,chrl, and groa, N silver al part
inr; being Obliged TO wave the iul' Hagen round
their heads, in honor of the master OF the
house. PLAYS were performed by the monks;
the Mo, being, generally. the lfe ut some POPE,
or the founder Of the abbey tu which the monks
h,lonped. Private exhibitions al the manors
of the barons were usually family histories;
Ministries, testers, and mummers, composed 'he
next class Of performers, who were maintained
in the castle OF TIVE baron, 10 entertain his Ia
miy
The sMeteor Of the North has painted VI
rid but faithful portrait ct ancient Christmas
ceremonies, and with all the minute accuracy
and high finishing Of a Gerhard DOW:
Or Christmas eve the bells were rung,
Ga Christmas eve the mass was sung
That only night, IN MI the year,
Saw the stoied priest the chlhce rear.
The ilipsel donned her kirIle sheen;
rac hail was dressed with holly green
Forth 10 the wood did merry SO,
10 cather in the rnSt'etOc.
Then opened wide the baron's hall
To yassll, teaant, serf, and all;
Power laid his rod OF rule aside,
Aud ceremony dotted his pride.
rne heir, with roses IN his shoes,
Might that night village partner choose;
The lord, untlerosating. share
The vulgar game of post and paIr
All hailed with uncontrolled delight,
And general voice, the happy night,
That to the cottage, rs the crown,
Brought tidngs of salvation down
The fire. with welLdried logs supplied,
Wen, roaring up the chimney widei
The huge hall tables oakcn face.
Scrubbed till it shone, the day tn grace
Bore then upon its massive board
No mark to part the squire and lord.
Then was brought in the hIsty Drawn
Nv old blue-coated serving man;
Ihen the grim boars head irowncd on nigh
Crested with bays and rosemary.
Well can the green CARRIED ranger tell
How when and where, the monsterfcll5
Wh,tlogs before his death he tore,
And the batting of the boar,
The Wassel round in good brown bowls,
Garnished with ribbons. blithel, trowIs,
There the huge srlon reeked; hard by
plum-porridge stood, and Christmas plei
Nor failed old Scotland to produce,
At such high tide, her savoury goose
Then came the merry mssquers in,
And carols reared with blithesome dini
II unmeodious was the song,
II was hearty note and strong.
Who lists, may in their mumming see
Traces of ancient mystery;
White shirts supplied the masquerade,
And smut,ed cheeks the yisors made;
But o! what mssquers richly digit
Can boast of bosoms half so light!
England was merry England when
Old Christmas brough, his sports again,
Twas Christmas broached the mightiest ale
Twas Christmas told the merriest tale;
Christmas ganbol oft could cheer
The poor mans heart thro' half the year.
How sadly are times altered. How different
The Christmas meri y markings now. The con-
,ras, will be more painidi, if We recoilee: Wash-
irgtoh Irving's description Of an old English