Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1843-03-29
The Winter Flower.
BY MISS MARGARET coxE,


Author of " Wonders Of the Deep" Infant
Brother,' The Young Lady's Companion,
&C."
In many parts OF our Union a custom pre-
vais of ornamenting The Episcopal churches
with evergreens at Christmas, which usage has
been derived Immediately from our English an
cesors; some of whom trace The origin of II
10 the Jewish church in which similar customs,
al the command Of God 10 Moses, were origi-
Rally established in the Feast Of the Taberna-
ces, and were perpetrated after the restoration
of the Hebrews from their long captivity, at
the command of Araxerxes, under Nehemiah,
Neh viii AIS.
There is a beautiful village church now
standing in New Jersey, whose charter still
remains the signature of good Queen Anne, in
which the usage now referred TO has obtained
from time immemorial. On each return Of the
hallowed season set apart by the Episcopal
church for the celebration of the nativity of The
Lord of Glory, there were those to be found,
whose Office has been POLITICALLY described by
one of the waichmen on the walls OF this par
iicular tower of The city Of Zion
"The thickly woven boughs they wreath
Through every followed fame,
A soft revivng odour breathe
OF summers gentle reign,
And rich The ray of mild green light
Which, like an emerald glow,
Comes struggling through the lariced height
Upon the crowd below"
The hand of improvement has, in modern
day, been laid on that beloved edifce, and lis
inerior no longer exhibits the rustic simplicity
which formerly characterised ii,-boih inter
nallv and externally Nevertheless, il is sill
deeply enteared 10 the hearts of those who
having been dedicated to God al its altar in in
fancy, and having continued to worship through
advancing years within lis courts, find thei
earliest, purest, and holiest associations con
nacied with il, so that among The host of God:
temples throughout the land, none other can bt
found, which IN their eyes appears SO much L
be The " gale Of Heaven"
Many years since, portion of the youthful
members of this rural congregation were en-
gagged, during the few days preceding Christ
mas, in adorning the windows and the snowy
walls Of the church with wreaths, composed o
beautiful evergreens brought from the neigh
boring woods.--Anolher group was busly oc
cuped in clothing, with verdant covering
certain alphabetical devices, designed to form
The same inscription, which the prophet Zecha
1idu 10 Ai lbO Sici'o"'
days of the mllenniup, TO be seen on every
part Of The temple of God, Z" Holiness unto iht
Lord"
Years OF sorrow, and "tde OF lime," have
rolled away since the period Of which l speak
The venerable shepherd Of that little flock, WHIT
watched with gentle and pleasant emotions, tht
labors of his young parishioners, now sleeps
by The side of the church he loved IN life, and
many, very many Of the lambs Of his fold
whose hearts and hands were at that time
closely intent in adjoining The courts of God'
earthly dwelling place, have, we trust, through
''lhe grave and gate Of death, passed to a joy
lai resurrection" and to happy and eterna
Resting place in the heavenly temple of God.
Among The evergreens employed in ornamen
tug This village church. was the Chimaphll;
unbellala, or Pipsissewa, whose glossy leaves
of dark green formed beautiful addition 10 ih'
"reaihs Of running and ground pine, of which
ihe les,oons were chiefly composed,
On one occasion, many years subsequent
while engaged in a botanical excursion will
seme endeared young friends, in a far distan
woodland scene of The west, some OF the party
discovered number of specimens Of The Chi
The Rev. VIM. Crosswell. Of Auburn. late o
Christ Church Boston