Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-12-30
CHRISTMAS.

Our ancestors, in that common consent with
which all Christian nations have united to hallow
the season Of our Savopr's birth, were not only
merry but wise. What monotony were human
lfe did no such seasons Of general jubilee break In
upon its dullness rouse the slumbering heart, and
call men of all conditions to a common JOY! With
out presuming 10 touch either the chronological or
ecclesiastical questions connected with the celebra-
ton Of Christmas, but looking at it only as an
ancient and an innocent social observance, we hail
the return of the genial season, and would respond
to its heartstirring appeal hfe those who believe
in its claims as religious festival enter the temples
of the Most High and there pour out their fervent
gratitude to Heaven for the blessings Of redemption
let others who may not agree with them in this,
still throw open their bosoms to the cheering effect
Of glad holyday. Be it true or not that the good
ST. Nicholas does traverse the roofs of happy dwell
lings at the midnight hour and, scaling with adven-
turous benevolence stacks of chimneys of whatever
height does brave the no less adventurous descent
to bless the pillow of slumbering but expectant in
nocence certain it is that Christmas eve and Christ
mas morn bring to the whole world of childhood
delights which nothing else can bestow. Witness
the long succession of brilliant shops and stores.
riyaing each other in their bright attractions and
witness, no less, that moving mass OF happy faces,
hear that silvery voice of merry childhood, icked
out in all its best, and loaded to embarrassment
with toys and fruits and all the wealth of the
fectioner! But is the hour delightful to childhood
alone Ask those not less gratifed countenances
OF its conductors. Watch that mothers eye as she
grants the little prayer, meets the bashtul half
uttered wish, and fills the hands of the group around
her with riches such as no success in afterlfe
ever bestow again. Indeed it is one of the most
beautiful features of the great Christian Festival that
its recurrence, while it makes every pulse of child
hood beat double-quck time, mets aud warns the
torpid heart of age mixes il up in the happiness OF
the young, and calls back, at least for one brief
hour, the remembrance of simple joys such as time
can never either compensate or restore Add to
this the gathering of families the fond remembrance
ofabsent members the cordial hilarity of the Christ
meal, and the wholesome. revival of that feeling
of general charity, so apt to fade amidst the tolls,
and strifes and sefshness OF struggling existence.
All this may surely relax me brow of the bigot and
furnish matter of reflection 10 he moralist and the
philosopher.
Nor let us forget the kindly inAuehee of the sea-
son on those in even the humbest walks of life.
1.-THE kingly heart of French monarch could swell
with the noble, but (alas y the vain wish, to put
fowl into the pot of every poor man in his king
DOM" how would it exult at behoding what, thanks
to the great King of Nations, is here common
sight, the oiling artisan, the daylaborer-yes, even
the humble colored woodsawyer-leaving the mar
ket on Christmas morning with the accustomed tur
key in his basket
We say, then, let US rejoice and be glad that once
more CHRISTMAS IS COME. And, while the merry
shores Of our Fatherlands rock under the general
joy, and merry peals, and kindling bsnfres, and
the tabor and the pipe wake up "reminiscences Of
happy days, let neither our difference in forms or
opinions divorce from participation, in this our
New World, of the old-fashioned, unceremonious,
heartfelt gladness, which, before Christianity had
discovered this Western, had for ages blessed the
world OF our ancestry. A merry Christmas, then,
and happy New Year to all