Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1850-12-25
THE TIMES.
PORT TOBACCO, MD,
WEDNESDAY MORNING, DEC. 25, Is!
CHRISTMAS.

We are happy to visi. your cheerful FIRE
side on this festival morning, kind patron
and offer you the congratulations of the no.
liday season. Fit occasion is the anniver.
sary of the advent of the Son of God into
our sin-stricken world for expressions o
JOY and gladness by the whole human fami
~. How every heart should bound with
delight and the inspirations Of hope while
contemplating the wonderful mystery Of
"God manifested in the Aesh," and the in
Vulnerable blessings thereby secured to all
Innocent pleasures at the 6reside, in the So
cial circle, at home or among friends, are
commendable, and delightful TO be INDUCED
in by the aged and youthful in all conditions
of life. But it is proper TO acknowledge
blessings with at least degree of suitable
to the character OF the Giver and the blessings
received. Those who make Christmas time
for drunkenness or dissipation do (ir no,
intended) insult the Good Being and dis
play gross ignorance Of his character and
his designs concerning mankind We trus,
you will be, kind patron, among those who
enjoy the occasion in rational manner
So to you, merry Christmas
The following extracts, which may not
be nninteresling to our readers at this time,
will give some idea as to how Christmas
was observed in the 'sgood old tmes:''
"Come, bring with noise, my merry, merry boys,
The Christmas log to the firing,
While my good dame, she bids We all be free.
And drink to your hearts desiringn
"Friends and relations, with fond salutations,
And warm gratulations, together appear,
While lovers and misses, with HOLIDAY kisses,
Greet merry Christmas and happy New-Year"
The observance Of the 25,h of December
as the Nativity or birthday of our Saviour,
is an ancient custom, and very general one,
and strange as it may seem from this fact,
all learning and research have failed to show
whether ii is or not the day of the Na,ivi-
ty. But this fact, to our mind, nstead of
lessening the interest Of the occasion, in
creases i. by its peculiar unison with the
mysteries of our religion and of that Being
from before whom the veil is not raised to
man. Among the New England descendants
of the Puri,ans, Christmas is not so much
observed as in other States, nor in them to
such All extent as in Europe. In mos,
countries among christians the whole twelve
days tha, intervene between the NATIVITY
and the Epiphany are celebrated with mirth
and Hastings and revellings, however Ii,lle
like religious observance this NAV seem
In the earlier times Of this festival il was
considered both in the light of holy COM
remuneration, and cheerful season Of mer-
ry-making, and marked as much by devo-
ton as jovialiiy and hospitality. In those
days known as the "good old ,imes,'-
just when these times were has no, been
decided-there were many peculiar cere-
monies associated with the celebration OF
the Christmas holidays which have fallen
into desuetude, but which have left their
traces on the present. For example, those
who have spent the day in any of our larger
towns or cities, cannot fail to have been