Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-01-21

n shower of tears Of joy, is it possible that that
Christmas has not come yet?
And is our life here, at the best, so constituted
that, pansing as we advance at such noticeable
milestone in the track as this great birthday. we
look back on the things that never were, as ma
turally and full as grayely as on the things that
have been and are gone, or have been and still
are! II it be so, and so it seems to be, must we
come to the conclusion that life is little better
than dream, and little worth the loves and
strivings' that we crowd into it, jazz sal
/ NO! Far be such miscalled philosophy from
us, dear reader, on Christmas day Nearer and
closer 70 our hearts be the Christmas spirit which
IS the spirit OF active usefulness, perseverance,
cheerful discharge Of duty, Kindness, and for
bearance 1t is in the last virtues especially.
that we are or should be strengthened by the ac-
complished visions Of our youth for who shall
say that they are not our teachers to deal gently
even with the impalpable nothings Of the earth!
Therefore, rs we grow older, let us be more
thankful that the circle of our Christmas asso-
ciations, and of the lessons that they bring, ex-
pands Let us welcome every one Of them, and
summon them to take their places by the Christ
mas hearth. f
Welcome, old aspirations, glittering creatures
OF an ardent fancy, to your places underneath the
holly We know you, and have not outliyed you
yet. Welcome, old projects and old loves how
ever feeting, to your hooks among the steadier
lights that burn around u.s. Welcome, all that
was ever real to our hearts; and for the earnest
ness that made you real, thanks to Heaven! Do
we build no Christmas castles in the clouds now ?
Let our thoughts, futtering like butterflies among
these flowers Of children, bear witness
Before this boy, there stretches out q future,
brighter than we ever looked on in our romantic
time, but bright with honor and with truth.
Around this little head, on which the sunny curls
liz hao mad fIac
as when there was no scythe within the reach Of
time to shear away the curls Of our frst-loye.
Upon another girls face near it-placider, but
smiling brght--a quiet and contented little face,
we see home fairly written.
Shining from the word, as rays shine from
star, we see how, when our graves are old, other
hopes than ours are young, other hearts than
ours are moved; how other waves are smoothed,
how other happiness blooms, ripens, and decays
no, not decays, for other homes and other bands
of children not yet in being, nor for ages yet to
be, arise and bloom and ripen to the end of.all!
Welcome everything Welcome, alike what has
been, and what never was, and what we hope may
be, to your shelter underneath the holly, to your
places round the Christmas fire, where what is
sits open-heartedl In yonder shadow do we see,
obtruding furtiyey upon the blaze, an enemy's
face. BY Christmas day, we do forgive him! II
the injury he has done us may admit of such COM
panionship, let him come here and take his place.
! If otherwise, unhappiy, lethimg go hence, assured
that we will never injure or accuse him.
On this day, we shut out nothing
Pause says low voice. Nothing?
Think!''
s'on Christmas day, we will shut out from our
hreside nothing"
ssNot the shadow Of vast city, where the with
cred leaves are lying deep?" the voice replies.
"Not the shadow that darkens the whole globe
Not the shadow of the City of the Dead?"
| Not even that Of all days in the year, we will
turn our faces towards that city on Christmas day.
and from its silent hosts bring those we loved
among us. City of the Dead, in the blessed name
wherein we are gathered together at this time,
and in the presence that is here among us accord
ing to the promise, we will receive, and not dis
miss, thy people who are SO dear to us
Yes; we can look upon these children angels
that aight, so solemnly, so beautifully, among
the living children by the fire. and can bear to
think how they departed from u.s. Entertaining
angels unawares, rs the patriarchs did, the play
ful children are unconcious of their guests; but
we can see them-can see radiant arm around
one favorite neck, as if there were q tempting of
that child away.
Among the celestial figures there is one poor
misshapen boy on earth, of glorious beauty
now, Of whom his dying mother said it grieved
her much to leave him here alone for 50 many
years as it was likely would elapse before he
came to her--being such little child. But he
went quickly, and was laid upon her breast, and
in her hands she leads him.
| There was gallant boy who fell, far away,
upon burning sand, beneath a burning sun, and
said, "Tell them ut home, with my last love, how
much ] could have wished to kiss them once, but
| that died contcnted, and had done my duty J"
Or there was another, over whom they read the
words, Therefore we commit his body TO the
dark ~ and so consigned him to the lonely ocean
and sailed on. Or there was another who laid
down to his rest in the dark shadow of great for
ests, and on earth awoke more. Oh, shall
they not, from sand and sea and forest, bebrought
| home at such a time I?
| There was n dear girl-almost woman--never
to be oneawho made mourning Christmas in
a house of JOY, and went her trackless way to the
silent city. Do we recollect her, worn out, family
whispering what could not be heard, and falling
into that last sleep for weariness Oh, look
upon her now Oh, look upon her beauty, her
serenity, her changeless youth, her happiness
The daughter of Jairus was recalled to life to
die; but she, more blest, has heard the same
voice saying unto her, I" Arise forever -
We had friend who was our friend from early
days, with whom we often pictured the changes
that were to come upon our lives, and merrily
imagined how we would speak, and walk, and
think, and talk, when we come to be old. His
destined habtation in the City of the Dead re-
ceiyed MN In nus prime. snail ne De shut ou'
| from our Christmas remembrance? Would his
love have so excluded us Lost friend, lost child,
lost parent, sister, brother husband wife, we
will not so discard you You shall hold your
cherished places in our Christmas hearts. ana ny
our Christmas fires and in the season OIL mmor-
tai hope, and on the birthday of immortai mercy,
we will shut out nothing.
The winter sun goes down over town ana VII
lage; on the sea it makes rosy path, as II the
/ .o.l .nooa ,rore fresh upon the water A few
4 more moments and il sinks, and night comes on,
=. - Aon;r, 10 snarklc in the nrnsnect. On