Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-01-24
CHRISTMAS


and forbearance It is in the last virtues especial
ly. that we are, or should be, strengthened by the
unaccompshed visions of our youth for, who
shall say that they are not our teachers to deal
gently even with the impapable nothings of the
earth ...-.s .tsfrt-.s-s.-g..
Therefore, as we grow older, let us be more
thankful that the circle of our Christmas assoca-
tons and of the lessons that they bring. expands!
Let us welcome every one OF them, Ind summon
them to take their places by the Christmas hearth
Welcome, old aspirations, glittering creatures of
an ardent fancy, to your places underneath the hoi
|ly! We know you, and have not outlived you yet
Welcome old projects and old loves, however fleet
ing, to your hooks among the steadier lights that
burn around us. Welcome all that was ever real
to our hearts and for the earnestness that made
you real, hanks 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 future,
brighter than we ever looked on in our old roman
tic time, but bright with honor and with truth.
Around this little head which the sunny curls
lie heaped, the graoes sport, as pretty, as arily,
as when there was no scythe within the reach of
time to shear away the curs of our frstlove. Upon
another girls face near it-placider but smiling
bright-a quiet and contented little face we see
! home fairly written.
Shining from the world, as rays shine from a
hopes than ours young, other hearts than ours
are moved how other ways smoothed how
other happiness booms, rpens, and decays-no,
not decays, for other homes and other bands of
children, not yet in being for ages yet to be,
arise, and bloom and rpen 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-hearted In yonder shadow do we
see, obtrudng furtivey upon the blaze an enemys
face! By Christmas day, do forgive him. If
the injury he has done us may admit of such COM
panionship, let him come here and take his place.
On this day, we shut out Nothing!
"Pause," says low voice. Nothing Thinkp'
Preside, Nothing.''
mot the shadow of vast City where the
withered 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 upon Christmas
Day. and from its silent hosts bring those we loved
among us. City of the Dead, in the blessed name
wherein gathered together at this time, and
in the Presence that is here among according to
the promise, will receive, and not dismiss, thy
people who are dear to us
! Yes. We can look upon these children angels
that alght, so solemnly, SO beautifully, among the
living children by the fire, and can bear to think
how they departed from Entertaining angels
unawares as the Patriarchs did, the playful chill
dren are unconscious of their guests; but we can
see them-can see radiant around one IA
vorite neck, as if there were a tempting of that
child away.
Among the celestial figures there is one a poor
mis-shapen boy earth, of glorious beauty now
of whom his dying mother said it grieved her much
to leave him here, alone for so many years as ii
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 hand she
| leads him.
| There was gallant boy, who fell, far away, upon
burning sand beneath burning sun, andsaid, Tel
them at home, with my last love, how much
could have wished to kiss them once but that died
contented and had done my duty 2" Or there was
another, over whom they read the words, There
fore commit his body to the dark ~ and so con
signed him to the lonely ocean and sailed on. On
there another who lay down to his rest in the
dark shadow of great forests, and, on earth, awoke
no more. 0 shall they not, from sand and sea anC
forest, be brought home at such time
There dear girl-almost a woman-neve
to be one-who made a mourning Christmas in
house of joy, and went her tracklesss way to the
silent City. Do we recollect her, out family
whispering what could not be heard, and falling
into that last sleep for WEAKNESS o look upor
her now! 0 look upon her beauty, her serenity
her changeless youth, her happiness ! The daught
er of Jarius was recalled to life, to die; but she
more blest, has heard the same voice, saying unto
her, &C. Arise for ever!
We have a friend who was our friend from ear
ly days, with whom we often pictured the changes
that were to come over our lives, and merely ina
gined how we would speak, and walk, and think
and talk. when we came to be old. His destined
habtaton in the City of the Dead received him in
his prime. Shall he be shut out from our Christ
mas remembrance? Would his love have ex
cluded us ? Lost friend, lost child, lost parent
sister, brother, husband, wife, will not discard
you? You shall hold your cherished places in oul
Christmas hearts, and by our Christmas fires; and
in the season of immortal hope, and on the birth
day of immotal mercy, we will shut out nothing !
The winter sun goes down over town and vii
lage on the it makes rosy path, as if the sac
red tread was fresh upon the water, A few more
moments, and it Sinks and night comes on, and
lights begin to sparkle in the prospect. On the
hillside beyond the shapelessly difused town, and
in the quiet keeping of the trees that grid the vii
lage-steeple, remembrances cut in stone, plant
ed in common flowers, growing in grass, entwined
with lowly brambles around many mound ofearth
l In town and village, there are doors and win
dows closed against the weather, there are flaming
logs heaped HIGH there are joyful faces, there is
healthy music of voices. Be all ungentleness and
harm excluded from the temples of the household
! gods, but be those remembrances admitted with