Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-01-26


creatures Of an ardent fancy. oyous places
underneath the holly! We know you.
and have not outli, ed you yet. Welcome
old projects and old LOVES, however fleet
ing, to your hooks arhoDs the steadier
lights that burn around US. Welcome,
all that was ever real to our hearts; and for
the earncs,ness that made you real, thanks
TO heaven! Do We build no christmas
castles in the clouds now9 lie, our thoughts,
fluttering like butterflies am ng these flow
ers of children. bear witness!
Before this boy. there stretches ous a
future, brighter than we ever looked on in
our old romantic time, but bright with
honor and with truth. Around this little
head on which the sunny eurls lie hcaped.
the graces sport, as pret,ily. as aihly. as
when there was no scythe within the reach
of,ime to shear away the curls Of our first
love. Upon another girls face near it
pIacider but smiling bright-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 Atces than ours are young.
other hearts than ours are moved; how
other ways are smoothea, how other hap
piness 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's sits open.
hearted! In yonder shadow do we see,
obtruding furtively upon the blaze, an enc
my's face! By Christmas day, we DO for
give him! If the injury he has done MS
may admit of such companionship. let linn
come here and take his place. If other
wise, unhappily, let him go hence, assured
that we will never ir5ure ror accuse hits,
On this day, we shut out Nothing!
Pause" says low voice. "Nothingl
Think"
"On Christmas Day. we will shut out
from our freside Nothing
"Not the shadow Of vast City where
tho withcred leaves are lying decpl' the
voice replies. Not the shadow that
darkens the whole globe! Not the shadow
of the City Of the Deadi
Not even that Of all days in the year.
we will turn Oar faces towards that City
upon Christmas Day, and from its silent
hosts bring those we loved, among u.s.
City of the Dead, in the blessed name
wherein we are gathered together at this
time and in the Presence that is here n
mong us according to the promise, we will
receive, and not dismiss, thy people who
are dear to US!
les. We can look upoq these children
angels that alight, so solcmnly, so bcauli
ful, among the living chiJlen by the fire.
and can bear to think how Mley departed
from us. Entertaining angels unawarce,
as the Pairiarchs did. tie playful children
are unconscious Of their guests; but we
can see them-can see radiant arm a.
round one favori,e neck, as if there were a
tempting of that child away.
Among the celestial figures there is one.
poor mis-shapen boy on earth, of glo-
rious beauty now, "fwhom his dying mo-
ther said it grieved her much TO leave him
here, alore, for so many years as it was
likely would elatse before he came to her
being such little chiId. But be 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 a
burning sun, and said, Tell them at home,
with my last love, how much could have
wished to kiss them once. but that died
contented and had done my dutyi' Or
theTe was another, over whom they read
tire words, Therefore we commit his
body 10 the darkv' and so Consigned him
TO the lonely ocean and sailed on. Or
there was another who lay down TO bis rest
in the dark shadow of great forests. and.
on earth, awoke no more. O shall they
not, from sand and sea and forest, be
brought home at such time!
There was dear girl-almost a WON. n
never 10 be onc--who made mourn
ing Christmas IN house of joy, and went
her tfackless way to the silent City. Do
we recolect her. worn out, family whis-
perTrg what could not be heard, and fall
ing frito that hast sleep for wearincssl o
look nposl her now! o look upon her beau
ty, her serenity. her changeless youth. her
happiness! Tire daughter of Jairus was
recalled 10 life, to die: bat she, more blest,
has heard the same voice, raying unto her
"Arlsc .Corevcr!"
We had friend who was our friend
from early days, with whom we often
pictured the changes that were to come up
on our Ewes. and mcrrily imagined how
we would speak, and walk, and think, and
talk. when we carrc to lie old. His dcs-
tined habi,a,ion in the CITY Of the Dead
received him in his prime. Shall he be
shut out from our Christmas remembrarc cel
Would his love have so excluded us!--
Lost friend, lost child, lost parent, sister,
brother, husband, wife. we will not so dis
card you! You shall hold your cherished
places in our Christmas hearts, and by our
Christmas fires; and in the season ofimmor-
tai hope, and on the birthday Of immortll
mercy, we WIFE shut out nothing!
The winter sr's goes down over town
and village; on the see it makes rosy path,
as if the sacred tread were fresh upon the
water. A few moments, and it sinks, and
night comes on, and lights begin to sparkle
in the prospect. On the hill side beyond
the shnPelessly -diifused town, and in the
quiet keeping of The trees that grid the VII
lasesteeple rernembranres areeutGn srone,
planted in common flowers, gTowitg in
grass. entwined with lowly brambles a.
round many mound ofearth.
In town and village. there are doors and
windows closed against the weather, there
are flaming logs hcaped high, there are
joyfE faces, ehere is healthy music of
voices. Be aIlnngcKteDess and harm ex-
rlu1ed from the far ala. ~ -, L n /