Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1852-01-03
For TIE Southern Standard.
Christmas.


,;abter and better, at the returning dawn OF tins
dav. hallowed by the joyous memories oil chiiu,
hood day associated in his mind WIN Joys anu
nresents-the benediction OF the FaToh SAINT
who always presides over suspended S'ocA'NSs ''''
,ha;r onxons owners. Who does not remember
the delight, with which he looked forward u 'hiS
dav and week of relaxation from the a-b-ab oil the
scbool-room, or the still more important SOUND OF
the schoolmaster's ferule. With the first rosy
streak in the east what busy tread OF bounding
feet-what rapturous EXPLANATIONS of surprise or
delight as each stocking was empted OF It's wealth.
of presents-how the house echoed with the mu-
sic of glad voices and clamorous shouts of "Mer-
nv Cbristmas"-the never failing salute--tor prec-
edence in which, high and low, nch ana poor
anxiously seemed to vie the happy freedom OF
the dav removing for time all those artificial
barriers which are thrown between man and his
brother
| There was heartiness and sincerity ABOUT inc
ancient manner of celebrating festive days that has
always charmed imagination and created an ear
nest desire to see revived again, many of the Gus
toms which fashion has rejected. The world at
this polished age is much too elegant and refined
to enter into the simple enJoyments' which TINS
season naturally suggests. How different the
present coming of this annual festival from the
pomp and hiarity that once attended 1t! A christ
mas OF the olden time Its very name conJures
up scenes of mirth and festvity-of good cheer
and lordlv wassailing when the cottage and the
palace were wreathed with ivy and holly--the
marie mistletoe hung in the castle hall, ana
every door was wide open to welcome theJoyoUs
throng.
The religious rites connected with it were touch
ing and soemn-but more than all, was the gath
ering together again the family, at the old home
f sead-no matter how widely severed or how much
engaged in varied pursuits, each turAed his steps
homeward until the circle was complete, it was
before the world divided it, and the 1ule-Clog
| threw its rudy blaze over band of happy IA
ces who had received more, the parenta
blessing and grown childlike again, in the warn
] light of love and home
t We remember seeing not long since picture
Y portraying family group on a Christmas Eve
e which pleased our fancy, and We sighed to think
that for US there could be no like reunion.
: The party were assembled in what seemed
: spacious hall, over whose wide extent, was spread
9 a carpet, which seemed to give back no sound t
n the tread, so velvet-lke was its texture. Th
deep bay-wndows were draped with full, ricl
g curtains which swept the floor in heavy folds. ex
i Guiding every breath of chilly air. 4 few article
e of antique furniture were disposed around tn
s. room. A wide chimney, in which was piled a
: enormous wood fire amidst which the Christmas
v log shone conspicuous, sent forth its light and heat
', in generous volumes, upon as happy group a
Of ever greeted the eye.
2 On either SIDE sat the venerable parents, en-
2r joying green old age at their feet were fondIe
i the youngest of the f1ock--next came the odcs
daughter and her companion, both in middle lif,
v and on, down through successive groups, un.
l. Joyous and seemingly noisy crowd of laughing
lie romping lads and misses at game of Blind man
< buff, completed the scene. In the rear We No
is ticed young girl in the first dawn of opening VIC
of manhood who with conscious blush and ha
" averted face, listening to the whispered gal
ii Iantries of dashing young cousin, who wore
r. naval uniform. We fancied that the sketche
a. must have had in his minds eye the family gath
as ering at Bracebridge Hail. which Irving so charm
lie ingy describes; and in the enamored couple
the back ground, that We beheld the fair Julia An
ID her lover.
10 Such was Christmas group in The oden time
g but such we fear does now often occur in GU
re utIltarian age. This season is now limos. dive.
er ted of every peculiarly connected with it, Eve
the observanees of the Church, with which it is
intimately blended, have dwndled away and Iittl
y now remains to designate the day of our Lord
to nativity.
4 But there seems to be the same apathy anon
e our population with regard to all holydays. Eve
u our National Anniversaries are BECOMING almo,
lie obsolete and the memory of the patriot army tn,
g. fought and bled and died, that nation miobt b
redeemed from bondage, is rapidly fading frol
'e our minds. The fruits of their tolls are Soon
i every hill-top-in every teeming valley of on
." land-are felt IN every quarter of the globo-br
. the very soil enriched by their blood-now WELD
= no flower to deck their graves-no laurel leav,
wherewIth to weave chaplet to their memory
= There is one gala-day around which our fame
has always loved to linger, and with which is cor
! nected some of the most delightful recollections
our earlier days. We refer to the comino of n
4 First OF May-when :" fair-handed Spring unbe
SONS every grace, and beauty and fragrance bol
undivided dominion over the land. There is some
: thing peculiarly beautiful and appropriate in thu
celebrating the return of yerdure and bIoon, /