Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-12-25
WASHINGTON.
8 Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and
iHseparable.o
sATURDAY, DECEMBER IS, 1850.
CHRISTMAS DAY.

Oh the history of Christmas and its observances
in the oldcn time, an account is given in learned
and able article in the preceding columns by Pc
rusal of which hardly any reader can fail to find
himself amused, if he be not instructed The wri-
ter dwells with truth as well as force on the dmi
mutton Of the zest with which the day used to be
celebrated by outward pomps and sports as well as
in domestic circles. There are some parts of our
own country, indeed, in which the day has at no
time been marked either by religious ceremonies or
festivities. A growing interest in the day has of
late, however, been perceptible among US.
To all warm-hearted people it must be source
of satisfaction that in our part Of the country
= least, the obser ance Of Christmas, instead Of
waning away and falLing into gradual disuse, as it
has done since our arlest remembrance of its joys
and sports, is, on tn contrary manfestly and sead
ly reviving This is we'll token for good;
symptom favoral le symptom in our social and
moral condition. savors of rest, of settled quiet,
of the revival of DC nestle affection and Of kindly,
gentle, neighbory ceiling amongst U.S. Amidst the
terrors and the dan ers Of war, when surrounded
and assailed by thu worse terrors and deeper dan
gers of political ctnyulsion, who thinks Of keeping
HOLIDAY? While cannon are laundering, troops
mastering, demagbgues haranguing, and blood, shed
by brothers hands, is flowing down the streets,
what loving mother sets up the Christmas tree !?
what happy group Of expecting children anticipate
the dawn Of day, unable to rest for the hope and
the JOY that is throbbing at their hearts, Such
days may indeed come and it is not out of place,
in the midst of our many blessings occasionally to
remember it, But, thanks be to benefcent Provi-
deace for the bright, the happy contrast this day
exhibits throughout our land, from the mountains
to the sea.
We congratulate, then, our patrons, our personal
friends our countrymen every where, on this happy
CHRISTMAS MORNING
Its return gladdens the heart, expands the bosom,
and brings home to its Utmost recesses the remem-
brance that we are men, and that every human be-
ing is brother. Before the de-grasping tie that
binds us together by a common nature and COM
mon hope, all that is narrow, and exclusive, and
selfish and belittling, shrinks away ashamed. The
charity that should grow out of it. if left to its true
workings and elevated to its right place within us
will prove TOO strong for the poor and petty feuds of
personal resentment, and will at least mitigate if it
cannot wholly assuage, the malignant bitterness of
party hate Let political opponents 60 to church to-
gether this morning, and as they sit side by side,
in the temples of God, learn to remember that
there i, Providence above, in whose sight one
warm and generous emotion, one deed of unfeign-
ed kindness, and especially one gracious act'of for
.offv han fhob dicpla az
of mental brlliancy strength and all the triumphs
Of party.
But, while exhorting others to hear preaching,
let not attempt to preach ourselves Let US then
all remember that winter is nigh, though its severi
ty has been for while, postponed; and that there
are many in the midst of but poorly furnished t.
meet its bitter blast. While our fire burns cheeri
ly, and board, loaded with plenty, is surround
ed by all we love, let US think for moment upor
homes where fire is a comfort but scantily enjoyed
and where to procure the daily meal calls for wea
ry hours of unremtting toll often reaching far into
the night and again to be renewed with the return
ing dawn. The ladies, God bless them, have in
deed taxed their slender fingers, and called up the
exhaustless energies of their ingenuity and skill to
tempt us into charity, and lure to the (too
rare) luxury of doing little good Their deed is
in Heaven but, after all their palms, and all their
winning smiles, and all the glad counting Of their
little gains, how much, alas, remains behind
Let us think too upon the CHrLDREN-those
gems of Natures hand that gladden. alike hearts
that beat beneath the russell gown, and those that
swell under the lace and diamonds Of the wealthest
mother. How their little souls thrill and bound to
Christmas joys Scanty indeed is the purse that
does not open once year to the demand Of such
lps and eyes, Hark at the silvery voices the
shouts Of gee; the merry, merry laugh, coming
full and free from the very bottom of the heart
o man Of FIVE per cent. month, what would you
give for laugh like that? Does it not breathe
freshness and life over the worn and jaded spirit
spent and weary and disguised amid the dull mono
tony of everyday existence? Like the bright
acacia sprnging in the desert, like flowers amid
graves, those sounds and sights Of pure delight
bring back our childhood's days, and for the mo-
ment make US young again. Blessings, then, we
say again, upon Christmas its sacred and its social
observance and upon all who love and enjoy it
DIpInMATIC SALARIES