The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1852-02-07
DICKENS CHRISTMAS STORY.
What Christmas is, as We grow Older
BY CHARLES DICKENS.

What Christmas is, as We grow Older.
BY CHARLES DICKENS.
1The London News saws of the fol-
lowing that it is one of the tenderest
and most pathetic fancies Dickens has
ever given forth.
Time was, with most of us, when
Christmas Day, encircling all our lin
tied world like magic ring, left moth
ing out for us to miss or seek; bound-to-
gether all our home enjoyments, afec-
tons, and hopes; grouped every one and
everything around the Christmas fire;
and made the little picture shining as
our bright young eyes, complete.
Time came, perhaps, all too soon
when our thoughts overleaped that mar
row boundary: when there was some
one very dear, we thought then, very
beautiful, and absolutely perfesD want
ing to the fulness of our happiness; when
We were wanting too (or we thought SO,
which did Just as welD at the Christ
mas hearth by which that some one sat;
and when we intertwined with every
wreath and garland OF our life that some
ones name
That was the time for the bright Wis
ionary Christmascs which have long
arisen from us to show family, after sum-
mer rain, in the palrst edges Of the rain
bow! That was the time for the beau
tilted enjoyment of the things that were
TO be, and never were, and yet the
things that were so real in our resolute
hope that it would be hard to say, now,
what realities achieved since, have been
stronger
What! Did Christmas never really
come, when we and the priceless pearl
who was our young choice were receiv-
ed, after the happi-st of totally impossi-
BILE marriages, by the two united fami-
lies previously at daggers drawn on our
account 7! When brothers and sisters IN
law who bad always been rather cool to
us before oar relationship was effected,
perfectly dotted on us and when fathers
and mothers overwhelmed us with UNI
limited incomes Z Was that Christmas
dinner never really eaten, after which
we arose, and generously and eloquent
" rendered honor to our late rival, pres
cnt in the company, then an there en-
changing friendship and forgiveness,
and founding an attachment, not to be
surpassed in Greek and Roman story,
which subsisted until death I Has that
same rival long ceased to care for that
same priceless pearl, and married for
money, and become usurious! Above
all, do we really know, now, that we
should probably have been miserable if
we had won and worn the pearl, and that
we are better without her
That Christmas when we had recent
ly achieved so much fame; when we had
been carried in triumph somewhere, for
doing something great and good; when
we had won an honored and ennobled
name, and arrived and were received at
home in 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, pausing as we advance
at such noticeably mile stone in the
track as this great birthday, we look
back on the things that never were, as
naturally and full as gravely as on the
things that have been and are gone, or
have been and still are I If 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 intoit?
No! Far be such miscalled philoso.
ply from US, dear reader, on Christmas
Day Nearer and closer to our hearts
be the Christmas spirit, which is the
spirit of active usefulness, perseverance,,
cheerful discharge of duty, kindness,
and forbearance 1t is in the last vir-
tues especially, that we are, or should
be, strengthened by the unaccomplished
visions of our youth; for, who shall say
that they are not our teachers to deal
gently even with the impalpable moth
ings of the earth.
Therefore, as we grow older, let us be
more thankful that the circle of our
Christmas associations and CT the lessons
that they bring US expands /! Let us
welcome every one of them, and sum-
mon them to take their places by the
Christmas hearth.
Welcome, old aspirations, glittering
creatures of all ardent fancy, to your
places underneath the holly! We
know you, and have not outlived you
yet. Welcome, old projects and old
loves, however Aeeting, to your hooks