Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-12-25


versal, because it is not wholly SO. The CAL
yinists, those intellectual sectarians who re-
uudiate, with frownlng brows, the theology of
tradition and imagination, do not, generally,
observe Christmas.
nis,to them, shadow Of pasanism, obscur-
ing the true light of Christianity; and they
will therefore, have none of it. Christianity,
to them, is Jesus, without smile; and, they
will not profane the severe solemnity of their
faith, by, even remotely, associating it in idea,
with iunkettings, and carols, and dancing be-
low the mistletoe. 1t is becoming in us, at
least, the children of the Puritans, to respect,
If we do not initiate, this rigid simplicity and
sobriety Of devotion. But. outside of Calvin
ism, Christmas, throughout all the lands of
Christendom, is the great jubilee of love. 1t
is the midsummer day of the heart, although
winged Hours, that follow in the train of pale
December, clothe the day with drapery of
heavens own cambria; while memory, afFec-
ton, and imagination, crewn it with sun
beams, and cover its feet, as it moves towards
eternity, with the flowers of ten thousand
charities.
Christmas has always been, to us, more of
poem than a day. When our good, stern,
old fathers stripped off the tawdry garments
with which "Popery and Prolacy'' had con-
eealed the chaste beauty of religion, they
stripped of, also. some graceful ornaments
which comported we'll with her pristine love.
illness. Amongst these was Christmas. 1t
was buried amongst the grosser mummeries of
a sensual theology; but, the immortal idea
which canonized it, linked it to the generous
oul of humanity, and it now restores it to US,
again, in purer, .holier form than of old.
Christmas used to be a dream, full Of the
angels, music, and ministers of love. We
hope to see the day somewhat realize that
dream and the charity of God, breathed in
to the hearts of men, can make it do so. Re-
hgion, standing by the gate of Morning, when
Christmas appears, with his dark hair pow
dered with stars, can take him by the hand
and present him to the world, saying, at the
same time, to the passions and the virtues -
s.Go out Hatred Como in Love. Get thee
gone Rancor; and, welcome Charity
Christmas, so led unto the hearts of all, would
seem to be the first hour of Eden restored
and it would be more beautiful and holy than
even that hour was, for it would be full of the
love of Christ-.a love transported from heav.
en-, but, believed with the sadnesses and sor,
rows of weeping earth.
The old idea of Christmas was, after all
nothing but Love- What was not loving wa
not of Christmas. The new idea of Christ
mas is love. and nothing less. Love mad,
"Old Christmas immortal; and led it owe
the storms of ages, to our New England
doors. Let US give it hearty, generous vel
come back to the homes and haunts of tn,
Pilgrims. In s'Merrye Englande," Christina
has long been the holyday of holydays Iti,
rung in with chimes Of bells, and goes ou
amongst the soft, signing music of the nigh
waits. It is day of mumming. feasting
dancing, singiRg. iRtereAs h ctarita.
Bile deeds, of the reunion of families ant
friends, Of games, goose, turkey. and plum
pudding, Go all who can obtain them). Its
q day devoted to pleasure and charity plea.
sure, in many instances, being the one SUI
preme thought--and the exercise of charity
in other glorious instances, being the onl,
pleasure.
Reeve Cshr;s,.. A., 49, a.. aL;,a..,
seour the woods for the mistletoe, which clings
with its glttering, emerald foliage, around tn,
brawny frame and rugged limbs OF the oak
This mistleioe was sacred to the Druidf, ant
was wont to decorate the affairs of Thor and
Wooden. Now, it is hung up in hut and hall
and the young men kiss the maidens below
it, while Cupid, from amongst its leaves, fash
es out his darts and pierces their hearts, Tht
Ivy,-the ancient emblem of friendship-anc
the Holly, with its clusters of red berries, alst
decorate cold Englands homes.''
Everybody goes home at Christmas, in thu
land Of our fathers; just as everybody goes
home at Thanksgiving, in the land of our ia
Tiers sons. From all we can learn of Christ
mas, in old England, amongst the more aflu.
ent classes, it is pretty much like New Eng
lands Thanksgiving amongst us all.
The poet thus describes the Christmas O
CUR ancestors -
On Christmas morn, in oden times though snow lay Oh
the ground,
And cieles hung by The wall the minstrels went thei
And snng their carols, warning maids and mstresses