Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1854-12-23
Christmas Day.

Christmas, Merry, happy Christmas, will soon be
upon us with all its remembrances mountains OF
cakes dozens of tops and toys; its big blazing fire
and happy laughing faces; with all its mrshmovins
| and joyous attendants, will soon be here again.
We may not now enjoy it as we did in the days OF
our boyhood-but those who have taken our place
in the gambols and sports of youth will, and the
pleasure will be no less in witnessing those who are
younger and happier whose hearts beat with the
same delight that once we felt ourselves. On this
day no bad thought should enter the mind
fyou be a Christian bow your head in dcvctioE
and raise your voice in praise to the great Prophet,
Priest and King, who Eighteen hundred and fifty
four years ago came upon the Earth, as a mediator
between you and Jehovah, our Father in Heaven.
At his advent darkness fled from His presence, and
the Earth smiled. The birds of the air carolled
forth their praise, "and the morning stars sang
together for joy
But christian or not the return of this day should
mark in your life new era-old enemies, and
heart burnngs and prcudices and il-feeling should
disappear, and give place to spirit of forgiveness
love and rejoicing. To our young friends we need
not urge the necessity of making themselves
happy while they can; for nature has kindly and
wisely implanted in their hearts all the essential
requisites of happiness, the elements Of innocence
and pleasure. From the little prattler whose eyes
beam with unutterable delight at the possession of
a waxen doll Or a miniature drum, to the brave
youth and gay maiden who mingle their voices in
song culver their toes in the dance we feel assured
that they will all be as happy as they can without
our telling them SO.
Christmas with its many pleasures does not come
unattended The loud laugh of the joyous is not
frequently unmngled with the wall of woe And
our old friend-good, brisk, ruddy-taced smiling
Santa Caus-is accompanied by dark, stern-look-
ing phantom that peers over his shoulder and with
his dull glassy.eye freezes the young hearts blood
that is bounding and dancing with JOY.
The Saint walks the earth filing the stockings
of good children with presents nnumerabe, scatter
ing his blessings upon the youths and maidens who
throng round his footsteps, butby his side, marching
with him, hand in hand, is the pestiencc cutting
down both young and old, the prince and the
begggar the warrior and the pride ofhis victory and
the damsel in the radiance of her beauty The
smile and the grave, the dance and the funeral,
appear together deaths head peers through the |
garland Of flowers; and the same church-bcll, with
in an hour, ring forth the merry chimes and the
doleiul knel. I'm the midst of life we are in
death, and in our happiest hours-we but feast on
our collins Or gather noscgays from the grave But
let us not continue these melancholy meditations
Readers! keep your Christmas as happy as you
can-as merry as you may-eat and drink, and
augh, and sing and dance-salute friends, and
love to the fair girl before YOU
presents to the smiling children-lnake peace with
your enemy and cement anew the bonds which
bind you to your friends. And last don't forget to
attend that Grand Military Ball at Ragans Hall.