Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-12-25

CHRISTMAS.
That season, loved blythe old and the young,
the rich and the poor, the christian and the in
idel, is at hand Christmas! How many as
sociations for the old, how many hopes for the
young, are suspended upon it. To the first,
the interval between Christmas and Christmas
seems brief indeed; to the last it seems an age.
The great epoch from which the young com
pute is Christmas day, that day so hung round
with pleasant supers,itions, so radiant with
hopes, SO softened with tendernesses. That
heart must indeed be cold and hard that does
not feel moved and warmed by merry and
genial old Christmas. 1t brings about the re-
union Of scattered families; it brings holiday,
it brings mirth and joyousness. The Christ.
mas bowl, the Christmas dinner, and the
Christmas fire, are by no means so fabulous as
the much idolized and venerable Christmas
Saint who is supposed, mysteriously, to furnish
expectant children with the gifts appropriate
to the occasion Throughout all Christendom
there is at this moment great stir among the
children. huge number of toys will be
bought and broken, millions of cakes and can
dies will be eaten, and all diversties Of games
played, much to the annoyance of scolding old
ladies and peevish old gentlemen.
But the season of Christmas has grave as
we'll as merry aspects 1t brings pause in
the diversified business of life True, there are
some branches of industry and enterprise that
have to be carried on, as usual, and those en-
gagged in them are denied the recreations that
fall to the lot Of most of us. The railroads
and the steamboats, and those connected with
them will have no rest; the market people, the
vendors of nick nacks and gew-gaws, and peo-
pie engaged in various other pursuits, will be
kept as busy as they are on ordinary occa-
sions.
We could wish that there was one day in
every year when all mankind might enjoy i'm
when every hearthstone might present picture
of happiness and every heart might be free
from care But the wisdom of our Maker has
ordained it otherwise. Death sickness, and
SuILOW HOL UthWcCI udYS OF sea
sons. They invade us at all times and at all
seasons. They enter alike the rich mans
palace and the poor mans hut. Gold cannot
bride, nor can squaid poverty repel them.
Many house all swept and garnished for the
Christmas, is now tenanted by the dead.
Many heart that beat with joyous anticipa-
tions, now realizes grief too deep for utter
ance and too poignant for consolation.
Then, again, there are multitudes of the
poor who have neither meal to eat nor a fire
TO warm them. Christmas, instead Of being
day of feasting, is day Of fasting to them.
But it is far more pleasant to contemplate the
bright aspects Of this jocund season which
opens upon all Christendom to-day. The
spacious halls of the rich and the humble cot
tages of the lowly will present to-day scenes OF
mirth and jollity. The old will tell chosen
talesof the past, and the young will reyel in
the happinesses of the present. The rich man
will sip his cob webbed wine, the poor man his
humble but no less exhilirating drink In the
country, the great Christmas logs will be
heaped in profusion on the capacous FIRE place,
the big bowl Of egg-nogg win stand on the
side-board, the table will groan under the
weight Of fattened fowls and juicy meats, and
the tales of the old and the games and dances
Of the young win be told aud played in honor
Of old Christnas-merry old Christmas.
No picture could be more pleasant to con.
template than that which will this day be pre-.
sented in the Southern States. Every slave
will enjoy holiday, and every slave will have
his Christmas dinner. The humble cabin will
blaze with light, and resound with merry
voices. The banjo will give out its enlivenng
notes, and the Aat-foot Of the happy negro
will keep time to the simple but inspiring
music. Could the misguided abolitionist glance,
this day, over the happy scenes that the South
ern plantations will present, he would feel, and
own that Southern beneyoleuce has taken the
sting out Of slavery, and that the bondman Is
happier than the freed man. He would feel
and own that the poor Of the North are far
more the objects Of eommisseration than the
sleek well fed, well clad slaves Of the South.
III personal antagonisms could be eradicated,
if political aspirations could be softened, if
the poor could forget their jealousies towards
the rich, and if the rich would out Of their
abundance supply the wants Of the poor,
happy indeed would be this jocund, yet solemn
season.
To our readers, one and all, We wish happy
Christmas.
hnnsities orr Royal Family.
Annuities Of the Royal Family The follow.
;po vora anopg the anpr,t,aa ,ao.l -