The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-12-28
THE DAHL Y. DISPATCH
A Chrlstmas Tree In the Crimea.

,>,-,-s-,--s------ - ..os ct 1ce~s
A Christmas Tree In the Crimea.
Virginia lady, travelling in Germany, trans
lates and sends home letter to the Hamburger
Corespondenter,s from one of the German sol.
diers In the Crmea. II is published in the Staun.
ton yindicator. We extract the following touch
ing description of IA Christmas tree in the cri.
mea:" e'bs s. ssar it'a
I'VE were disappointed about spending Christ.
mas 10 Sebastopol; so a handful Of us Gcrmans.
out OF different regiments, determined to pass our
Christmas tide in the trenches. Unfortunately
only about half our number were able 10 join: the
others were on distant guard and could not obtair,
leave. We had our rendezvous behind high EN-
bankment, and as soon as II was quite dark, we
reared cur christmas Tree-a half withered little
ir-deck ed with little pitch torches which we had
made ourselves, for wax tapers we had none and
with a few parti-coloured paper.lanterns Chose
under 1t, each one deposited whatever morsels Of
the often seanty ration he had been able to spare
during the past few days-chiehy crackers and
ooded mess beef. We had hung on the tree some
biscuits Of better quality in lieu of the contures
OF home; but the grand treasures were two 6ne
apples. We had also purchased some bette-cates.
of three FORMS = =
$50 down we sat, men smitte by fortune in those
trenches, under the Christmas Tree sign of eter.
nal peace Officers and privates forgot for the
hour all distinction of rank: we were only broth.
spectators. At given signal the lights were kin
died aud our fir tree shone in wonderful beauty
We shouted, leaped for Joy, and exuted like chill
dren But the mirth lasted only short time and
we became very serious. Our thoughts wandered
away to our homes, and the circles of our loved
ones, now perhaps lighting up the Christbaune and
| thinking OF us. O., that we could have flown to
theml =3-
One of our comrades here broke silence, and
gave utteranee to what we all had in our hearts,
| He was brave, soldierly fellow, Sergeant Neu.
mann. In short. inartificial words, which came
from the bottom of the heart he spoke of the past
when we were all there at home in our German
| fatherand. He spoke of the bloody present; he
spoke of the eternal future, concerning which in
our actual peril of death all had good cause to
think But Christ our Lord said he for this
cause, became man, and as on this day became q
oaoe- that ne might rescue us from eternal death
And we are here like the Shepherds who once on
that first Christmas eve lay as we do in the open
| field and the heavenly messengers bring to us
| the message of joy which they then brought to
| them.' In conclusion, the Sergeant knelt down,
and said the Lords Prayer.
F" NO sermon" the letter goes on to say, "ever
| moved us so deeply, as these short and earnest
words resounding through the night. In silence
we clasped each others hands and were unable to
refrain from tears. Two Turkish adjutants came
by, and pointing to the tree, uttered something
| like dspleasure. We paid them no attention,
pondering on our hard lot Having obtained
leave to light campfire, we allowed the fir
branches, now that the lights were gone, to burn
| freely, and we had saved our billets all the
week, 1t made grand blaze. The heat was
| pleasant, for the night was cold; and now our
banquet began and we gave healths to sweethearta
and friends. The last sticks were still glowing
when the sky suddenly became clear and the
stars above famed like the tapers of heavenly
Christmas Tree. We joined hands in a silen,
| Good Night and sought the way to our barracks
where things looked very different from under the
| hr tree. From Sebastopol the cannon shots
roared suilen!y over our heads: and have just
heard, that one of the comrades, who celebrated
| the season with MS, was on his way to quarters
| mortaily wounded by she'll He kept his last
| Christmas in the trenches"