San Andreas independent., 1856-12-20
Christmas observances.

Among the good customs that have descend
ed to us with right royal lieneage from our
forefathers, and in true line, there is no one
so venerable, so notable or SO benign, as Christ
mas-the anniversary of the event when the
morning stars first sang together and peace and
good will were published to wondering world.
If the legends of old writer's be true, the sun on
that morning rises with greater glory; the air is
invested with fresh life, the human system is
re-invigorated, something of the bitter falls
from the heart, and man sympathizes with ma
ture in kind of rejuvenesence.
In the times of the Fathers-when Tertullian,
Chrysostom, Cyprian and others, little lower
than the Apostles, walked the earth-Christ-
mas was the Sabbath of the Sundays of the
year-the anniversary and most special of all
the divine days, iu that it witnessed an event
denied to the remainder
Taking somewhat diherent-a benevolent
and benign as well as humanitarian view OF
the matter, the asceticism which distinguished
Christmas in former ages has been gradually
dropped, and an air of thanksgiving and festiv-
/ ity grated in its stead We now-as did our
/ English ancestry before us-make Christmas
the great day of rejoicing, and, in different
manner but with the same real spirit and sig
ni6cance as the English people, hail its return.
1t inaugurates for us, as for them, the holidays;
it calls up memory of the past; it produces
I hopes for the future, and, momentarily, gilds
all the present. With the English people and
with English blood wherever and under what
circumstances soever found Christmas suggests
a picture of family union and domestic happi-
ness; of great tables laden with great dishes
and great bowls; of evergreens fresh from the
forest of meetings between friends and rela-
tives, long sundered of quiet mirth and social
| festivity.
In this country, the press for time-the rest
less itch for action and constitutional abhor-
renee of repose, cause Christmas to be dismiss
ed in much more curt and summary manner
than elsewhere. Even we, however, with all our
practical philosophy and materialism, grow
more and more enamored of the sharp visage
and frosty, but kindly features which represent
the warm-hearted old monarch of the months.
He is pictured in our books, as bent with age,
yet hale as ever; as crowned with scant white
locks, silky as a child'S as looking from out
bent brows, with eyes that are moistened from
fountains of kindness, and that shine with the
glow of evening stars Everything concern
ing Christmas figures heart OF fire in body
! burdened by its own much-doing kindness :;
and age palsied in its efforts to work out the
earnest wishes that, alone, give it strength to
continue. 1t is an incarnation that commands
love in such pleading manner as to make the
] love voluntary offering.
Now, Christmas is with US again, reigning
and ruling just as royalty as ever. His undis-
puted sway is oyer the globe and his scepter
finds none but willing servants who cluster hap
PLY around him; wishing that themselves and
their friends may meet at the festive boards
many years to come.
The celebrations of Christmas are
st--diverse like the pillows,