Mariposa Democrat., 1857-12-24
CIIRISTNIAs.

Christmas is again with usl Tomorrow
will be a day of pleasure for millions through
out the gobe-a day full of recreation, Of
mirth, Of joy of gladness alike to youth, man
hood and old age. 10 all mankind day to
be remembered Of all the days in the year.
Happy children with pockets filled with bon
6Ons arms-fu of toys, and hearts full of glee,
will be seen thronging the toy-shops and con-
dictionaries, while the grown-up bipeds are
perambulatng the thorough.fares, clad in their
best, taking their holiday. Youngsters, with
slow matches, fire-crackers and dirty faces,
will be having rare sport, regardless of the
terror they cause to passers-by, especially to
pert misses with clean aprons and shiny beau
catchers. The aged and infrm will be housed
from the winters cold and reciting, it may be,
by glowing fire, their pleasures on Christmas
days long past. Then, at the festive board,
where meet the friends of long years through
veal and woe, or where meet father, mother,
sisters, brothers, where care is laid aside, and
joy is uncontrolled, there may be seen happi-
ness that would cheer misanthrope-fo it is
Christmas Then, at even, when darkness
clouds the outer world, sounds of mirth and
laughter, blended with music and measured
step of responsive feet gliding through the ma
yes of the dance, are heard issuing from iu-
mined windows, as though laughing at swift
footed Time, whose grim vsage softens into
smile as he passes by, and brings in his train
many Christmas to gladden. the hearts of
millions yet unborn.
Such is Christmas to nearly all the world.
Happy Christmas to be the means of so much
happiness. And as we sit here in our big arm
chair, where perhaps our Christmas will be
passed--as age has now crcpt upon us and
sprinkled our head with the SHOWS of many
winters-sittng here, we say, recollections of
Christmas spring up before us, and we see
again, with the bright, rainbow-hued glee of
childhood, the reckless glance Of YOUTH and
the calmer view of maturer years. the many
glad Christmas days we We spent, passing in
review before us, each day in itself lifetime
of happiness, spent in town or country, on the
broad sea, or in forest wids, on the great des-
erts of the West, or on the plains of the Az
tees; nought cared we where trod our foot
steps, our heart was with the dear ones at
home. If but scanty meal was ours, yet
on that day did we feel that though it was
spare and scant, yet more spare and more
scant were the viands before those whose in
fant's birth this day celebrates-and we were
thankful.
But with more delight than of all our days be-
side, we dwell upon the rosy era of our life
-boyhood's happy time-and in that happy
time the Christmas days shine out as spots of
sunshine on clouded landscape There arc
the choice toys and sweetmeats, dropped by
some loving hand ycleped Santa Claus to give
us pleasure on the long-expected holiday !;
then there are the joyous comrades of our
youthful sports, with whom at an early hour,
and with pockets full Of squibs, we hied to
have our fun. Then the Christmas dinner |
when returning from our sport, with appetite
renewed, how sweet the pastry to our young
and eager palate-but over all, high above the
minor edibles surrounding it, shines oyt, with
huge proportions, the steaming, plum-spotted
Christmas pudding! Oh, what charms for us
had that stately pile with what admiration
we gazed on its rotund proportions-all else
was for the moment forgotten. Dinner over,
with relatives and friends visits paid, more
sport with urchins of kindred spirit, iuve.
nile party, and home pastimes, conclude the
day.
Then, as youth gave place to more thought.
ful years, how flash upon us the happy Christ
mas days spent among gay throngs, with, may
hap, a chosen one of all the world The giddy
waltz at night, the seigh-ride home, and the
thousand tender things said on the way. All,
all come upon us-childhood, youth, manhood
ali come back upon our memory, like the
cheating fancies of dream. Gods benison
be on the day, and make it day of happiness
to all the world. We wish the readers of the
DEMOCRAT a merry Christmas
To Participants In the Indian Wars.
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