Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-12-23
CHRISTMAS.

In the year lOol, INC farllaucnI ol CuSlauu, iof /
iivers causes moving them thereto actually abolished
he pleasant old season of Christmas, and determined
that it should no longer be observed rs Feast Day
Or otherwise. But this act wus not long after repeal
cd by honest JOHN BULL, who could no moro remain
forgctul of the dear traditional customs of his fathers
than he could deaden his appetite to the temptation
of huge siroins, rich nince-pes, and hot plumpud-
dings. So Father Christmas was "triumphantly in
stalled at the incoming Of the merry court Of KING
CHARLES" and, from that day to this, has lent his
accustomed returns of mrth gee, and bcnehcence
and mischief as we'll to the cottage smal US to the
"Squre's wide hall"
WASHINGTON IRVING gives some delightful sketches
of an English Christmas in the country, which our
readers would do we'll to re-peruse Christmas eve
to-morrow) night to prepare them for the social and
hospitable duties of the season. They will scarce
put down the book without On honest and heartfelt
agreement with the sentiments Of the good old Squire
Of Bracsbridge Hall: az love-" said he, "to see this
day we'll kept by rich and poor 1t is greet thing TO
have one day in the year, at least when you are sure
Of being welcome wherever you 60, and Of having,
as 1t we're, the world all thrown open to you; And
am almost disposed to join with poor Robin in his
maediction on every chursh enemy to this whossomS
festival:
He who at Christmas doth repine,
And would fuin hence despatch him,
May he with old Duke Humphrey dine,
Or else may Old Ketch catch him."
We speak Of England And what are wo but Eng
lish ?-English in our laws in literature in our
customs in our tastes? Let us then, as descendants
Of u "merrie mother" revert to the
"Good old times
When tho Christmas chimes
Were joyous sound to hear"
Let us call back into our bosoms some OF tho an-
cient hospitality Of better day. Let US praise God
md love our neighbors. Lot US be mrthful in inno-
cent measure. Let the old people rslax the rigid
muscles of age, and smile like unexpected sunshine
on the young. (IIow precious are those smiles }
Let the young bow in reverence ut the feet OF the
aged, and cheer them with the beanng radiance of
atfectiouate duty. Let good-humor, and forgiveness
of trespasses, und charity prevail. In the language
of an ancient bard of Albion,
"Lo! now is come our joyfulPst fenst
Let every man be jolly; = =
Each roomc with yvic leaves be drcst,
And every post with holly.
Now all our neighbors' chimneys smoke,
And Christmas blocks arc burning;
Their ovens they with buk't meats choke,
And oil their spits are turning.
Without the door let sorrow lie
And if, for cold, it hap to die,
Weel bury it in Christmas pye,
And cyermore be merry.
What pity it is, that VIC Protestants turn our
backs upon those beautiful and impressive religious
services, connected With Christmas, which the Roman
Catholics observe with such deep devotion The
mass Mt midnight, ushcring in the day upon which n
Prince and Saviour was born to us! The anthems Of
pruse welcoming the first early dawn of that adora-
bic anniversary! The beautiful c6icun 7,astor"t, in
which choruscs of children trained to respond to
the Priest in simple harmony! How we'll calculated
ure ull these things to impress one with right sense
Of the mighty event they designed to honor and
celebrate with more vivid realization of the pres
ent and crcr-abding duty to thank our God, who
sent his only begotten Son into the world that we
through him should not perish but have everlasting
life" We confess to love for all those ceremonies
and obscrvauccs, tho object of which is to keep be-
fore the minds of ut all times proper remem-
braHce of Christ whether in his birth, his lile his
DEATH his resurrection, his high mediation ut the
right hand of the Father. But we are wandering
To return to Christmas,-we have only now to wish
for all our subscribers happy time of it; many
pleasant surprizes; many good practical jokes ma-
ny youthful prnnks; many happy reunions; many
we'll seasoned egg nogs; manygowng iresidcs made
yet more warm by the presence of "wife, children
and friends in short, may all the blessings and
enjoymepts of the season attend them