The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-01-02

HoARY OLD WINTER, usually SO stern, ri
gid, and mcrciless, must have had something
uncommonly pleasant occur to his house
hold, for he continues as smiling and sun
shiny as new made grandfather. here 1t
is day after New Year, and excepting
few days in November, We have hardly yet
had sign of winter. A little snow fell few
DAYS ago. but the warm sun came out and is
rapidly licking it up, and under his soft &C.
MAJ beams, one looks out and wonders why
the lawns are not green. What blessing
to the poor is this III winter, to soften the
rigor Of the times. 1t is thus poor humani
ty Often escapes the consequences Of its cwn
follies by the merciful nterpostiOn of Him
"who tempsrs the wind TO ihe shorn lamb. :"
LEcTuRE.-We are informed that b. +
TAYLOR, ESQ, Of the Chicago journal. has
expressed willingness to lecture in this
place provided the people wish TO hear him.
/ We certainly hope that an invitation will
be extended 10 him, for Taylor will give a
lecture which cannot fail TO please those
who are fortunate enough 10 hear it.
The following, which We clip from re-
cent article in the journal. will give some
idea Of his style of writing:
CHRISTMAS EvE-SANTA Claus tonight
and ChriSrra> TOMORROW, Blessed he the
children, for they are not infdels, and their
ca endar of Saints is as full as their hearts.
Aa. the time when ei,inneys were built,
first, to let IN same N---I."!as. and last, to
let out the smoke; when we trIed ~ ~
awake TO see the cows hncel down as tie
clock struck Twelve, on Christmas Eve, IN
memory Of Bethlehem and the Mangerl
June Is very beautiful indeed, with its
LAZY woods. for God made it; and Deem,
her is very beautiful with its Christmas
Tree. for Heart made It. BY many fire.
side tonight. even in this eag"r air, 1t shall
rustic with the foliage of affection, and be
laden with tae 20 den fruit that falls into
the lap Of dreams.
4 hundred ihouSani feet will be with
drawn from stockings 'ght, 10 make
room for the sous that shall enter them.
By broad Old fireplace, It's jams worn
smooth with the touch Of fingers; by the
dapper stove that has taken its pace on
he door of the clock set ajar; from the
nail where hangs the tlin-leafed led .er OF
time; from the high post of the oid-iashio n
ed bedstead; on the back OF the old arm
chair; booked up By a pin from the edge OF
the mantle; swulg from the latch 0i the
homc-room door, An HUNDRED THOUSAND
STOCKINGS! r d and white. and cloudcd
and blue homely and darned lambs wool
and beautiful; coarse and tine-everyw
stockings.
And their owners will be driven of 10
bed tonight, and there VIII be hum of
young voices beneath the cOunterpaDeS, and
/ a listening for the sound Of the reindeer
team on the roof like the patter Of a sum
mer shower, and falling off to sleep one
{ by one, and dreams hung round with stock
: ingS.
/ And it will grow red in the east just the
I faintest tint in the world. when an hundred
thousand little bare feet will be twinkling
down stairs and through halls, over floors
carpcted and warm; over floors naked and
cold; and small hands will be thrust into
the ple,horic stockings, and the treasures
vii be brought out, one by one, and il viii
/ 80 snu ~ rthe 'oes viii never he reached,
are they every one k aia. small Providence
round with wonder, and bright with III i, gro"
and tongues and feet will keep time together
and there, through the gray OF the MOI y
{ the doors vii pay IKE the valves 81 the
glad hearts, and Merry Christmases will
ring all over the house like the chimes OF
bells
Happiness on Christmas Ewes is the
cheapest thing in the world; heartful for
a shilling or 50; passes to homemade Par
adi>e for a dollar or two. And everybody
knows how TO invest il; noise, really the
weakest thing in nature, is boys best evil
dence of strength. He takes the hammer.
the whip, the trumpet and the boots; boots
with heels to them; resounding boots. and
he exults in them all. But the girl must
have something to love, to decorate, to chea-
ish. to think about; and SO on the eighth
annual holiday, the twain begin their little
rehearsal of the real play of life.
We wish the World Joy of its Meary
Christmas, when we may all be "knitters
in the sun" of the yuc lire, make "cares
ravel ed sleeve as good as new, and weave
the worn and weakened bonds of friendship
strong again.
tie that cannot give, can do lIoIier thing ::
he can forgive; forgive one who had wrong
ed him; one whom he has wronged; for
give debt or doubt deed or a word,
and so make Christmas in truth, as merry