Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-12-26

Though Yesterday was 0hristmas day, 10 PeAat
Of fact this day 10 The one that viii be more par
~ticularly observed - sssh. Il 10 day celebrated
in Ill ehsistisa laads-is&iessse waya.iti - 1ae'
bu. none the Lees hsla - = day Of special mark
and observance. TIE Christian, recoiisctng that
/, Is the birth day Of the Sks1oa. commemorasee II
by religious EXERCISES end By rssewsd pledges 81
devotion % his faitA. The outside world grsees
II AZ the season Of nirth and Of festive sujeyment;
Of family re-upioas and Of freedom from oil tho
c.rrod;oe cares and Distractions ofbusiness. This
day. many q fAmily win ~reunite Its scattered
members around Ne hearth Of the old homestead,
to cultivats the psrs virtues Of kindred affection
and domestic love. Aud this day. above oil others,
will the absent ones be cherished with that undy-
iur affection and remembrance which ii needs not
tho typical evergreen 10 keep ever fresh in the
heart.
It is o beautiful custom. Oar ancestors brought
it across the Ocean with them, and it survives all
revolutions, social and political. Nomadic "a are
the American people, it b peculiarly Fl. that We
above all other nations. should keep up and main
thin the custom of re-uniting the scattered mem
beers Of families at this most appropriate season
This love Of kindred and Of home, which Is too
apt to be weakened BY distance, aud displaced BY
the cankers and cares Of business, is revived and
s,renetheped around the annual Christmas HEARTH
and the psrticipa,or in it goes forth with redoub-
led heart and energy to sngage.i in tho severe strug'
giles Of the world.
Others will celebrate The day with noisy do
monstrstious of pleasure, and Of freedom from
care. Blazing rockets, and torpedoes, and .tenr
d'artifce, will testify their joyful appreciation OF
the presence Of Christmas. 1t seems impossible.
indeed, for young America to get through the day
without the nss Of ~gunpowder. Christmas is no
70 him unless he hears tho matutinal
volley which proclaims its coming, and the even
ing salute which speeds its departure. And CUT
fee, too-how pure and unalloycd is hishappiness
on the occasion With what On abandon he goes
forth to greet his acquaintance, and with what a
CHEEKY confidence he ~solicits, half in jest and half
in earnest, q "Christmas giftr' A rare day, in
deed, is this same old Christmas.
Let it not be desscrated, however, by unse emily
familiarity with that enemy which man puts in
his mouth to steal away his brains. Too much is
it the custom to make this holy day the occasion
of indulgence in that which takes away from man
his manhood, and makes him q spectacle to his
fellow men, and . reproach to the image fashion
ed after that Of the Creator. 1t may DO true, in
the words Of the old refrain, that "Christmas
comes bat onoe . year"-but every recurring
Christmas makes the number less TINT we shall be
privileged TO enjoy. Far be 1t from us to depre-
cato the innocent enjoymsns and festivities Of
the season but lot them be controlled by that
moderation which Is no less the teaching Of phi
iOsophy than the suggestion of common sense. 1t
will temper our enthusiasm, if we will reGec. up
on the truth contained in tho lines Of n modern
British poet, which are rs applicable to US rs to
any Of the human family, and equally applicable
TO all:
Little We think when le " new,
And all 10 fresh and fair W view,
And beais the heart with pleasure true,
As II for naught Il wanted;
That, year by year, and day BY day,
Romance's sunlight fades away,
And long befcre the head 10 grey,
The heat 10 disenchantedi