New Orleans daily crescent., 1860-12-26
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T cannot but remember snch thnae were Shakespeare
! One Two Three FoarF F'ive-Sx Sx--Seven-
! Eight Nineteen -Eleven-T Felve.-- Midnight! !!
Another instant, and once again the revolyin
course of Time ushers in the day that has for NOR
than eighteen hundred years been hailed wit
prayers Of thanksgiving, because of the birth
the HOLY Being whose precious blood was yielde
free-wi offering to wash away the sins OF errin
humanity.
4 The sound that marks its advent is solemn, an
as II floats in widening circles on the air. sinking
4 down and around, and swelling upward and on, ]
has an inarticulate grandeur which thrills as nigh
the voice of celestial messenger.
The sound is solemn, and yet around the da.
| xb;ch III throbbinr note prodlaims as come, orr
clustered some Of the most Joyful associations 0
life.
1 Remembering that he came in the guise Of in
fancy, those who have little ones circlng tn
hearthstone, whereon is blazing the genial yuie
time fire, lay aside the cares and austerities whic
may possess them, and with gentle hand-and-hl
caresses, and glances which speak the overflow
4 ing heart, bid them rejoice in the name of Hin
Who called them unto Him, and said, forbid then
| not.u
4 Thinking how He wandered an outcast, withou
/ shelter for his sacred head THE beggar who claim:
pity for his sorrows and alIhs for his poverty i
warmed and cheered, and shares the worldly store
of which portion thus goes forth even as bread
/ upon the waters.
| Mindful of the Divine compassion and magnan
| unity which framed the prayer for those who
| cruelty taanted and persecu1ed: Father forgive
| them, they know not what they doa--offeuees
which have ranked sore through allth long round
i Of months are soothed with the balm of forgive
ness, and hatreds which have swelied like bitter
tidesrecede to rise no more. Rs the tender thought
awakes, {. we are brothers..
Solemn, holy, and happy Christmas. Let thy bells
| ring come up to the House Of God" Let the
man of prayer carry the aspirations OF hearts in
| his petition. Let gentle words, and good deeds,
and gladness, and rejoieingl and festivty, crown
thee as diadem above price.
All. well.a-dayl Here sit, lonely old woman,
knowing a sympathy and tenderness for all human
ity. but separated by distance wide as that which
interyencs between life and the spirit-land, from
those whom loved, and whose happiness lay
bound with mine.
Ashes of bitterness and despair, gray and pallid
as those lying at my feet, we're heaped upon their
graves, but the gentle winds of Gods mercy waited
them aside and the dew of his grace, and the sun
shine Of his love, have caused to blossom upon
them The lonely flowers Of resignation and Of un-
fading faith.
Memories of loving glantes and tender words
which can never come again are my Christmas
treasures and they sparkle in their preciousness,
brighter than the jewel the trembling lover places
with the first granted kiss on his mistress white
hand.
There comes to me tonight, as there has many a
time before In the dark watches Of sleepessness q
vision almost like a palpable presence, of one Il
will not say who or what siEe was to me) in whose
life there was begun the anniversary Of this holy
Christmas time, long years gone by, the scenes Of
what proved to be to mote than one heart the
deepest tragedy.
It was far away from this sunny Southern cline.
The snow rested white and pure on loWland
and upland, and the branches Of the trees lay
against the clear, brilliant sky, like the delicate
traeery Of network of lace, except where tho
sleeny leaves and crimson berries of the holly
and the evergreen hemlocE strove to make decora-
tions for the festal time. No more bird calls were
from hillside to hillside, but only the dis
consulate note of starvelng wanderers, as they
sought their precarious meal from stray worm or
q charitable crumb.
The lowing Of sleek herds driven forth from rich
pastures or the bleatiDg df lambs as they frisked
In the sunshine, no longe fell upon the ear, mel
lowed and made harmonious by distance, but
deep silence. making chance noises seem doubly
loud prevailed over all tha scene.
This repose, however, dill not extend to the sub
stansial homes of the thriving country village.
Well.ted fields had yielded plentiful haryests,
and abundance and good cheer was on every table.
The little white-spired church had been filled to
overfowing, BY those who lifted up devout hearts,
and night closed in the cleaning lights and the
gay notes of music for thu dance, ELECTED by some
rustic Paganini, told of lightly tripping feet, claseed
hands that thrilled to meet, soft cheeks flushed to
deepest rose, floating locks, and eyes that flashed
with love or joy.
Squire Hail. the rich man Of the village who lived
In the great house on the Hillside this night yielded
It to the sway of his fair and gentle daughter,
Ahbie, whose previous preparations made every
room delightful with warmth and fragrance and
light.
All the young and fair and light. hearted of the
of both sexes, had been summoned to
grace the merry,makngI and among them Abbie
glided In her rich Dress with word and glance,
akd q delighted recognition for each.
Not few Of the young galiants would fain have
detained her dainty hard for the opening dance,
but the favor was denied with the shy whisper, as
her eyes dropped and the pink flush deepened on
her cheek, g TINT it was promised to her fathers
guest, Mr.. Richard Gonyhgsby."
The gentleman mentibned had but just arrived
at nightfail, and had not yet made his appearance
among u.s. still it was quite well known that he was
distant relative OF the Squire, medical student
in not remote city, and rich, pursuing his studies
more as branch OF science than from any positive
Of following them up as occupation In
life
It could not have been prejudice, ii must have
been instinct which prompted me to greet him SO
eoldly, when the Squire introduced him to my ac-
quaintance, for both appearance and manner were,
to casual observation, Hrepossessing.
He was not tall, above medium height, nor was
his figure Of remarkable perfection but it set
off By entire elegance of dress. His hair, which
was worn quit1 long, and fell in eurs of tntored
negligence. appeared oh first glance to be brown,
but in certain lights iery tint leaped ent, which
il TO an auburn.
His features were straight and even classic in
ter outline, save the bouth, where Sybari5ic SEN
saality was traced In hes SO iaetiaceable by policy
and eireumspection thet II was proof they were Of
Natanes workmanship. His eyes were blae-
dask-and more warmand glowing than any us the