New Orleans daily crescent., 1860-12-25
"a CHRISTMAS GIFT
ron r.tk colusfss or rat
NEW ORLEANS oREscEN1 I
THE KINDLY GREETINGS
7E77l 2 147l 77-7-
FILLS ANN NE TT q.
LOST InJ SHADOW,
oHApTEs T.

Hr eannat but remember sach things n-Shosspaare
One Two Three Four-F -Six--Seyen-
Eight--N Nine -Ten-E -Eeven--T Twelve. Midnight !!
Another instant, and once again the reyolyin
course of Time ushers in the day that has for NOR
than eighteen hundred years been hailed wit
g prayers of thanksgiving, because Of the birth 3
the Holy Being whose precious blood was yielde
free-wil offering to wash away the sins Of erin
humanity.
The sound that marks its advent is solemn, AM
as ii floats in widening circles on the air, sinking
down and around, and swelling upward and on.
has an inarticulate grandeur which thrills as Nigh
4 the voice of a celestial messenger M
The sound is solemn, and yet around the do.
which its throbbing note proclaims as come, ar
clustered some OF the most joyful associations 0
life. =.
Remembering that He came in the guise Of in
\ fancy, those who have little ones circlng tn
hearthstone, whereon is blazing the genial yule
time fire. lay aside the cares and austerities whic
may possess them, and with gentle hand d-and-lil
caresses, and glances which speak the overflow
ing heart, bid them rejoice in the name of Hin
who called them unto Him, and said, forbid then
a NOT
i Thinking how He wandered an outcast, withou
shelter for his sacred head, the beggar who claims
| pity for his sorrows and aims for his poverty i
warmed and cheered, and shares the worldly store
4 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 taunted and persecuted 4 Father forgive
/ them, they know not what they don-ohencei
which have Tankled sore through all the long rount
/ of months are soothed with the balm Of forgive
ness, and hatreds which have swelled like bittel
tides recede to rise no more, as the tender thought
| awakes, = we are brothers.n
Solemn, holy, and happy Christmas. Let thy bells
1 ring come up to the House of God.n Let the
| man of prayer carry the aspirations of hearts in
bis petition. Lei gentle words, and good deeds
and ala,iness and rejoicing. and festiyity. crown
! thee AZ n s3;aleu. abaye urice.
/ an wel,a-1ay 4 Hare 7 nit a lonely old woman
1 knowing 4 svrnnathy ana tenderness for all human
IT, bnt sanaratad IL distance wide as that which
/ intarvenes between life and the spiritland from
those whom loved. and whose happiness Law
bound with mine.
Ashes Of bitterness and despair, gray and pallid
as those living at nv feet, were heaped upon their
graves but the gentle winds Of Gods mercy waited
them aside and the dew of his grace, and the sum
shine Of his love, have caused to blossom upon
them the lonely flowers Of resignation and OF an
finding faith
Memories Of loving glances 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 fhe first granted kiss on his mistress white
hand.
There comes to me tonight, as there has many
time before in the dark watches Of sleeplessness,
vision almost like palpable presence, Of one q
vim not saw who or what she was to me) in whose
life there was begun on the anniversary Of this holy
Christmas time. long years gone by, the scenes of
what proved TO be to more than one heart the
deepest tragedy.
II was far away from this sunny Southern cline.
The snow rested white and pnre ON IoWland
and upland and the branches Of the trees lay
against tie clear. brilliant sky like the delicate
tracery Of network Of lace, except where the
sheeny leaves and crimson berries Of the holly
ard the evergreen hemlock strove to make decora-
tions for the festal time No more bird calls were
sounding from hills to hillside hut only the dis
consulate note of staryeling wanderers, as they
sought their precarious meal from stray worm or
charitable crumb.
The lowing Of sleek herds driven forth from rich
pastures, or the bleatng of lambs as they frisked
3aur Hmm nQr mn