Smyrna times., 1860-01-05
CoRRESpON NDENCE.
Written for the Smyrna Times.
LETTER FROM DOVER.
HE AVS.
Dover, Dec. 81, 1855

Mr.. EDITOR Now that the festivities OF
merry Christmas are buried with the bright
things of the past, it may not be wholly inap.
propriate 10 take a short review, ere the memo.
ry of them shall be obliterated, to give place
for the record of their followers.
presume it is nothing new, when say thai
man lives TO cling to pleasant meu,orles even
as the tenacious vine cIngs to the grey old
oak, that gave it support, when life with both
was young. And how much brighter our lives
would be, were We to treasure, stlIl more, the
bright things of the pas,> and allow, as far as
possible to be forgotten. those scenes of disau n.
polntment aud sorrow, which grie red US in the
past; and the memory of which, we allow, too
often, to mar the present enjoyment. If we
were apt scholars. might We not be taught
many salutary lesSOus by taking a peep inte
the world OF Nature! Wul tue robin sing less
sweelly, next June, because some ruthless ur-
chin robbed her OF her last brood of chrping
tiedglings; or, because her amorous mate fell a
prey to some prowling cat? Will the spider
spin her thread with less care and assiduity, be-
cause some unwieldy beetle has escaped from
her web, leaving it IN ruins Will the violet
or the lily of the valley refuse 10 bloom, because
ahe frosts of chill Move nber npped their beauty
Or, will the slreamlet hush its sIlyery song, be-
cause dashing rals has stirred It's llmpid wa
tersa But TO return. Christmas was, as usual,
happy seasonal season of warm hearts and
cheerful smiles. For several days previous, pa
rents aud friends made a rush upon Cowgirl &, |
Son and upon Burton making purchases otall
sOrts of 6DOUte~Ie, to suit the season; such as
dolls, toys, c4ndies sweetmeatS, torpedoes, fire
crackers-and IN short everything which the
season suggested, to add an additional lustre to
infant eyes, or quicken the Ihrohs Of sangune
little hearts. And y, what an army of little
stockings were hung upa as the depository for
the nick-nackery of merry, goOd-hearted Kriss
Kringle! and with what overfowing merri-
ment the little cheruos nestled beneath the
blankets and coverIds ;-prattllng of the good
old fellow, till the soothing angel pressed his
balmy kiss upon their heavy eye-ids ;-and
then what - VISIONS of sugar plums danced thro'
their heads! CHRISTMAS proper Sunday was
ing, however, at the ma Iutlnal hour OF O'clock
u goodly number OF The more Jealous met at {
the Nj. +. Church, and engaged i'll a prayer
meeting. Your humble servant had previously
resolved to be present. and UaS awakened about !,
laltpa four, by Tue sound OF the church go v
ng bell; )" out tue drowsy god was 10th 10 lose = =
~ devOut woronpper, aud IN an instant wait Il
I'd me back Into the land Of visions, while the y
reamy MUSIC vt The sllll lollIng bell, chImed e
IA ecnoIng req IN over the departed hopes o. al
he good angel When released from his al
'leasing thraiuoln, the sun had reached beyond :
lie tree tops, aud was pouring upon the earth :
uch shower OF gold as would have rlvaled D
hat which fell luto the yielding lap of the ena- al
noreu Ddnae. 81
DEDICATION OF UNION NJ. E. CHURCH. 81
Tins was the day set apart for the dedication
{ the Union NJ. b. Church, near HazletIvllle. A
Dr.. COoke, our pastor, aud his choir had been tn
Indly invited 10 be present. the former to de- IN
yer the dedcatory sermon, and the latter to a a
lscourse sweet strains of melody u,
accordingly, about nIne o'clock, or thereabouts, =
le whole company wended their way to the
tile Church. There was quite large assem- o. %
age of people; SO much So indeed, that ma ny IN
ere unable TO get seats The DIR. entertained th
Is audIeuce for hour with one of his best an
'rmons, IN his best style; after which, en- eff. al
RI was made to pay off The remaining indebt- III, u"
lness OF the Church, amounting to one thou -,
nd dollars, which was finally accomplished nu
ith spirit worthy Christian people. The an
OIr, IN the meantime, let It not be forgotten tha
ntrIbutI"g largely 10 the interest of the occa- an'
%.