The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1860-12-13
CHRISTMAS Is COMING

This happy day, with its usual rounG
offestivitcs, is fast approaching. re
all classes it is generally a happy soas
on. The Juveniles await with impa
tiehce tho nocturnal arrival of old Kri,
KringIc, with his budget Of toys anc
swcatmeats and the middle. aged
young men and maiden s. resign them
selves 20 the usual series of parties anc
social enjoymcnts, while the aged sit
and think wander back in the shad
owy, dreamy past to the time when
they were young and cnjoye themsclv-
es as those now do around them
The man Of business receives it with
different feelings. lie has laborcd for
year past-pcrhaps for family
maybe for himself only-and the dawn
of Christmas reminds him of business
engagements that have to be met liza.
bilties that must be satisfied ere he
can get soil on the New Year.
70 the school girl, that has been
away from father, mother, brothers and
sisters, anil loving ones, for wearied
lapse of time, the Christmas holidays is
peculiarly acceptable. She will now
join them around the parental board,
and warm her delicate form ut her own
tireSidc.
Christmas is the festival Ct the year.
1t has pleasures for the old and the
young, and even now, while we write,
and amid all the clamor about diSunion,
and our polI.mcll, hcadlong rushing
towards distruction-9vcn now, scores
are saving eggs and faltening turkeys
for Christmas. Even now the Christ
mas tree is having its fruits arranged
by fair hands at our Sewing Societies.
OF course the omniprcsont architect #
all Christmas trees, old Kris Kringle,
will get the praise from the merry lit
tie children who have vet to learn that
it is al! fable that Kris Kringle gives
them these things. But it's pleasant
deusion this, and meets with our on
tire appreciation. We have heard
some rail against it. We heard a min
lister in his church, last Christmas,
abuse his congregation for this inno.
cent amusement afforded children. He
told his congregation that they lied,
because they tiIlcd the stockings of the
little folks with goodies to make them
happy, Oh great, immacullst moral
list, where was the use of this !? for
though pure morality is the ehicfest
excellence of christian character, mere
habit Of moralizing is too often dex-
ferrous fail to tho pretending hypocrlte.
But We choose to consider this tcnden.
cy (in his case at least,) to moralize on
every possible pretcxt, rs an innocent
weakness of affectation, rather than Il
cunning screen to conceal real nature
1t may be born OF the most unseltsh
motive, and Jitimes shine forth Us II
bright exponent OF mans longing for
higher life. Yet, if INDUCED in beyond
certain limit, its effect on others may
be fuIsome rather than salutory. Oh /!
there be those who would reduce to u
formal proposition all the beautiful
teachings OF nature. How truly has
Bryant told us that
"!ae speaks a rariOus language"
Oh, what stupid people are those who
pin their moral label on everything
which falls within the range of their
observation. Nothing capable OF re-
ceiving an impression but must become
the bullion of their moral mint, and
take the stamp of its deep-cutting die.
Upon every summer c'oui, that doat.