The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-12-25

CHAisTMae--ln the midst Of The dark
stosn of war, che StAxof hsthlehsm risss with
its serene sna unqssacAMhas lastss, and eilAs
the sdsee Of the cioads with rays Of heavenly
consolation. RI il ID no longer 70 40 the hsrsld
OF pesce OF joy, happy are we thai the
respondbility Of strife and boodshed rests
alone upon our en4miss Asking only TO be ''lct
alone ssandiag upon our own thresholds in
defiance Of our hsafths and homes, and s,cking
"a make the hsarthe and homes cf no other
people desolAts and miserable, We may, with.
out rsnorse, and with humble end trusting
faith, look upward for approval to the "Peace
fnl Prince of Earth and Heaven" whose birth
we this day celebrate, and whoss coming we
greet with gsrlands Of Joy and anthems Of
thAnksaiving. =
s. chrissmas has always been an nonored fes'
tival among the descendants Of the Cavaliers.
In the North, Thanksgiving Day, Puritan
festival. on which the Sons Of tie Pilgrims
show their gratitude by s,uisng themselvesto
death with pnmpkin pies, and New Years
Day. which has been imported from Holland,
have thrown good old Christmas into the
ahaas with the exception of Catholics and
Episcopalians, whose ritual provides Tor The
celebration Of both Thanksgiving sud Christ
mas, giving the latter the prominence which
Is lie due, the North stands alone among Chris
nan nations, whether Roman Cathallc or
Protestant, In its neglect Of the greatest festi-
val Of the Christian year. In our own sunny
land, the old-fashioned English Christmas
stin retains its ancient supremacy, and even
the intervention of such internal passions az
those which dominate in the despotism at
Washin, ton, can only partially eclipse this in
extinguisaablc source Of social and household
light and g,adness. If the Christmas Tree
does not bear as profasely rs at former sea-
sons, and Kriss Kripgle does not fill the stock
ings to repletacn, the juveniles may we'll ex-
cuse the patron Saint on account Of the greater
favor 10 has conferred in keeping the Yankee
wolves from their doors, and enabling them to
eat their Christms dinner in peace and security.
II friends cannot bestow as many Christ
mas gifts upon esch other as in former times,
IL Il some consolation to react that, in this re-
pect at least, the entire period Of the war has
been cont nual Christmas, the whole popu-
lafion, with the exception Of avaricious specu-
lators, having manifested degree of self
sacrificing generosity in behalf Of the brave
men engaged in fighting our battles which
might well adorn and hallow the most sacred
festival
And how can We better celebrate this
Christmas Day than by the continuance and
increase of those acts OF beneiicence to ah the
gallant defenders Of our country who may
still need our aid, and to the sufferers by fire
and other disasters, and to those widows and
orphans Of our noble martyrs to liberty who
may be absolutely destitute of the necessities
of life, whilst surrounded by plenty and pro-
fnsion9 No Christmas gift can be more &C.
ceptabls to God and man than gifts to .snoh as
these, and no appliances for making Christ.
mae happy SO efiectual as those which impart
TO our own minds the assurance Of Having In
weased the happiness OF others. 'at'.