Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-12-25


And once again Ghristman is with rs
Dear Old 6ristmssl with its holly and
yew and pleasant greetings; with its Joys
and sorrows; with It's smiles for hope, and
It's tears for memory. Jovial Old Christ
mssI with its mirth aud jest aud laughter;
with its nuts and wine for Dives, and cakes
and ale for poor you and I, my friend
Happy Old Christmasi with its gladstone
hearts, and It's home circles reunited; faith
ers, children, and children's children, onee
more gathered under one roof tree.
Welcome, dear, jOTial happy Old Christ
mRsl
II you have been into the streets and into
the shops of late you have seen what has
done good TO your heart. You have aeen
grey haired old men, with smiles lurking
around their faces pouring earnestly over
q trinket or a toy that is destined to bring
joy to some little p~rattler. You have seen
stern, practical men, men of little poetry
and many figures, looking into the mystic
ries Of some baby treasure, with such a
pleasant enjoyment that you have gone out
with a wsrm feeling under your waistcoat,
convinced that there is no heart so hard
but that somewhere within it there is hid
den q little tenderness. You have seen
rOsy-cheeked matrons briBklY hurrying to
and fro, with OVERLOOKING arms, dreaming
Of the delights which are in store for a bevy
Of other and lesser rosy cheeks. You have
seen penniless urchins pressing their brief
noses to an unnatural paleness on the win
dowB oiths tOy-shops or the jewellers, chat
tering, and covetipg with all their hearts
the gorgeous riches therein displayed. And
lastly, you hsvs seen staIwsrt mechanics
fastening homswsrd from their late toll
with miraculous turkeys, and curiously
shaped brown paper bundles, carried with
exceeding care and solicitude.
You are the better for seeing these things.
The door of your heart is opened and a troopof
cases, and selfish and unkindly thoughts Ay
out thereat, and faith and charityan good
will enter in.
How many changes have taken place
since Christmas was last With your Child
rem have been born into the world, and one
ofthem, 1t may be, is yours. You peer
down into the clear depthso of those eyes that
look 30 calmly up into your own, and you
feel the little dimpled cheek nesting close
to your bearded lips, and rejoice for the dear
treasures tbst hsye been scattered in your
pathway.
There has BEEN marrying, and giving in
marriage. It may be that you are one Of
thesey and that 6 neE tendril has twined
about your heart, and that there are lips that
smile at your coming, and at your going
forth bid you God speed.
And some also have died. One, with heart
unsullied passed through the valley, and
tEue, tender and loving, in the fqllness eff
msnboal Wsat forth to the stars. If thersi is
vacant chair at Seur tresIds, thank God
for the blessings you have, in - lOTTQws
you know not Of.
Once again a glad and merry Christmas,
and tnen for old John Bempfylde's sonnet:
With footstep slow in furry pail yclad,
His brows engreath'd with holly never sere,
Old Christmas comes, TO close the waned year;
And aye the shepherds heart TO make right glad;
who, when his teeming focks are homeWard bad
EmblaZing hearth repairs and nut-brOwn bear,
Ard views, well pleasd, the rudy pratter's dear
the grey mongrel meanwhile maid and lad
Sqnabbie for roasted crabs. Thee, fire, we hail
whether thine aged limbs thou dost enshroud
In vest Of snowy white and hOsry veil,
Or wrapp'st thy visage In 4 sable cloud.
Thee We proclaim with mirth and cheer, nor fail
To greet thee well with many q carol loud.