The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-12-18
A CHRlSTMAs DlNNRR.
BY CHARLES DICKENS.

! BY CHARLES DICKENS.
Christmas time! The man must be .
mlsanthrope indeed, in whose breast some
thing like jovial feeling is not reused d.
in whose mind some pleasant associations
are not awakened-by the recurrence o
Christmas. There are people who will tel
you that Christmas is not to them what j,
used to be, that each succeeding Christmas
has found some cherished hope, or happy
prospect of the year before, dimmed o,
passed away, and that the present only
serves to remind them Of reduced circun.
stances and stratened incomes-of thu
feasts they once bestowed on hollow friends
and of the cold looks that meet them now
IN adversely and misfortune. Never heed
such dismal "reminiscences. There are few
men who have lived long enough in the
world who cannot call up such thoughts
any day in the year. Then do not select
the merriest Of the three hundred and six
ty.tive days for your doleful recullections.
out draw your chair nearer the blazing fire
fill the glass and send round the song
and il your room be smaller than it was n
dozen years ago, or if your glass be filed
with reeking punch, instead Of sparkling
empty It off hand, and fiji another. and
roll off the old ditty you used tn sing, and
thank God it's no worse. Look on the
merry faces Of your children as they sit
round the fire. One little seat may be
empty; one slight form that glaidened the
'ather's heart, and reused the mothers
pride to look upon, may not be there
Dwell not upon the past think not that
one short year ago, the fair child now re
solving into dust, sat before you with the
bloom Of health upon its cheek, and the
halt Inconsistencies OF infancy in its j,y-
Gus eye. Reflect upon your present bles-
sing>-of which every man has many
not your past mi>fortunes. of which all
men have some. Fill your glass again,
with merry face and contentcd heart
Our life on it, but your Christmas shall
ne merry, aud your new year a happy
one. .e .rr U.-H -
Who can be insensible to the Outpouring
OF good feeling, and the honest interchange
OF aft actionate attachment, which abound
al this season Of the year! A Christmas
.amily party We know nothing il, ma.
ture more delightful! There seems a magic
IN the very name Of Christmas. Petty
Jealousies and discor1s are forgotten; So
elal feelings are awakened in bosous to
which they have long been strangers father
or son, brother and sister, who have not
met and passed with avcrted gaze, or look
Of cold recognition for months before,
prntfcr and return the cordial embrace, AMI
hurry their past animosities in their present
happiness Kindly hearts that have yearncd
toward each other, but have been withheld
BY false notions of pride and sclfdigni,y,
are again re united, aad all is Kindness
and benevolence! Would that Christmas
lasted the whole year through, and that the
prejudices and passions which deforn our
better nature, were never called into action
among those to whom they should ever be
strangers !! ., ..s s... ,-.4,. So
The Christmas family party that we
mean, Is not mere aSsenblagc OF relations,
got up at week or two's notice. original.
ing this year. having no family precedent
IN the last. and not likely to be repeated in
the next. 1t is an annual gathering Of all
the accessible members Of the family, Young
"r old. rich or poor; and all the chillr. Il
look forward to it, for two months before.
hand, in fever Of anticipation. Formerly
It was held at erandpapa's; but gr.ndpapa
getting old, and g'andnanma getting old
too, and rather infiru'. they have given up
housekeeping, and do,ncsticated themselves
with uncle George, SO the party always
takes place at uncle Georges house, but
grandnamma sends in most of the good
things, and grandpapa always 10 u toddle
down all the way to Newgatc market, 10
buy the turkey, which he engages a porter
t" bring home behind him IN triumph. III.
ways insistingon the mans being rewarded
with glass Of spirits over and above his
hire, to drink n merry Christmas and
happy new ycai to aunt George. As To
gran'lmamna. she is very secret and mys.
tcri"us for tw" or three days Def ,rchand,
'"'t n { sufficient to prevent rumnrs get.
ting atoat that she had purchased IA bea.i,i
'ul mw cap with pink rihhcns fur each of
the servants, together with sundry books
and penknivcs, and pencil cases for the
young branches; to say nothing cf di-
vers secret additions to the order originally
given by aunt George at the pastry -cook's
such rs an",h,r dozen of nice pies Cor the
dinner, and large plum cak. for the
On Christmas-evc, grand,namna is nj
ways in excellent spirits, and after employ
IN. all the children during the day i'm ston.
ing the plums and all that, insists regularl.
very year on uncle George cunning down
into the kitchen. taking off his coat. and
stirring the pudding for half an hour or 50.
which uncls George good hu,nore.lly does
to the vocfrrous delight Of the children
and scr'a' is; and the evening concludes
with glorious game Of blind.man's huff,
in an early stage Of which grandp.pa
takes great care to he caught, i'm order that
b. may have an opportunity Of displaying
his dexterty. ..a- ...'s
On the following morning. the old couple,
with as many of the children as the pew
will hold, 60 to church in great state, leav,
ing aunt Georgc At home busting decanters
and filing castors, and uncle George car
rying bottles into the dining. parlor, calling
Tor c"rk.scrcws, and getting into every
body's way. @ .as gaa. " .yf,
When the church party return to lunch,
grandpapn produces small sprig of mis-