The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-12-21
and by Others to refer to John the Ban.

anu Oy OtheTS 10 reIer 10 John the Bap-
list, Whose advent was likened unto .
burning and shining light, aud to the
going forth Of the apostles, and to that
light Of the world, the Son Of man him.
SELF
But the old leaven chung to the ami
versary under its new name, and the fcs-
tive spirit Of the Saturnalia, rather than
the fasting one enioincd by the carly ia
theirs Of the church, continued, and men
still continue to feed the eye and delight
the ear, to feast and drink, crown doors
and encourage dancing, just as in those
days when the stern old father penned his
exhortation on "forbearancc from them.
Only Christianity has tempered excess
with moderation, and the refinement of
its teaching has sOftened down the fierce
license Of wild joy which the restoration
Of mercy. peace and brotherhood to earth
but for few short days impaired to the
Pagan.
The burthen Of the angels song for us
is not for days, but to the end Of time, /.
and every day brings US more nearly to
its full fruitiOn. The same jubilant feeling,
therefore, that hung the portals Of the
Roman houses with bOughs indicative Of
victory and peace, that bound their brows
with bacchanalian ivy, and their STATS
with branches Of the vine, may well deck
Christian hearts and houses ut this period;
they read another myth in the bright cv-
ergrcens than the immortal youth Of the
BOy-God (evcn their OWN and in the
practical translation Of the angelic chorus
feeding the hungry, clothing the naked,
and letting in the light Of intellect on
those who sit in darkness, even the thick
darkness of ignorance" do honor to
no fancied retrospect, no bygone golden
age, but link the present days with bright
er ones to come.
In many parts Of England, to this day,
furmity, "a dish made Of Few wheat boiled
in milk is the usual breakfast and supper
on Christmas Eve. Can this custom be
related to the ancient offering Of sheaf
Of corn to Ceres, at the Saturnalia?
1t is also common to give the women
who go "a gooding," as the phrase is,
Chat is visiting for aims the farm. houses
in the vicinities,) wheat for their Christ
mas furmity, though they sometimes col.
lect sufficient to pay them for having it
ground; and in return for this, and what
ever else they may receive, they repay
their benefactors with sprigs of evergreen
to deck their houses
Speaking Of evcrgreens, by the way,
reminds US Of the beautiful superstition
of druidicol times, when, according to DR..
Chandler, the people were 10 the habit Of
dressing their houses with green bOughs
on the first Of December, in order that
the sylvan spirits might repair to them
and remain unnipped by the frosts and
cold winds till the return Of spring re-
newed the foliage Of their beloved abodes.
We know that the Christmas boughs of
our times have gentle infuences-.that
the tenderest sympathies Of human nature
nestles beneath them--that round the
Christmas fire, the wOrld-worn links Of
kindred affection are reforged, old cove
nants renewed, aud friendship strengthen
ed, and could almost deem this Sheltering
of the sylvan spirits Of the past type of
the kindly gatherings and gracious feel
ings kept alive by this annual garlanding
Of our household hearths in the present.
May it long be continued amongst US.
for these old world uSages are the p;ctori-
al embellishments Of life's book, and have
in them wordlesS poetry, full Of refining
and happy influences.
To its friends and patrons, the publish.
ers Of the MOUNTAIN DEMOCRAT wish
"merry Christmas"-may health, hnppi-
ness and prosperity be theirs!.