Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-12-26
tProm the Methodist. !
CHRISTMAS.

"Some say that ever 'gainst that season comoe
Wherein our Haviour's birth is celebrated
This bird OF dawning singeth all night long,
Aud then they say no spirit darCs stir abroad.
The nights are wholesome; then no planSt strikes
No fairy takes, no witch has power TO harm
80 hAlloWed and so gracious is the time"
Familiar as household words are these
lines, and yet us the rolling year brings
around another Christmas, they seem in
vested with fresh interest-not stale, nor
worn out, but new, pleasing, and sugges-
tive. The poet is careful to hint he does
not youch for the truth Of the remarkable
popularity ascribed ut this festival to the
"bird of tdawning"-crowing all night
long, that the spirits are spell-bound,
planets do not strike, fairies and witches
are harmless. He alludes to popular
ideas, or rather superstitions.s
To old people these are we'll known,
and to the above may be added many
others, as that at midnight of the vigil Of
the Nativity, the cattle are to be found,
as if in alteration Of the Saviour, ,kneelingR Z
The writer remembers he has heard years
ago from an old lady living In the coun-
try that her servants would leave the
house to see the cattle perform this singu-
lar net. Another superstitious belief is,
"that they who are born on Christmas,
have the power of seeing spirits, and even
of commanding them" Aud it may bo
added, "that the Spaniards imputed the
haggard and downcast looks of their
Philip II. TO the disagreeble visions to
which this privilege subjected him"
A traveller in Upper Canada mentions
meeting, at midnight, an Indian, creep
ing cautionary along in the stiffness of a
beautiful moonlight Christmas eve. The
Indian made signals to him to be silent,
and when questioned as to the reason, re.
piled We watch to see the deer kneel :;
this is Christmas night, and all the deer
fall upon their knees to the Great Spirit,
and look up"
In various parts Of England bees are
popnlarly said to expresses their veneration
for the advent by Singing as il ia called
in their hives at midnight upon Christ.
mas eve. Another popular tradition is
that in some parts OF England the watch
er may hear the sound OF subterranean
bells. Still another in mining districts
the workmen declare that at this "gra.
cious time" high mass is solemnly perfor.
med in that cavern which contains the
richest lode of ore that it is brilliantly
lighted up with candles, and that the ser
vices are chanted by unseen choristers.
These, to be sure, are but myths, bul
they 60 to prove how old, general, anC
deep-rooted is the sentiment Of the sacre(
and spiritual character of this halloweC
time. Even dumb animals are consciou!
Of its return; and were we to allow oul
imagination to take wing, we might say, i
degenerate man should forget the occasion
of the birth of the Son of God, even IRA
tional creatures would shame him,
Thankful should we be, however, tha
We have been well instructed by parents
Christian ministers, and the Holy Bibl,
in the prophecies concerning the world
Redeemer; in the circumstances of hi
birth, his Offices, and mediation; md le
us all again, with joyful hearts, unite ii
the. delightful chant:
"HArk the herald angels sing
Glory 10 the new born king,
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners recOnoiled" J."
May the coming Christmas be a happ
one. The only way to render it truly s.
is, by faith to appropriate to ourselves tn
merits of the gracious Being Of who's
advent the anniversary will soon be cec
, bratal