Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1864-12-22

Wrapped iu gloom and darkness, chi
led with cold, disrobcd by the rud,
blast, nature would apear to be going
to destruction without hope of saliva
tion. But the lowest point has beef
reached the sun rises towards tb,
equinoctial circle, weekly. almost i'm
perceptibly at first. as 10 the strength
Of the infant. but growing daily
towards his glorious summer altitude
when all, even the unbelieving Thom
as. will recognize him as the Sun o
Righteousness who comes with heal
ing on his wings.
It is not however in its religion,
character that Christmas il most pop
ulsr. 1tcomes at the beginning o1
the really rigorous season, and like
the carnival preceding Lent, is seized
upon as by common consent as az
epoch in which all may brace them.
selves for the future gloom. In form
er times the day was celebrated in a
manner which would now be called
outrageous; now we have sobered
down to more natural enjoyment.
Christmas varies much in its ob.
servance in America from the Eu.
ropean plan" The day is there inaugu.
rated with the carol Of the midnight
minstrel and the ringing of bells. The
season too. possesses an especial sig.
nificance TO the gentry. who at this
time are called upon specially by the
tradesmen who have served them ob.
sequiously through the preceding
twelve months. The little bills crowd
in, and paterfamilias is often sorely
perplexed to know where the money
must come from, whether they shall
be honored and the record wiped out
to make room for the footings Of the
coming year. But the account is at
last squared q new beginning is
made, and the family is once more free
for another year.
With rs the day is marked especial
ly by presentations. in which the liz.
tie ones rule supreme. The Christ.
mas tree Of the ushcring evening. la
den with toys and things good for the
palate, has exhausted its attractions
Cor the children. and they have gone
to bed to dream Of Santa CLAUS. Wis
ions of tho Old man fit acrnss the;-
brains while they sleep in fitful slum-
Der, ever and anon waking to catch a
glimpse Of the Christmas porter who
will gil their stockings with bon bons
and more enduring treasures. What
q glorious old legend is that Of the
saint who, reposing in his mountain
fastnesses during the other portion Of
thc yCut oeta ouI ou utS u0VCtS Otb
Christmas Eve, knowing that on that
night he will be unmolested by the
spirits which stalk at all other mid
nights in the annual cycle. 1t is q
genuine relic Of the North. whose ira.
ditions are Of peace and good will
And how difficult is it to dispossess
the children Of the idea that Santa
Claus really does come. Long after
other childish notions have been dissi-
pated by the light of strengthened
reason. they still cling to this, and
each receding year finds the memory
fondly turning back on the times pas.
sed by, and half doubtiDgly. half hop
ingly. he thinks Of the time coming
and wonders If the charm will ever be
broken. Tis pity that it ever
should be the rude realities of life
come upon us all too soon the dream
Of childhood is broken only to give
place to the truths of mature years
Who, as he listens to the breathing oI
the little ones. half suppressed, lest
Santa Claus should think them awake
and pass them by, does not wish sadly
for recurrence Of the happy days oI
childhood. and sigh for the time when
he would have accepted a. . reality
the story I!