Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1866-12-22
CALAvERAS CHRONICLE.
MoKELUMNE II
Christmas.

Merry CnrlStmdS. WntI PHEASANT IecOl-
lections of the day throng around the memo
ry as one glances back through the dim vistas
Of the past to the halcyon days of childhood.
What pleasing pictures arise as the scenes Of
youth are mirrored upon our memory SO viv-
idly that we almost imagine that life has been
but troubled dream from which we are awak
ing into childhood. Again, as in those happy
days which have passed never more to return,
we are sheltered beneath the paternal roof.
The family group. yet unbroken, is gathered
around the fireside. A kind father, a gentle,
tiers, most of whom have long since gone
to their final reward, have again met within
the "halls of home" Peace, happiness and
contentment reign supreme within the limits
of the little family circle. 1t is Christmas
Eve. With their heads filled with visions of
old Santa Claus and his sleigh laden with
presents, drawn by prancing reindeer, the
children "hang up their stockings" and re-
tire to rest with the brightest anticipations
for the morrow. With the earliest dawn
they are up, and with anxious countenances,
and fairly on tip-toe with expectation, they
proceed to inspect the numerous gifts with
which the liberal St. Nicholas has favored
them during the night. Their joyous laugh
ter and expressions of gratitude to the mu-
nifcent donor, as they find the things which
they had so long and srdently coveted, well
repays the parents for their trouble and cx-
penditure. But 1t is not only by the little
ones that Christmas is looked forward to
with hope and expectation. The old as well
as the young; the rich and poor; the high and
low; proud and humble, all look forward
with joyful anticipations to the festivities
which Christmas brings. Parents expect to
receive proofs of the continued affection and
regard of their sons and daughters Old peo-
pie hope to gain renewed assurances that they
are not entirely forgotten by those who are
in duty bound to love and respect them
Young folks, especially those of the gentler
sex, await the coming Of Christmas with pal
pitating hearts and the most painful solicit
tude. Not only do they confidently expect
to be the recipients of tokens of regard, in
the shape of nice presents from those in whose
bosoms they have kindled the flame of love,
but they are well aware that the merry-mak-
ings and socialities of the holidays are very
apt to bring matrimonial matters to crisis.
Many stupid young fellow who never could
summon courage sufficient to "pop the ques-
tion," though they would give worlds were
they able to do SO, will have pair of shy,
loving, questioning eyes turned beseechingly
upon them during the holiday week, and the
numskulls deserve to be kicked if they do
not take the hint. The day is productive of
much good in more ways than one. People
seem to cast off the mantle of selfshness in
which they are won't to enshroud themselves
and for the time being pay some regard to
the wishes and feelings of Others Enemies
become reconciled to one another. The cares
and troubles of everyday life are all forgot
ten in the happiness and good will which the
observance of the time-honored customs of
the Gay produces. 1t forms one of the bright
spots in the troublesome lives usually the
portion of the inhabitants of this mundane
sphere-one to which person always reverts
with pleasure, sighs for when past and ca
gerly awaits its return. Thank God for
Christmas. May it be, in the highest sense
OF the word, merry one to our readers.
THE rain during the week has been as cease
less as the flight of souls into eternity. We
cannot speak from actual observation in re-
gard to the shower which is popularity sup
posed to have strangled so many of our wick
ed ancestors, but if it should continue raining
for forty days and nights as hard as it does
now, (rhursday evening,) we do not believe
an ark would ever touch bottom. 1t has
only been raining about week. as vet, but
We should awfully hate to attempt to probe
the mud IN the streets, even now. To make
matters worse, our usually quiet atmosphere
has been acting very obstrepulously and ap-
peared to be in hurry to go somewhere. In
fact the wind has blown furiously. Our cit
izens have had to hang on. to the roofs of
their houses to prevent them from taking
French leave. Several reckless gentlemen
who attempted to walk from Lamphear's to
Leger's, during the hurricane, had their coat
tails literally snapped into threads as for a
lady's venturing out, unless her crinoline was
well fastened down. it would have bothered
her to tell whether she was standing on her
heels OF head. We are informed by Mr.. Prin-
die. Superintendent of the Canal Co. s works,
that number of acqueducts on the line of
the hnme have been carried away by the tor
nado, and that it will require considerable
time to repair the damages sustained. We
also understand that portion of the huine
belonging to Mr.. Kadisch, at Sandy Gulch
has been blown down. The memory of the
" oldest inhabitant" extends not back to the
time when this section of the country was
visited by so severe storm as this has been.
To cap the climax, on Thursday night we
were treated to a fine display of beautiful
and had the pleasure of listening
to a few claps of good. old-fashioned thun-
der. The river is reported to be nearly as
high as it was in 1862. Sacramentans, keep
your eyes skinned.
MAKE up your mind to attend the Christ
mas ball at Campo Seco on Monday evening
next. Church s Jones are going to furnish
the music, the supper will be excellent, and
if you go you can't help having good time.
There are some of the best dancers, in the