Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-12-19

Christmas.
We are getting GEAR Christmas. q day which
we are glad to notice is growing more and
more into favor as holiday. We donbt very
! much the wisdom Of Congress in making
Christmas an excuse for a vacation of thirteen
days, as they have voted to do, but We hearth
ly approve the growing practice in New Eng
land OF setting apart this day for recreation,
amusement, and innocent gayety and pleas
ure. The men OF business and work have lit
tie time enough to escape from the cares and
perplexities of their daily toll, and they should
avail themselves of every good excuse for
shutting up their shops, and with their fami-
lies and neighbors forget the distinctions be-
tween childhood and age, and for u day turn
the currents Of their lives into pleasant chan
nels, lighted by glad sunshine, ripping with
laughter, and bordered with the sweetest and
iairest q overs of happiness.
We have other festivals, but hardly one
other which we can know that al christian
nations join Us IN celebrating. And on this
day We may, therefore, more than::on any 9th
er, con- ratuiate ourselves that we are citizens
u - 49, fAN'NNS
IN whose hope the world has lived for eighteen
hundred years and that, IL this cosmopolitan
and Christian commonwealth, We have q COM
mon brotherhood and a common Fatherhood.
The Advent which makes Christmas memora-
bic and blessed, broke down the barriers be-
tween youth and age, between rich and poor,
between high and low, between bond and tree,
o-l -~alo ~ .,a,-I Il ~, .., l.n1, ,,An
as free as the air and The sunlight. II IS a
day therefore, in which humanity may cxuit,
as the anniversary OF its emancipation aud re-
demption-
By common consent the worid has made
Christmas the children's delight. The legend
Of Santa Claus finds believers in millions Of
little hearts beating N ecstasy OF rapture over
stockings filled with the gifts OF love, and
knowing in that morning of life t. happiness
which no later pleasure gives. The flame OF
love seems to burn with d brighter glow, and
to dlfflss through the home i warmer and
Hofter light as though the 5 ar which led the
way to Bethlehem had kindlcd L sacred fire
of affection on household he.rths, never to die
8 out through all the ages.
4 luS poetry "a IIIiStnlde IS ne eHSGNI5C
and most tender in our language, the poetry
of the triumph of love, and runs like 4 thread
of gold through all the web Of our literature.
4 Here Is o simple childish hymn
8 Ills Christmas day glad voices
Repeat the pleasant sound,
And happy faces In our home
And loving looks abound.
Why DO we greet TIM Chiis.ma morn
1t Is the day mat Christ was bora.
i With little gifts that tel our loee,
), With gaIiands on the wal,
: With thankful hearts and helpful hands,
We keep u festival.
Why do we thus keep Chris mas morn?
1t Is the day that Chr st Was born.
And on this Christmas IN JrLing.
When the irost IS at the door,
Dear child, III your warm, pleasant hons,
Think OF the sick and poor
{ So shall you well keep Carls.nas morn,
IS The day our Saviour, Caris:, was born.
Charles Mackay sung Of Christmas IN these
verses
= Ye who nave Owed each other,
Sister, and friend, ard brother,
In tEis fast fading year,
Mother ami sire and child.
Young man AMI IN ll4en maid,
Come gather here
And let your hearts grow lender.
! As meInorv shall ponder
: Eaca past unbru zen vow
Old loves and y-up-oT wJOlug
Are sweet ID the rerl,wlok
= Under the holly boug-.
Ye who have nourisb5l sidn-ss.
E-trAuged from hope ana gladness,
la this fast fading year
:. Ye with o'erburd7ncd mind,
Made aliens from your k!nd,
Come gather here
s Let not the useless sorrow
lie Pursue you night and morrow
If e'er you hoped, hope now
Take heart, uncloud your faces,
n And Join in our embraces
Under the holly bongh.
And here arc three verses Of = splendiC
IT Christmas lynn, oy Alfred DJrmcts
Twas in the calm and silent night!
The senator Of naughty Rome
es inpatient urged his charIot's hlght,
From lordly revel rolling home:
Triump plant arches, cleaning, swell
a HIS breast with thoughts OF bounIless sway
i'll w hat rocked the Roman VIVA b,fell
e A paltry province far away,
re In the solemn midnight
81 Centuries ego?
WitAin that provin e fsr away
Went ~plodding home d weary boor;
= A streak Of lighl before BIN lay
" Fallen through a half-st Ut stable door
Across his path. lie paused, for nOu 5ht
o. Told what was eoing on within
he How keen the stars, his only thought,
=. The air how cold, and calm, and thin,
- Ia the solemn midpight
Dg Centuries ago.
o strange Indifference ! Low and high
Drowsed over common joys and cares;
The earth was still, but knew not Why.
=" The world was listening, undwares.
on How calm a moment may precede
pit One that shall thrill the world forever
IN. To that still moment. none WOIld heed,
> Mans doom was linked, no mere to sever
In the solemn midnight
hg Centuries ago!
US George Herbert quantity tunes his hafp
cl- this devotional song
IRE The shepherds sing and shall l silent be?
nd My God, no hymUe for thee?
ks My soul S q shepherd too a flock it leeds.
Of thoughts and words and deeds
The pasture Is thy word, The streams thy srac
Enriching all the place;
a, Shepherd and flock shall sing. land eli my powel
o Out-sing the daylight houres-
-, But we must make all end OF quotation
and this article together; and we hope on
- readers will all make a merry and joyor