Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-12-25
LoCAL NJ MIw D.
ChristTnHs.

EhN OnrtsthmuS.
This day, De-. 25ti, has been observed
from an early period, as the birthday of our
Lord, by solemn religious ceremonies, and
by popular festivities Of the most joyful
kind. There are maay strange and quaint
superst ions of the ollen time, "when
you and | were boys" connected with the
day. 1t was thought during the night all
water for short time was turncl into
wine--that all animals and birds got on
their feet at midnight etc, all foolish no.
tions, but well meant alterations Of the
people. In our boyish dayf, in old Penn
sylvania, the neighbors used to collect to-
gether and with fife, drum, fiddle and fire
arms, go from house to house, and, after
shooting volley, were invited to partake
OF the hospitalities spread with a liberal
hand on such occasions, and, after singing a
song and dancing jig, would peacefully
depart.
This day is of Divine origin. Eighteen
centuries have recognized it rs n day OF re-
joicing and rendered it sacred by its OBJ
servance. Antiquity has left N holiday so
much esteemed as this-no gilt so highly
cherished by young and old-no event so
sublime as this, celebrated with reioicings
and good cheer
We may not know the exact date at
which this day assumed its present char
acter; but we do know that eighteen CEN
turies ago, a child was born, who
in after life wore upon his brow
the attributes of Divinity = whose
mission it was tolead the world, then CROP
ing in the moral darkness occasional by
the Fall, whea death came into the world
with all our woes" His wisdom was SUI
pernatural and sublme-His maxims tn Sc
of Reformer, greater than any that ever
preceded or succeeded Him, and His prin-
ciples have worked out their own solution
forced recognition from mankind, and
now form the natural foundation for all
civilization. AS mother Eve brought death
into the world, Jesus of Nazareth brought
life, aud the light that commenced so faint
ly in the manger, now shines brightly and
gloriously through eighteen hundred years
of history. "n.i..
Christmas brings with It sweet memories
and associations, that in the turmoil and
struggle OF life have almost faded from our
minds-but when we see the little ones ju-
bilant with their innocent pleasures, as free
from guile as they are from sin, the man
forgets the man, the woman the woman
and both become children again. Every
man has been a child, his heart once pure,
his soul once innocent. Every man has
found the world the very opposite to what
he dreamed it would be in his childhUod's
hours, but he goes on in his dreams, only
waking up some festive day like this. to
discover how far he has wandered from the
sunny path marked out in boy hoods fancy.
He then finds that lite is kept only by toll
and paiu-that the shadow of many sor-
rows mar the slender current of its joys. In
youth he was more fleet, and often escaped
pain, sorrow and toil-but as lie grew older
they overlook him and be learns how he
mas pTORTeSStus 'On Sli iethoS1 oouObhihS
of that old feeling of mental comfort re-
turns to him which he enjoyed in childhood
when into the magic circle of his early
Christmas stepped all rosy,
bright and beautiful as the fragment of
fairy dream. Then he thinks not of what
he is, or what he is to be, but only of what
he was--all his years blend into one; the
little vanity, the small ambition, heslender
hope, are forgotten, and in the presence of
the festal scene, the man becomes the child
again. ~ ,a ~..l''Hg.
The merry Christmas, heralded by CHM
Ing bells and welcomed by shouting child
rem, is with us again-Iet us all rejoice. 1t
Is the most momentcus day of childhood's
happy year, and to them II seems more es-
pecially devoted. But it is also an occasion
upon which children of matureryear may,
with propriety, rejoice. Forgetting the
vexations aud cares OF everyday life. the
strife and turmoil OF business-it is well to
indulge in the nober thoughts of the mind
md the better feelings of the heart with
which the day that lie was born is asso-
,iated. 2il4 a4 aj EH aass '.a
And now to our readers, one and al,
'Ye Local" of The STATESMAN wishes a
HAPPY CHRISTMAS. A3a.4 I'D . .