The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-12-25


sympathetic fun. Every habitation was
decIed with long festoons of ivy and lau-
rel, and holly and mistletoe; all commem-
Grating romantic and poetical belief
that at Christmas time spirits may flock
to the evergreen, and there nestle, un-
npped by frost, till the coming OF the
zephyrs of spring.
The boar's head, garnislod with ever
greens, and borne in on hugo platter TO
the strains of martial music, was one OF
the marks and symbols Of the bour; and
in the earlier years of the colonization OF
America, the same custom was observed
in this country. 1t is grand old season
when
ssThc bird of dawning singeih all night long
And then they say no spirits dare stir abroad;
The nights are wholesome; then no planets strike;
No fairy takes, nor witch hath powcrto charm,
So hdAom'd and so gracious is the time.I'
Hundreds of ballads were written and
chanted-a custom continued in Europe
to this day, when, at midnight on Christ
mas eve, the awaits" pass through the
quiet streets chanting lay of love in
honor of the newborn King.
In the United States the day Of Christ
mas has been generally observed as in
England. There was the same rejoicing
and merry-making, the same teasting and
fnn but now, with the exception of some
of the Southern States, Christmas has
given way to the day of the New Year.
Santa Claus is the great patron of
Christmas, the great source of joy to the
children and liz ht-hcarted, and surely our
gifts to those dear little ones, who are
happily too young to know our troubles,
are like mercy, and bless "him that gives
as well az him that takes"
At the present day in the "Old Coun.
try" the mistletoc, the wassail and the
Teasing are still retained This is a sea-
son when friendships arc renewed, and
the harsh act or hasty word is forgotten
and forgiven. 1t is Il time when, from far
and near, sons and daughters gather to-
gethcr at the old homestead in Il happy
Christmas circle, with mutual blessings
and mutual love their happiness only
allayed, perhaps, by the remembrance of
some poor prodigal. who was loudest in
the jest when Christmas came before, but
who now is absent, never, never TO re-
turn. Then vii. rise up the memory of
those who were lost too early and loved
too well. The eye of fancy will trace the
wel-known outlines of the vanished form,
smooth again the dimpled auburn hair,
and press the last sad kiss of rcmem-
brancc on those lips, once so eloquent but
now so cold and still in death. She, too.
who, with ready voice, brcathcd words Of
love that only deceived, and VOWS of
truth that were ever false, will rise from
the frcsidc, clasping her white hands in
anguish, and praying that word of for
giveness and trust, that is so hard and
bitter TO give. But, on this day, pardon,
mercy, for all, in the name of Christ and
Ills Cross
Let not all the signs of Christmas pass
with changing manners and ruined for
tunes We love the honest, unaffected
greeting, the glowing check. the hearty
voice that bids us Godspeed. New Years
dav can never drive old Christmas en-
tiroly from his throne The old king
his beard rimcd will, hoar frost, his checks
ruddy with good-chccr. his snowy head
crowned with misIetoe and ;hoIly-shall
once year receive the homage of our
Bonded knee.
The New Year will soon be upon us,
and in old English phrase, with full
heart and quivering voice. we wish our
friends, our enemies, and the whole world,
Gods crery blessing, a merry, merry Christ
mas and a happy Ne0 Year.
Property SECURING IrsELr-We have
heard of the witty reply Of a slave who
had stolen and eaten one of his masters
turkeys, when he was accused of the crime.