Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-12-20

oOn Christmas Eve the bells were rung;
On Christmas Eve the mass was sung;
That only night in all the year
Saw the stoed priest the chalice rear.
The dansel donned her kirtle sheen;
The hall was dressed with holy green;
Forth to the wood did merry men 20,
To gather In the mistletoe.
Then opened wide the barons hall
To yasssl, tenant, serf, and all;
s. Power laid his rod Of rule aside,
And Ceremony dofed his pride.
= The heir, with roses in his shoes,
That night might village partner choose.
The lord, urderogating, share
The vulgar game Of post and pair
All hailed, with uncontrolled delight,
And general voice, the happy night,
That to the cottage, as the crown,
BrouEh tidings Of salvation down."
The Christmas tree is supposed to have
originated in Germany, but it is incorpo.
rated with the celebration Of Christmas in
England aud the United States. In Eng
land, il naturally comes from German
stock. for its princes are imported-why
not some Of their customs? In America,
especially in New York and Pennsylvania,
the Germans have dotted the land with
their happy homes, and have brought
their Santa Claus, their Krishkmkie-a
corruption Of Christ kiadiein, or the In
fant Christ-theIr Christmas tree, and
with the German aud English and the
Roman ceremonies, customs, and ideas,
the result is day Of days with central
idea, but with many convcrging associa-
tions widespread, rendering the day rich
in composite symbols centralized upon the
one great thought, Messiah-God with us
Hanging up the stocking. for Santa
Claus to fill with good things for the good
and rods for the bad, is Of German origin;
and when the doors of the paror are
opened and the bright eyes aud palpita-
ting hearts of the little ones come in TO
see what the Christmas tree bears for
them, who can estimate the joy that belts
the Christian world on this great anniver-
sary Of the year.
Many Of the grotesque ceremonies OF
ancient time have been laid aside, but all
that was sweet and rich has been cherish.
ed and ripened, bringing light to the dark
corners Of the world, aud awaking JOY in
thousands OF hearts whose sorrows had
else made them feel estranged from men
and forgotten Of God. AS in old pagan
times, when Christianity was in its inian-
cy, Christmas had its abuses, so at present
1t is, with many, the occasion Of diSsipa-
ton aud evil We have sometimes been
amazed that men who are celebrating
Christmas with such hilariiy and zeal,
should so far forget the commands of the
Saviour whose birth they celebrate, as to
violate all the precepts OF the religion he
came to establish, by drunkenness, wrang-
ling, and other excesses Let us hope
that all our readers will remember that
Christmas means forgiveness Of enemies;
the lifting up and encouragement Of those
who arc bowed down; the ministrations oi
mercy to those who are in need; the deep.
ening and re-establishment Of friendships
and affections, and the remembrance that
He whose birth is celebrated requires
pureness Of life and correctness Of conduct
as we'll as faith in his mission, and an ad-
herence TO religious services. Let this be
day when bad habits shall be abandon.
ed, aud good habits entered upon. that
the Christ may be to US salvation indeed
US we'll as 10 name. Lot each OF US con,
tribute, by word aud by decd, son,ethi"g