The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-01-01

"ln village. grange,
And borough town, the seuinlub liagon. horne
From house to house. elutes tile poor lnans heart,
Aud makes linn feel that life las still It's Joys
Tie aged and the Young man, woman. child
tnto in social ylee: evun stranger doga
Meeting with bllslling back. soon lay aside
" Their starlinG aspect, antl i'll apOrhre chase,
EXcursivc ecour. or wallow in the snow
Tile old English poet here gives in frS=lines n
very lively picture Of the New Years holiday as
observed in the oldan time. There always has
been more or less festivity connected with the
celebration Of the New Year, both with Jew and
Christian, Pagan and DIahommedan. The transit
ton from the old year TO the new is naturally
suggestive Of feelings both of sorrow and OF JOY.
All feel the sciemnity of the occasion; sorrow and
regret at the departing year, Joy and welcome to
the new, that carries in its bosom so much of hope
and happiness. OF all periods this is The most
usual as it is the most fitting, for looking inward
for sclf-cxamination for forming resolutions to do
BETTER for turning over new leaf for taking
fresh start, etc. An old writer has the following
aI'ropoS remarks
Every first of January that We arrive at san m-
aginary milestone on the turnpike track nt human
life; of once resting place for thought aud mcdl-
tation. and starting point for fresh cScrton IN
the performance of our journey. The man who
does not at least propose to lmse!t 10 De bcttcf
this year than lie was last. must be either very
6 cd or very bad indeed! And only to propose to
acknowledgment of our need to be 80, which IL the
first step toward amendment. But, i'll fact, To pro-
pose to oneself to do well. is i'll some sort to do
well, positively; for there is no such thing as a
stationary point in human cndcavors; hr VINO is
not worse to-day than he was yesterday, is better
and he who is not better, is worsc.
Merry-makings on New Years Eve and New
Years Day are of very ancient date in England.
Their proximity to Christmas doubtless gives tlem
somewhat of lulc coloring The head Of the
house assembled his family around 4 howl oil
spced ale, usually called lambs wool, from
which he drank their hcat.,s then passed it to the
rest that they might drink too, saving lFdss hdd
ito your healthy. Hence this came to be rccoS-
uized as the IJ'd:Saa bowl. The poorer class Of
people carried bowl adorned with ribbons round
the ncighborhood begging for something whcro-
with to obtain the means of filing it, that they
might euiov wassal rs we'll aA thcTcil. In thcl.
computations they had songs suitable to the occa-
sion; doggcrcl many OF !lcnl, but brimf,ll Of rus
tic innocence and good fellowship.
In Scotland the wassail bowl was held in sacred
reverence up to very recent period. Onthe ap-
proach of twelve o'clock, u hot pint was prepared
that is a kettle or lagnn of warm. spiced, and
swectened ale with an infusion of spirits. When
the clock had struck the kncll of the departed
wear, each member of the family drank OF this
mixture sA good hoal.h and happy New Year, and
many of them to all the rest, with general hand
shaking, and perhaps dance round the tablo.
with the addition of a song to the tune of Hey
fIfije tnjyp.