The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-24

AN ANTICIPATED MERRY CHRISTMAS DAY
comes TO morrow, and though we have no snow
10 make II seem more merry by the jIngllng OF
bells. or a storm OF flakes through which IL is
represented that the good, little, loving Santa
nevertheless be a merry Christmas: ana so we
wish i'll For the past Two or three days every
thing within churches and chapels has been
clothed in beautiful evergreen, while many
father, preparing for this alsimpOrtant eve, has
tree To-day is the great day for purchasing:
How the confectioners Will put up the big and
little boxes of candies, and how the toy.man
frets because he thinks his great stock will run
short of the demand, and how the faces of the
Jewellel s:glisten with Joy as their wares do In
brilliancy, viii smaller merchants in their
way, from the foreign youth who stands on the
Custom House steps, swinging around his
ofa legion Of beasts, to theliJtle old woman who
has sat behind the same little, old riokety
years, selling apples and partially decayed
ground -nuis-all rejoice at the e. brisk trade"
and keep wishing Merry Christmas" to all
who are kind enough TO think OF them and
their little ones. Then what ex pectation has
been swelling up in the little hearts that have
three months about what the good Santa Claus
would bring them-and who will roll aoout
their beds restlessly to-night--thinking it the
dreariest and longest one they ever knew-and
who will be up betimes-scamp pering towards
thelr stockings, even before 1aLher or mother
are awake-or before the first faint glim mering
Iay OF daylight has come. 1t is a dreary heart,
indeed, that has not some pleasure in the APP
proach OF this momentOus day, when the
old dying year, with only few more short
breaths TO draw, wills over to those who have
travelled with IL mementoCs of Its life. And
none Will forget the famtliar-and almost an
cient rbyme-by Clement o. Moore, that runs
as fOllows:-
Twas the night before Christmas when all thro' the
Not a creature was stirring not even mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes thatst Nicho as soon woult be there;
While visions OF sugar-plums danced through their
And mamma in her 'kerchiet ard In my cap,
, , ad settled our brains ior ~ long winters nap,
sprang from my bed to see what was the matter
Away TO the window flew like flash.
The moon on the breast Of the new-faien snow
When what to my M wondslUg ey sSoTIG appear,
But miniature eigh, and eight TOY reindeer,
e IL mo %ft n1s 81 TSy st. snS S5S SRS'k
And he whistled and shouted. and called them by
Now Dasherl now. DapoorI now. Prancer now.
On. Cometl on Cupid on, Donder and Blixeni
TO the top of the porch to the top Of the wall
Now, dash away, dash aU ay. dash away allP'
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky
SO Up to the hQuse.top @ set the cour,eTs s. they few,
And then. in a " inklng. heard on the roof
AS drew 10 my head. aud was turning around.
Down the chimney st Nicholas came with bound,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and
bundle Of toys he had flung on his back.
And he looked IKE pedder jGs' op. ming his pack;
his CneekS were ike roses, MS nose Ike cherry
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard on his chin white he snow
P his
lie had broad face, aud "A little round belly.
That hook, when he laughed, like bowl full OF Jelly
He was chuoby snd plump; right jolly old eli;
Al laughed, when saw him In spite of myself
a wink of his eye. and q twist of his heal
Soon gave me TO know had nothing to dread.
He spoke not word. but went straight his work.
nd filled all the sock ngs-then turued with jerk
And laying his finger aside of mis- nose,
And giving nod, up the chimney he rose.
He sprRng to his sleish. TO his team gave whistle,
And away they all few. like the down off thistle.
Bnt heard him exclaim, ere he drove cut of sight
"HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD
NIGHTp
Several OF our benevolent institutions will
give Christmas dinners to their inmates At
the Bedford Mission, there will be great din
ner given to the poor little children, who have
hardly yet learned what q true Christmas is
This mission. under the charge of Rev. j, ID:
Long, has taken an important stand In that
vicinity, and has become the only shining
light in that wilderness of sin. We hope that
there will be no lack OF good things for the
little ones
At many of the Catholic churches Christmas
Mass will be sung tomorrow morning at i've
o'clock.