Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-12-24

e1-S sS.H's ~ man. SN!'y+s1 ea'
Through the whole length and breadth OF
the lard, rejoicings are exubsran. because
Of the recurrence Of this blessed day-the
eomnemora,ion Of shich recalls the birth
OF Saviour to redeem fallen man.
Many. many are the throbbing little
hearts fond.y expecting the morrow. when
their hopes shah be crowned With the de-
lights Of reslization-~ hen presents from
loving parents and kind friends shall make
them happy. And what could be more
pleasing than to see children hsppvs Ihs
sight ever recalls TO memory scenes Of BY
gone days. Who cannot look back upon
the time when Christmas was. OF all days,
the most wished-for-the one brightest with
anticipationsr How gladly some Of us used
70 pull off our stockings, on Christmas eve.
to hang them up in the chimney -correr,
where Santa CLAUS duly came round and
filed them with nice things while We were
asleepl The lively patter Of plump little
feet in tho morning, and the ringing pesls
Of laughter ard shouts Of JOY following.
always betokened that the good time had
come-thst Santa Claus bad been most pro
fuse in his goodness, ard had filled the
stockings 10 their utmost clpscisy with
things that were so handsome, SO desirable,
SO appropriate, and besides so delightful to
bsholdi Then the little hearts were full
even up with the stockings and for days
afterwards nothing could be talked of or
dreamed Of but the lovely toys and the dear
presents left b. Kris f.ngle in his sooty
fight up and down chmneys and over
house-.ops.
But times change. As We grow older
our thoughts naturally wander into the
dark future, leaving !or those to follow the
merry hopes Of christlnas-the delusions
Of q good old-timc custom. Our love Of the
day is perhaps not changed II comes round
With emotions none the less plsasurabc;
but with the rising of intellect rose the
mist. Of mystery. and we have learned to
gszs on solid fActs, even though sometmei
in their hideous nakedness. The dreams
Of childish fancy have vanished, to give
place to less i.lusory scenes. The grapple
with the world brings its joys and its sor
rows, and - to evesy rose there is thorn
yea, several thorns SO to every Joy, to
every pleasure. there attach dark, dreary
sosrowful spots, which can only be dispelled
BY the love Of Him who Seigns supreme
and the Hope that ever buoys US up on ou'
journey through life to Eternity.
Whist could be more cheerful, more graft
flying than the sight Of the family circle or
q Christmas evening? How complacently
the fond parents look upon the scene. Th'
father, resting in an easy chair and dandins
his last born, ieels that be has just cause t.
be thankful for the full measure OF content
mens me.ed out to him. TIE mother
quietly gazing on those around her ant
volunteerin. occasional kind words Of ad
vice, experiences that abundance of Low,
snd sympathy which only mother Cal
feel. Tie children, happy and taikativc-
perhaps = trhe noisy -exult over th
events Of the day recount the various ex
perienees on this or tha. thing; hand
over and over the curious toys or charmin
presents received, bestowing wistful glance
on them all and, at last, while struggling
hard 10 repei the steady advances Of Sleel
| by zealously stretching dropping eye-lids
or rubbing sandy eyes, wonder Why it i
that Christmas only comes once year
1 But listen! What was that trembling
knock at the door! Just sec
SONY little barsfoo,ed girl begging :
Oh, the heart drops Ike piece of lead q
the thought
Good reader, we v sh you . merry Christ
mas May your cup Of Joy be full ma.
your fondest hopes be realized. Be happ,
and make happy those around you. An
while doing this, while filing hearts wit
happiness and pleasure, do not forget ID
poor. Look around you, and see If in you
der hoyel a kind word from your lips or
.riilng gift from your hand may not prov
God send, ana bring upon you blessing
unnumberei Ex:eni yoar charity. you
goodness 10 ali, ever remembering that
The driving nr Of single sear has more
| o. homes; fame, than shed ting seas Of gore.
Again. we wish you. one and ell, a merry
marry Christmas
NARROW ESCAPE FROM DROWNING la
namsd James McDarrsgh, son of Mr. Henr
McDarregh, wa.caman On the ferry boa
had a very narrow escape from drownin
to- LAY noon. With a number OF boys b
WAS skating on the ice at the foot Of Roc
Island street. All Of sudden he diss,
peared into an sii-hole-the very same on