Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1869-12-22

o.
break forth in full jubilee on the morn
ing that brought peace and goodwill to
men. I do not know a grander effect of
music on the moral feelings, than to
hear the full choir and the peaIing organ
performing a Christmas anthem in =
cathedral, and filling every part of the
vast pile with triumphant harmony.
It is a beautiful arrangement, also,
derived from days of yore, that this fes-
tival of peace and love, has been made
the season for gathering together Of
family connections, and drawing closer
again those bands of kindred hearts,
which the cares and pleasure and sor-
rows of the world are continually oper-
ating to cast loose; of calling back
the children of a family, who have
launched forth in life, and wandered
widely asUnder, once more TO assemble
about the paternal hearth, that rallying
place of the affections, there to grow
young and loving again among the en-
dearIng mementos of childhood
There is something in the very sea-
son of the year that gives a charm to
the festivity of Christmas. At other
times we derive a great portion of our
pleasures from the mere beauties of ma
ture. Our feelings sally forth and dissi-
pate themselves over the sunny land
soape, and we 'live abroad and every
where The song of the bird, the muir
muir of the stream, the breathing frag-
rance of spring the soft vOIuptuOusnesso of
summer, the golden pomp of autumn;
earth with its mantle Of refreshing green,
and have with its deep delicious blue
aud it's cloudy magnificence all fill us
with mute but exquisite delights and we
revel in the luxury Of mere sensation.-
But in the depth of winter, when ma
ture lies despoiIed of every charm, and
wrapped i'm her shrOud of sheeted snow,
we turn for our qualifications to moral
sources. The dreariness and desOla-
ton of the landscape, the short gloomy
days and darksOme nights, while they
olroumsoribe our wanderings, shut in
our feelings also from rambling abroad,
and make us more keenly disposed for
the pleasure of the social circle. Our
thoughts are more concentrated; our
family sympathies more aroused. We
feel more sensibly the charm of each
others society, and are brought more
closely together by dependence on each
other for enjoyment. Heart calleth un-
to heart; and we draw our pleasures
from the deep wells of loving kindness,
which lie in the quiet reOesses of our
bOsOmsj and which, when resOrted to,
furnish forth the pure element Of domes-
tic felicity.
The pitchy gloom without makes the
heart dilate on entering the room filed
with the glow and warmth of the eve
ming fire. The ruddy blaze difuses an
artificial summer and sunshine through
the room, and lights up each cOun-
tenance in kindlier welcome.-
Where does the honest face of hospital
ity expand into a broader and more cor
dial smile-where is the shy glance of
love more sweetly eloquent-than by
the winter fireside and as the hollow
blast of wintry wind rushes through
the hall, claps the distant door, whistles
about the easement, and rumbles down
the chimney, what can be more CRATE
full than that feeling of sober and shell
tered security, with which we look
round upon the comfortable chamber
and the scene of domestic hilarity ?
The English, from the great prevail
ence of rural habit throughout every
class of society have always been fond
of those festivals and holidays which
agreeably interrupt thestillness Of coun-
try life; and they were, in former days,
particularly observant of the religious
and social rites of Christmas. It is in
spring to read even the dry details
which some antiquaries have given of
the quaint humOTs, the burlesque page
ants, the complete abandonment to
mirth and goOd-fellowship, with which
this festival was celebrated. 1t seemed.
to throw open every door, and unlock
every heart. It brought the peasant
and the peer together, and blended all
ranks in one warm generous flow of joy
and kindness. The old halls of castles
and manor-houses resOunded with the
harp and the Christmas carol, and their
ample boards groaned under the weight
of hospitality. Even the poorest cot
tage welcomed the festive season with
green decorations of bay and h0lly-the
cheerful fire glanced its rays through the
lattice, inviting the passengers to raise
the latch, and join the gossip knot hud-
bled round the HEARTH beguiling the
long evening with Legendary jokes and |
oft-told Christmas tales.
One of the least pleasing effects of
modern refinement is the havoc it has
made among the hearty old holiday Gus
toms. 1t has completely taken Off the
sharp touchings and spirited reliefs Of
these embellishments of life and has
worn down society into a more smooth |
and polished, but certainly a less char
acterlstic surface. Many of the games
and ceremonials of Christmas have en-
tirely disappeared and like the sherris
sack of old Falstaff, are become mat
ters of speculation and dispute among
They fourished intimes
full of spirit and lustihOod, when men
enjoyed life roughly, but heartily and
times wild and picturesque,
which have furnished poetry with its
richest materials, and the drama with
It's most attractive variety Of characters
and manners. The world has become
more worldly. There is more OF dissipa-
lion, and less of enjoyment. Pleasure
mas expanded into a broader, but a shall
over stream; and has forskcn many of
hose deep and quiet channels where it
lowed sweetly through the calm bosom
If domestic life. Society has acquired
more enlightened and elegant tone
lut it has lost many of its strong local
lecuiaritics, its home-bred feelings, its ,
lonest fireside delights. The tradition
.ry customs Of golden-heartcd antiquity,
Is feudal hospitalities, and Iordly was
ailings, have passed away with the bar {
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