The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-12-25
which it tbs epds pf-visdosp to pro;


aud Millions Eve. pho suggesJed Aose
thq9gLs to her hasbsnds would have
thought SO too, il We are to believe the
poets account of her generosity OF soul.
Our English ancestors always considered
Christmas in the double light of holy
ommemoration and q. cheerful festival,
and accordingly distinguished its OBJ.
servance by abstaining from business,
BY merriment and hospitality As Sir
Walter Scott sings:
England was merry England when
Old Christmas brought his sports again.
Twas Christmas broach'd the mighticst ale:
Twas Christmes told the merriest tale;
Christmas gambol Oft would cheer
poor mans heort through many year"
Even if we do not choose to regard
the day rs religious holiday, we should
not fail TO observe it as festival of the
heart, where kindly charities. social
amenities and family reunions may ut
least cast sunshine into the shadier
places of life's weary pilgrimage. The
sweet angel song OF "Peace, good will
to mon, that ushered in the advent of
'the Prince of Peace" should not be
meaningless to US. Let us on this festive
season, bend our ears more keenly to
catch the glad refrain of the angels
song, 80 that the celestial harmony may
sink deep into our hearts, and produce
there the same softening influences that
fell upon those who we're keeping watch
by night, when they first heard the
angelic signal upon the irradiated hill
sides of Bethlehem. Let us hope that
oil our readers will remember that Christ
mas means forgiveness of enemies; the
lifting up and encouragement of those
who are bowed down; the ministrations
of mercy to those who are in need; the
deepening and re- establishment of friend
ship and affections, and the remembrance
that He whose birth is celebrated re-
quires pureness of life and correctness of
conduct. as we'll as faith in His mis-.
sion aud an adherence to religious SER
vices. Let this be day when bad
habits shall be abandoned and good
habits entered upon, that the Chris: may
be to us salvation in deed as we'll ms in
name. Let each of us contribute, by
word and by deed, something, be it little
or much, toward bcttering the condition
of those around and among us; and it
will be to all-whnt we wish it may be,
dear reader. to you and yours-a happy
Christmas. The following is the legend
of Santa Claus:
Do You know where SANTA CLAUS was
born?
The merry imp who this morning made
The roof-tree ring with his winding horn,
When the winking bat had sought the
shade;
The screech-owl laughed rs he gallopcd
past,
And the moon hid low in the Western
sky,
And night-hawk scurried homeward fast
When he checred his steeds with q sound.
ing blast:
"Tirra la! tirra la! 1 am going by"
Well, gather around the blazing hearth,
Harry and Daisy, and Frank and May,
All who are fond of frolic and mirth,
All who think that on this sad earth
There's 40 thing so good as an hours
play;
And. while the Yule-log sparkles bright,
Stay for moment your noisy glec,
And hefore your eye-lids droop tonight.
I'll tell you the tale as twas told to me-
a withered old woman from Norway land,
With cunning eye and wicked laugh,
And II wizened face, and skinny hand,
In which she grasped a crooked yew-
staff,
Aud n sack cn her back and IL cat hy her
side,
Told me the story one stormy day,
And when she had done, she got astride
Of her stick, though the door was opened
wide,
And up the chimney she flew away.
Once on a time. so the old crone snid,
When the Gnomes and the Elves, q
merry band,
Held open court by the fountain head
Of the river that flows through Fairy
land,
The King OF the Gnomes, on Christmas
Eve,
Babe all his guests to the Diamond