The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1869-12-25
: Merry Christmas.
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AS It comes into the group, around the
genial Theafth, we feel assured that our
paper is hot deemed an intruder. 1t is
withia deep feeling of gratitude and
happiness, That, we realize that we are
now understood, and that our paper is no
unwelcoGe visitor at the hundreds of
happy, homes, where it comes each week.
Besides the interestiin tho welfare of
the County, which the ORANaEBuRa
News a6as ever felt, and which it has
ever conscientiously endeavored to pro
mote; besides the pride this paper has ever
felt in noticing and recording the sd-
vancepiR6t and Successes of our asricul-
ture and our general interests, besides
this general bond of union, which con-
meets ips)so closely with all our readers,
we have ever, in the discharge of our
routlee OF business, aimed at something
higher than this. Rejoicing with each
hearth'and each heart in their joy at
their success in the battle of duty, and
in the bright phases and incidents that
make home and life happy; and touched
ever with a'kindred feeling of sadness,
as it visits some homesteads upon whose
hearthstono shadow rests, your paper
haspaimed at aud claims basis, foot
ing Of sympathy with its readers and its
patrons.
Claiming then this footing, as we visit
your homes today, upon this occasion,
memorial of gludness and festivity, we
would bid you "Bc happy" and would
rejoice with you in the merry spirit OF
the season.
We love to think of the bright scenes
our paper will visit to-day, the halls
dressed with the cedar and Christmas
berry it will entcr; the bright, genial,
ruddy light of fires at which it will be
read; the happy faces tha. will bend
overit, the fair hands that will open and
hold it.
oh that the inanimate print had
voice that it could assure you Of glad
sympathy in your happiness That it
had ashouth that it might bid you
"Merry Christmas" aud that it might
kiss those winsome maidens That the
paper might be animated with the merry
spirit of the scene, aud assuming the
grotesqne mirrhf1l eountenance and
weird figure of Santa Claus, might go
around aud chat with the happy group!
Yes! chat with the old gentleman in the
corner there, who looks SO happy with
the old lady opposite, in whose face the
bright glow of the fire, aud the happi-
ness OF the scene are alike reflected
with those strong, brave men of whose
victory over the difficulties of life, this
peaceful scene is SO bright trophy and
celebration; with those young men
whom We would tell not to be bashiul
but come with us to this group of pretty
ones; with those bright girls in the
loveliness OF their young womanhood,
how beautiful, in the romance of their
young lives, how happy; and with those
little ones, the little boys and girls.
Each and all of you, whether crowned
with the silver hairs which we reverence
-beaming upon this page with those
bright eyes which we love, be happy.
Never does the light of home beam SO
radiantly as at Christmas; never its in
fuence so holy aud hallowing. Reader,
at your home, to-day, realize it ! Amid
its memories at the lapse Of time or dis
tance, its Christmas groups are the most
vivid--the brightest.
"My home! the spirit of its love is breath
ing
In every wind that plays across my track"
To your home, reader, to-day its car
nival, we come as friend, in sympathy
with your gladness.
We know that our readers will in
dulge us in the small size of the paper
this week. 1t is in order to permit the
printer, poor devil, editor and all con-
nected with the News to have Christ
mas.
We take this occasion in behalf of the
devil, to thank our subscribers for their
liberal treatment of US, which mas en-
abled him to get his fifty cents Happy
devil he is making extensive prepare.
tions for spending his money and his
"Clnistmas."