The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-01-09
tCoMMUNICATED.l
Christmas Day.

The morning of the above day was til,
merr:cst we have seen in Washington
Scarcely had Aurora with sher rosy fingers
folded the draperies of night, when we
were reused from our slumbers by the com.
mingled sounds of Christmas fireworks and
tbs happy voices Of Young America, who
were up a1d in the streets joyously Lalllng
the approaching morn. Finding all OUT
wooiny sleep ayain to our eye lids of no
avail, we got up, and, our toilet finished,
walk, d out just in time to accompany a
crowd going to launch forth on a sea OF
Nogg. Here We renamed enjoying u
selves exceedingly until our Reason, find
ing her little bark had sprung too large a
leak, and, consequently, herself in danger
of drowning, urged US to hasten back to
shore (home(, where, upon our arriving,
we were hauled up and placed upon a
downy bed of ease for repairs. OF what
passed from this time until quite late in
the evening, we were not conscious, but
are assured that the day wasa bright, buoy
ant and joyous one, a condition much hap
oier than that of the Christmas day of last
year. Then, indeed, we were %pecuniarily
impoverished in consequence of the destruc.
ton by the caterpillars of the cotton crops
of that and the preceding year, and Wash
ington was robed in mourning by the Vel
low fever from which she was but slowly
convalescing. Then were in our midst
hordes Of low, unprjncipled carpct-baggerS
instructing the colored people in social,
moral and political corruption, and sowing
their hearts with the seeds Of hatred for the
''Southern rebels" the bitter fruit of which
many of the poor radically duped freedmen
themselves have since been made to taste.
Then, in short, both our town and country
were darkened and chilled by clouds Of
gloom and dependency but, thanks be to
Him who has this year %graciously permit
ted them to reap and enjoy the full fruits OF
their labor and enterprise, they are now
basking in the sunshine of better times,
and the colored people, having entirely re-
covered from the demoralIzing Influence of
their Radical teachers, who have been fore
ed to wing their flight in fear and trembling
to a more c~ousenial cline, and having not
only realized the necessity of working con-
stantly and honestly for 4 living, but Of
cultiyating the friendship and estcem Of
those upon whom they arc necessarily de-
pendent for their labor and support, and Of
politically identifying themselves hereafter
with them, ale now doing well, are conten-
ted and happy, and on such terms of amity
with their employers as will always secure
for them constant and ~remunerative en-
ployment. Woe be unto the carpet-basger
hereafter caught in the Parish Of St. Lam
dry disturbing this happy relation Of masto,
and servant, q relation SO necessary to and
productive Of their their mutual benefits,
and highly conducive to the prosperity and
happiness ofthe latter.
In conclusion, the disappearance of Hard
Times has frightened and eniiyencd things
generally, even has sent within the lat two
an innumerable number of cases
from CupiIs to llymen's. Court for final
adjudication, and so just, honorable and
Scriptural the claims, they were adjudgcd
at once to their respective claimants, who
are now gently sailing by the mellow light
of the Honeymoon on the yet pacific bosom
of the ocean Of matrimony. May their lit
tie banks never be tossed by the angry bill
into which tat ocean is not unfre-
dashed by the stormy winds 0; pas
POL.
Washington, La, Dec 26, 1868.