Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-01-01

ieel--
'-1he air,
II /, breathing from ra rer world;
And the south wind Is ike gentle friend
PAiting the hair 20 softly on lny D,OW.
" ha, come over gard ms, qnd tue flowers
That kissed it are betrayed; or 10 It paris
" ith It's Invisible hugers my lnOse hAlr
kndW-it has been tridhg with the roe,
Aud stopping to the violet There Joy
For all DOd's creatures In 1t +"
The forests have been stripped OF
branches, and homes, churches and
halls are made bright and beautiful
Uy their decorations.
1t may not be unintere,ting to
show the cause OF these decora'
tions.
History informs us that, on one
occasion, the coming Of Christ was
heralded by the strewiug of flow
.ers aud palIn.branOhes, ip He waY,
by men, women, and children, a
universal homage TO His greatness.
The hanging up of the lnisIotoC
came down to us from the Druids
with them it was not an instructive
evidence OF reverence TO Umnipo-
tener, but a conCiliation to their
gods with the Jews, the custom
became n mark Of the dcYout in
their ceremonies, bearing rather
upon their love than fear in religion
changing also as it came down TO
us in choice OF plant, holly, bay,
rosemary and laurel being. singled
out from the inappropriate ivy that
belonged TO the pomps aud vanilies
of BacChus, that has been desc
Grated in maudlin ieasts, and from
the solemn cypress, emblematical
OF death rather than life. ln our
day we have chosen the changeless
cedar as suggestive OF that living
Presence that withstood aud endur-
cd the storms Of temptation, rear
ing our erring humanity to noble
ents Frightening the desolate'pla-
ces, and crowniug with verdure the
gloomy, rocky heights. az well as
DER Shcltering' the simple wild
flowers in our valleys.
This day how many, old and
young, are joyous over visitlugs,
presents and feastings. Thank
God, for the many households that
are gladdened by the recurring fes-
tivities of this day!
But let US think Of those whose
lot ia to-day, as on all days, one ol
wretchedness and degradation.
Christmas brings no joyousness to
them, no presents, no reunion Of
friends; only deeper and darker
misery as cOutrastcd with blessings
and joys around them, Ahl sad
heart, Why this is so God knows
and has His good purpose in 1t, Per.
chance thy Joy is not of this world
but in another and fairer one, where
thou wilt partake OF the immortal
lows of Paradise.
Dear children, who are blest
with kind parents and friends, and
who are now laughing over the
merry things of Christmas, will
gou not cast thought upon those
of your own age. who are parent
less and frieudIcss, and breathe o
child's prayer for item!
Aud eau we, elder ones, pas,
this day without giving a thought
to those whose feast today Is with
angels! Can we forget that onct
their forms and faces and merry
laughter were present with us and
or glee was shared by theml
Some of them passed away from
the midst of the domestic circle
some far away amid strangers, aud
some were among those gallapt ant
never TO be forgotten souls who
"Fcll devoted, hut undying;
The very gales their names seemed
signing,
Their spirits acrcss the dusky mountalas
Their meMory sparkles DER the luun-
tains;
The meanest rll, tho mlghtiest river,
Roll, mingling with their fame forever
A Innrry, Christmas all