The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-12-24

kitchen-et us hold funeral service over all
petty jealousies and private wrongs, and 30
bury forever the animosities that deform our
human nature. At best our hearts need
correcting as much as ever did the hrst
proof of printers devil, and before LIES
edition is worked off another year for expor-
tation to eternity, why ought We not to re-
solve that the errors which now mar the
sullied page shall not stand against US when
the volume Of our history is finally revised by
the Author of the universe' Thanking God,
then, for present blessings, let us use them
as the best OF besoms to sweep out litter
from the attics and cellars of our poor human
nature, and brush down the cobwebs OF care
that have gathered in its dark corners. Nor
should we extend these favors to the body,
and, as it were, put clean shirt upon the
soul, for the reason that tomorrow we
die" but we are to do these inremembrance
of the time when sin-sick world first
began to experience the cheering symptoms
Of convalescence.
Tomorrow the civilized world-all peo-
ples and nations, knit together by mighty
thoueht-wilI become one great family
Happy bells will send as their greetings to
each Christmas fire
"Gocd will and peace peace and good will
TIE burden Of the Advent Song"
And in myriad of homes, the same festi-
val that every year has stirred the heart OF
mankind, will again gather youth and age
around the happy ireside.
A Christmas family party What magic
there is in the name. What man or woman,
sending memory on its grateful errand, does
not linger with flush Of happiness upon the
associations that are recalled. The COM
ing home from school, the greeting OF
parents, brothers, sisters, cousins and aunts;
the welcome of the old-time nurse in her
fresh bandana and immaculate neckerchief;
the eroaring fires in the parlors and bedrooms;
the wonderful hampers, and the handsome
girls hooded and booted for any sort OF
Christmas fun. And Christmas Eve How
the great tree-very mighty in our young
magination-planted in the middle OF the
table, sparkles with its multitude OF little
tapers that find reflection in our dancing
eyes, while we wait for the distribution OF
the toys, that peep like fairies from among
the leaves. Grandpapa and grandmama are
there; brothers who have just come from
school and college; uncles from The cities,
and maiden aunts, with pockets full of love
and bon-bons. By-and-by, bedtime ar
rives, and we little ones are sent to dream OF
Santa Claus and wonder what our stockings
will be t-eighted with, wheh at daylight we
hurry from our trundles to the chimney jam.
The evening concludes with the tiple-honor-
cd Christmas dance, and glorious game OF
blind-man's-butf, in which the pretty girls
take refuge behind the window curtains,
and get mad iiyou fail to make your
eliptical salutes with vim. The old peo'
pie, all delight, sit in the cosiest corner OF
the fire. place, and slipping their egggg-nogg or
stesming apple-jack, watch with gllstening
eyes the lively youngsters who remind them
Of Merry Christmas long ago. King among
the musicians is the hoary-headed old Ethio-
pean, who has played dance-musc in the
family for q quarter Of century, and to-
night, all mellowness, he scrapes his fiddle
until it shrieks with fifty stomach aches;
while dusky house-servants, peeping in at
the windows and loor-ways, keep time
with nimble feet TO the joity OF the hour,
and all goes ''merry as music BELL" AND
so ends Christmas Eve, but only to usher in
the cheerfulness OF the day to come. And
that day Ali, how crowded with memo
ries. Memories oil home-gatherlng OF oil
the accessible members OF the family circle;
Of home ties renewed, and love warming
every heart. Memories of your mother, who,
with tender thoughtfalness, and grateful Tor
her own pleasure, las sent heaping bask-
cts OF good things to the families OF her
poor neighbors, who, but for her ta'yeSse,
would have had no Christmas. Memories OF
the last Christmas blessing ever asked by
him who presided; OF room all aSlow with
ruddy light, and board spread with such
an array of fealhered phenomenon in every
stage OF sissiug excellence, gigantic pud-
dings blazing in brandy, and choice wines,
with the bouquet OF whole generations in
them, as make US think, in these changed
times, we have been living in a dream.
But no Christmas is just us real to us
to-day as it ever was to our forefalhers.
Our children will recall its happy scenes,
just as we guther the tangled ends OF our
own "reminiscences. Friends are as true,
and affections as tender around US, now,
as when we ourselves were budding into
serious men and women; and If we do our
duty, chansedas may be our circumstances,
the season will preserve all lis sacred charm
for US and our little ones; and the lesson
will continue to be written upon our hearts
"This do in remembrance OF Me !" And SO,
Merry Christmas to you all, aud GoD BLESS
US, EVERY ONE
Remember the Poor.