Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-12-24
OLYMPIA, SATURDAY NoIyTNG, DEC. q, 1870
Christmas Day.
at our risk.

Christmas Day.
BY universal consent the 25th of De-
cember is Observed as the anniversary of
the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Saviour of Mankind, and as such is made a
festal day throughout the civilized world,
and wherever the story of his birth" has
been repeated in the unreclaimed regions
of the earth. There is no holiday of the
year so universally observed; none around
which cluster SO many hallowed associa-
tons, embracing the earliest impressions of
infancy and the latest recollections of old
age. 1t is a day consecrated to works of
love, to "peace on earth md good will to
men," and out of it have grown some of
the most beautiful customs and usages of
our Christian civilization, which are famil-
lar to every Christian household. When
the Puritans attempted to prescribe the
observance of Christmas, as papist su.
prostitution, they outraged religious in
stinct which the substitution of man or
dained Thanksgiving Day signally failed to
propitiate the Cod child was not 10 it; the
sympathetic link which connected human.
ity to the Eternal Father and the brother.
hood with the angelic hosts, was wanting /;
Thanksgiving did not offer an occasion for
carol in which heaven and earth, angels
and men made common symphony. The
Christmas of old is again accepted, and in
the spirit ofthe lesson it teaches, we wish all
our readers a Merry Christmas" and for
the dedication of our young readers ap-
pend the beautiful stery, by Clement
Moore, of one of the Diviuities Of the oc.
casion:
SANTA CLAUS.
Twas the night before Christmas, when all
through the house
Not creature was stirring, not even mouse :
The stockings were hung by the chimney with
care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
: ~ "CIC uCstiCu oil In tOelf beds.
While visions OF sugar-plums danced through
their heads
And mamma in her 'kerchief and.I in nv can.
Had Just settled our brains for q long winter 8
nap;
When out on the lawn there arose such a clat-
ter, ...
sprang from the bed to see what WAS the
matter;
Awayto the window l few like fash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash
The moon on the breast ofthe fallen snow.
Gave the lustre of midday to objects below;
When, what to my wondering eyes should ap.
pear
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer,
With little old driver, SO lively and quick,
1 knew In a moment it must be st. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came
And he whistled andshouted and called them nv
name
Now, Dasher now, Dancer now Prancer +.
now Vixen
On, Comet on Cupid on Donder and Blk
en-
To the top ofthe porch to the top of the wall {,
NOW dash away, dash away, dash away all -
As leaves that before tho wild hurricane Av.
when they meet with an obstacle mount to the
SKY,
So up to the housetop the coursers they few.
With the sleigh full Of toys-and St. Nicholas
too;
And then in twinkling heard on the roof
The prancing and paving Of each little hoof.
As drew in my head, and was turning around
Down the chimney st. Nicholas came With
bound;
foot, ~ "''
And his clothes were all furnished with ashes
and SCOT;
bundle of toys be had flung on his back.
And cooked like pedlar just opening his
His ,eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples,
how merry
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a
cherry;
His droil little mouth was drawn u like a
And his beard on his chin was a. white a. the
snow;
The stump ola pip. be held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a
wreath.
Ne had broad face, and a little round belly
That shook, when be laughed, like a bowl fall
ofjeily.
Lie was chubby and plump; . right jolly
old elf,
And ] laughed when saw him, in spite of my.
self,
A wink Of hi. eye, and twist of his head.
Soon gave me to know had nothing to dread.