Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1871-12-22

OF bonnie ScOtianu, Wnere tue pioToch
sounds its wild notes in the glen, aud the
shrill pipe wakes the soft echoes of Lob
mon Ben: across the meadow and heath
and chalky cliffs of Albion, where the
brown-haired maidens dance upon the
green. and the sturdy yeomen sing "God
save the Gu en- !'-everywhe,e, tradition
or custom. religious, social or national OBJ
servance calls at stated periods to all Gods
creatures; and the laborer rests from his
toll, the wife sets her house in trim. the
boy puts aside his irksome task, and the
aged and the young assemble together to
taste the pure delights of home and social
joys.
But what are all these gala-days. in
deep and holy feeling. in precious sigui6-
cance. compared with that universal one
which commentaries the birth of Christ
on earth? Near two thousand years ago
a single star moved through the heavens,
shone on its awe-struck followers. and
shed its radiant beams upon the lowly
spot where Jesus lay. That faithful star
remains. 1t ever will remain. Down on
the careless, jostliug crowds of cities, over
the silent forest and the plain, silvering
the ripples Of the murmuriug stream and
cresting the waves of the troubled sea.
through the great arches of the solemn
church. upon the palace and the cot. its
steady light is shining still; and every
year. peasant and prince. sage and serf.
matron and maid, pause in their allotted
path through life and think Of Bethlehem.
Then charity flleth all hearts and peace
reigns supreme. At time when He. the
Divine and Omnipotent and the inestima-
bly, loving and gracious. gave his dearest
gift-his we'll beloved Son-men give
good gifts to their fellows. aud utter hear
ty wishes for happiness aud long life.
Aud oh what a magic, fairy network
is entwined about this hallowed Christmas!
What golden visions, what bounding hopes
5whas bright iaagiDings aco..mp.e
ushering in and attend upon its happy
coming! The light dies out on the hearth,
and the stockings pendant there in the ft-
full fre-light seem as insatate spectres
gaping for More! more!" StraiDed eye
lids gently close, eager watching and long,
ing is luIled and soothed in slumber, young
hearts are somewhat at rest. and the good
genius, St. Nicholas, who pauses to linger
about the bedside of the dying year, to
smooth the white locks and hear the fail
ing monarch's last faint accents. catches
the whisper, Make my children happy" :"
and comes to hover DER the trundle-bed
He has ridden on the fast falling snow
fakes; his coursers have pranced down the
slanting beams Of the moon. and his chariot
is resting on the overhanging branches of
the sheltering oak What treasures he
bears! and how jauntily he bears them
Jewels aud toys and fruits and games. and
everything that Can make the Innocent
childish heart leap forj"y. He peers over
at the blankets. lumped up by chubby
forms as if dozen apples were hidden
there; shakes his head aud his sand bag
as If he would be very terrible if an eye
should open-and gazrs then thsug ghttully
at the great bed where there are not red
cheeks. but the faces OF parents. little
pale and wan aud furrowed. Spirits are
1uttering about these aged Sleepers also
The mother s,Diles as she dreams of one
who went forth in life's broad way, was
borne on the sturmy waves of the tossing
sea, and went down in the terrible waters
CT the great deep. Or of. the noble boy
who sank to rest ou the field of strife, with
his trusty sword in his hand aud his life
blood yelling from his manly heart. Or
of the fair. frail child. tossed by EARTH :
passion, wh' gave her love for veal or
woe, as the blossom gives its fragrance to
the wooing whispers Of the tickle wind
and died afar off. heart broken and desert
ed. Smiling. when her loved ones bones
are bleaching on the coral rect? Smiling.
when the cold. cold earth is hiding ghast-
ly rent in that youthful breast? Smiling,
when the sweet. cherished lilly is sleeping
meath the bending willow? All! the
spirits come from above; Christ's hand
parted the sounding waters and called forth
the dead; Christs hand bound up the cruel
wound and burst the cerements of the
tomb; Christ's hand watered the droopine
flower with His spirit and took the bruis-
ed petals to His bosom Thrice-blessed
be our Christmas. wb;ch brings such pro-
mise to world-weary souls and grief-bur-
dened hearts! But behold! two priceless
pearls are coursing down the ruddy cheeks