Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-12-24

oN ShhlSAMaS Da1 W. uotEoHl tuiS ouCe
vii! be closed, and no paper issued. Business
in this place will be generally suspended.
CHRISTMAS EvE.-The Christmas holidays
have again come, and whether to young or old,
rich or poor, it is certainly the part OF wisdom
to enter heartily into thespirit ofthe joyous oeca-
sion, and derive as much pleasure from, aud add
as much to its merry associations as possible,
for no amount Of repining will bring US back our
youth If We have lost it, or successfully WOO
the tickle Goddess Fortune if she has made up
her mind to give US the 60 by; and SO if We
must be miserable, lets choose some other time
for it, aud not be stalking about among happy
people like ghost at feast. Above all things
let the children enjoy themselves to their
hearts content, for in few years, most, if
not all of them, will carry aching and troubled
hearts beneath the smiling countenances they
may force themselves to wear upon the recur-
rcuce of such seasons, and it will then be too
late to be really happy. There is as much Of a
void in the heart of one who has grown from
infancy to youth without vision of Christmas
Nick,
Dressed all in fur from. his head to his foot
as there is 10 that of one who has grown old
without having experienced the tender emo
ton Of a love affair, and they are both to be
pited Therefore let the little ones be glad
dcned by the story of the jolly old fellow with
his miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer
speeding along over the snow, crying
Now, Dasher now, Dancer! now, Prancer!
now, Vixen!
On, Comet on Cupid! on Dunder and Blixen
To the top of the porch to the top of the wall !
Now, dash away dash away dash away, all
Aud let them hang up the longest and the
biggest stockings they can 6ud tonight so that
when he deScends the chimneys he will have
no trouble in finding place In which to deposit
his presents A papa who was so bad as to
stay out late one Christmas Eve got sight of
the old man as he was filing the stockings of
his children, and describes him as follows:
"A bundle OF toys was flung on his back,
And he looked like a pedler just opening his
pack;
His eyes, how they twinkled his dimples, how
merryl
His cheeks were like roses his noselikea cherry
His droll little mouth was drawn up like bow
And the beard of his chin was white as thesnow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircied his head like q
wreath
He had broad face, and little round belly,
That shook when he laughed like bowl-full Of
jelly"
But 10 the general happiness, don't let US
forget that like everybody else Christmas Nick
all, to the poor, and that there are many little
oues and big oueS, too. for that matter, whose
ears have never heard the sound Of his jingling
bells, and let all who can try to make up tor
his want Of charity.
CHRISTMAS FEsTIvITlvEs.- pupils of
Miss Marks Female Seminary this morning,
carried their annual contribution Of good things
to the little orphans 10 the Female Asylum.
For many years it has been the custom OF the
young ladies Of this Institution to so remember
the little bereaved ones amid their own more
favored lots, and we doubt not the remem-
brauce Of the happy, grateful faces of the little
orphans this morning, will add sweetness to
every pleasure in store for Miss Marks young
ladies during this holiday season.
The Sunday school of the NJ. +. Church in
tend holding their Christmas festivities this
evening in the church at o'clock. The exer-
cises will consist 10 the distribution OF presents
from the Christmas tree) singing and speeches
"a pleasant time in anticipated. The friends
of the scholars, and the public are invited to be
present.
The Christmas celebration Of St. Paul 5
Church Sunday school was held in the lecture
room of that church at o clock this afternoon.
\ large number of the members OF the congre-
CATION and of the children of the Sunday school
we're present and the treat prepared for the
latter was enjoyed heartily.
The morning aud evening Sunday schools OF
the Second Presbyterian Church will celebrate
Christmas at Sarepta Hall at 10 O'Clock to-
morrow morning.
Our READERS will find, by reference to our
advertising columns, notices of goods OF all de-
scription, suitable for Christmas times, to be
purchased at the various stores IN this city
The assortments are large and varied.
ST.. MARY's CHRUcH Persons holding tick
cts for the early services to morrow are re-
ouested not to come earlier than o'clock OF
later than 4:3O. The bell will be rung when
the doors are opened. At II a. ~ and 1880
H. m. no tickets will be required.
DIVINE SERVICE will be held tomorrow at
the Catholic and Episcopal Churches, 10 this
place. Also in the German Lutheran Church
and NJ. f.. Church at l a. M, and ID the NJ.
p Church, at a. M.
THE PoNKAs.-In letter to the Southern
Cburchmap of this week, Rev. R. H. McKim
saws: A called meeting Of the women
MissionarySociety of Christ church, Alexandria'
was held on the 10th inst About 6O ladies
were present After prayer by the Rector,
Mrs. staDforth, (!be devoted Indian Mission is
ary, whose prais is in all the churches SIT
TIM in her chair gave.a simple and most touch
inr narrative of the bodily apd spiritual destl-
tuition of the Ponkas, that shattered renpant
OF tribe to whose rescue both her son and her
self have devoted their lives. She drew
painfully graphic picture of the fearful preva.
ience of disease among them and related many
incidents which showed at once now oarkened
and degraded they had BEEN, ana nov sgn n.'
among un then about two years anda half since.
She then mex explained plan by it which is prOpos,
ed to build Hospital for the Poukas, alta cost OF
n 0oO to accommodate 40 patients, tobe under
her management with assistants. ! :,
The establishment of his Hospital is regarded
as pressing need and thing OF essential 'm'