Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-12-24


ing period of the present year? 1t
seems but as yesterday that we cele-
brated its rites, and joyously opened
the gates of our affections to the pleas
ant associations and CHEEKY thoughts
and domestic charms which it brought
with it; and 10! spring, summer and
autumn have since ghded into the past,
and our old friend with the holly crown
is with us once more. He is welcome,
says contemporary, albeit his return
reminds us every year more impress
sivcly) of the rapidity with which we
are filing up The measure of our days.
He is welcome for he comes to us as
the symbol of light springing up IN
darkness, and hope in desolation, and
life in death. And he is welcome for
his own sake, in whatever external
guise he may appear-whether wrap
ped in clouds or glittering in frost-for
Father Christmas is ever blithe of
heart; and gives that kind of impulse
to jaded spirits which freshens, and
vitalizes, and beauties humanity.
Christmas finds us this year in cir
cumstances which will be apt enough
to enhance the pleasures which it brings
in its train. 1t has been a somewhat
dreary and sombre time with us as a
people. The hopes which blossomed
some months since have not produced
fruit either of a quality or measure
equal to our expectations. The aspect
of things in general is no brighter than
it was twelve months ago, and in some
regards is even more gloomy. If we
had had the coloring of our own expe-
rience, there can be no doubt that we
should have thrown into it brighter
lights. The retrospect is certainly not
of gladstone kind, and deepens in
tone in proportion to its nearness to our
present standpoint. The Christmas
season will be grateful change, if only
as brief diversion. Like well of wa
ter in the desert, it will not be hailed with
theless joy DEMONSTRATING blessings
have for some time past been rinfamil-
lar to us. Cares, perhaps, more exact
ing and perplexing than we have been
wont to know, have trooped after us in
growing numbers all along our toilsome
and dusty path. Not often before has
the country felt within itself, or exhib-
tied to the world, less elasticity or few
er..signs of recuperative energy. Hence,
break in the monotony of depression
Will be all the more thoroughly appre-
| ciated. It's time that our attention
should for little while be called off
from the graver phases and the perturD-
ing characteristics of the experience
through which we are passing. Christ
mas will give a new turn to the cur
rentof our thoughts, and infuse,
a new life into our feelings. We greet
it with all the more enthusiasm be-
| cause it overtakes us In a position
which will render short spell of gaiety
doubly grateful.
And now we leave the past to be
buried by the past, and throw into It's
| grave the ashes and the dust which
pertain to and symbolic it. There are
scenes, and domestic gatherings; and
joyous interblendings of soul with soul
and moments of rekindling juvenes-
cence and impulses of goodwill await
ing most of us, which should wake us
up to fresh interest 2 in what
remains to us, and make our hearts
throb with gleeful animation. To sucE
as have well nigh run their earthly ca
reer, Christmas, we trust, will present
not the opportunity only, but the in
ducement, of sharing once more the
delicious excitements of childhood, anC
by the force of that sympathy which
for the time being, annihilates differ
ences of age, will furnish common
ground for qualification to grandsirel
and grandchildren. Parents who's,
offspring have been scattered by the
stern realities and vicissitudes of Gf,
Will, in numberless instances, rejoice IL
seeing them collected again in the fam
lily group, and viii proudly indulge tn,
fond feeling which, even when most la
tent in the bosom, never lose their in
herent vitality. Brothers and sister
will come together from differen
scenes, different pursuits, differen
ranges of experience, to commune witt
unreserved familiarity, and to fan int
a flame the smoulderlng embers of fra
ternal love. Friends whose paths il
life seldom cross each other will keel
the annual tryst, and, in personal con
verse over the festive board, renew an,
strengthen the ties which bind then
one to another. Myriads upon myriad
/ will re-enter the circle of hallowed at
lection of which home is the centre
and with traditional observances an
customary rites, with innocent mirtl
and laughter of the heart, will rebuilc
the household altar, and yet once again
place thereuporf the Offering due t
family unity.
Quite apart from the great historical
fact of which Christmas is the yearl
commemoration, and from the religion
truths associated with that fact, whic
, it falls not within our province as ioul
nalists to dilate upon, the manner i
which the festival is observed, Offering
, as it does, scope and opportunity 70
the periodical exercise of home aztec
tions, gives it in our eyes worthwhile
can hardly be over estimated. Th
tastes, the sympathies, the sense of re
spons1bility, the unselfshness and tn
moral purity, which the careful cultur
of family relationships powerfully help
to develop, permeate society in its wide
organizations and impart to it not
little of the higher tone of feeling
which mere commercial pursuits woul
else inevitably destroy. They con
stitute the true conservative elemen
of the age, not so much in political a
in social sense. They are the &c
: ment which holds together its compo
: nent parasitic spirit which animates
shapes, and, by assimilation, organize
: the whole body. Any arrangement
therefore, which has for its object, o
which, we may perhaps more correctl
say, tends to the effect of stately re
pairing the waste incident to home af
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