Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1874-12-25

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alas Of trial, disappointment; and sorrow
! With each year ot life Christmas bcco Hes
dcarcv and 3ea.er - our hearts the All
riycrsa-y which in childhood was await,
ci in hopeful expectations of the iuye.
mile -ams-. The iuukctin-s and the feast,
the period which in tie first blush o.
manhood WAS marked hy auticiratjons ot
the pleasant reunion Of kindred spirits
n years progress twhcu our heads ar,
either a smooth as billiard ball or the
little hair remaining Is tiuEei with tht
hoar frost Of timeI grows with . season
we would not have omitted in perpctuity
from the calendar even were an addition.
nj lease of existence offered u human
kind.
Christmas forms one Of those natural
halting places in life where sc may sj;
calmly down and indulu" iu retrospcc,
of the years that lie behind us.
Happy those who in the calm enjoyment
of the tircsidc. with all around them that
adds To the inherent beauty of Home. can
then look back and feel no severe twin
gcs Of conscience at rememhrauces OF
wrong doing. Doubtless We older ones.
who have journeysd far on our course,
had the road of life from its beginning
again to be travelled, might pursue a
somewhat different truCk.-tor instance.
We should most likely-avuid that broad.
pleaslrt-lookinG piece of green sward to
which we once diyerged and which So
grateful to the senses and 50 welcome to
our wearicd feet, ultimately led us into
an undreamt of quagmire. Were the OPP
portunity again afforded us we should
most likely adhere closely 10 the narrow
path track somewhat thoruy and with
obstacles here and there still we'll mark
ell and possessing a definite goal.
But the Past IS past and no man can
say what is behind the impcrctrable cur
tain which an All-Wise Providence has
determined shall conceal the tuture.-
Christmas may bring with it sad rctlcc-
tions (and saddest of all is the retrospect
of a wasted litc) but il also bears iovful
memories and gladstone associations da-
ting from that tAr-hack and cvcnttul night
when the Bethlehem shepherds, keeping
watch over their facks at night. listened
awe-stricken to the anthem of the heaven
ly host accompanying the angel who pro
claimed the good tidings of great iov. =
and when the bright star in the east stood
over where the Young Child Law.
All Christian countries since that ever
o-be-rememhcrcd night. have established
after their respective fashions the anniver-
sary of the blessed season, and on two pre-
vious occasions have been privileged to
gossip with the readers of the Peoplf2
HoHth}y upon some old customs and tradi-
tions prevalent in England in connection
with the closing festival of the year. Tn
der permission my monthly talk shall once
more be of Chritmas, some interesting tit
bits having recently come under my notice
Firstly. concerning those badges of the
season, the Holly and Mistlctoc, with
which we deck our homes, | read the 9th
cr day some very curious particulars. 1t
appears the Holly was dedicated to Sa-
turn. and its boughs were used on his fes-
tival whence, it has been asserted, the
early christians derived the practice of or
namcnting their dwellings with it during
their own season OF rejoicing. But with
in sacred walls the Mistletoc is forbidden.
Its association with paganism and magic,
with superstition and revelry, have ban
ished its waXen berries to scenes Of social
and domestic mcrriment. THE new year
is at hand gather in the mistletoe," was
l the cry that once rang through the land