Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-12-28

pie, and we flatter ourselves that but few names
will be dropped.
ALEXANDRIA, November 9.
For the Alexandria Gazette.
Christmas in Sweden.
1t is Christmas Eve, day which, through
out the whole Of Sweden, is celebrated in cas-,
tie and cottage with gifts given and received;
worlds wealth. For month past one has
seen that the festival was coming by the To-
crease of life aud hustle all over the whole
country, as if the whole country got itself
ready for feast In Stockholm, the capital,
it seems as if population of $4,000 souls had,
all at once, increased to 100000, and as if the
bodies of all their souls had no more rest with
in the house. People drive, people walk, or
rather people trudge up and down, from morn.
ing till night. People meet, people cross, peo-
pie jostle one another In the crowds, in the
streets and lanes At the turning on sach
hand one hears the words, "Your most hum
Bile servautr And in the Great West street,
in particular, people are in peril of their life,
if they are poor foot passengers. In the shops
the ladies allow one another, under the pleas
ant pretense of desiring to see this and that,
examine, consider, turn over aud over, ask
questions, chatter, cheaper, and finally open
their pocket books and pay their bill; and then,
without any improperly, 60 out with their
parcels, be they large or small oblong or four
cornered. The elegant ladies float to their
elegant carriages, attended by tho proprietors
of the shops, who ask with low bows, "Shall |
send them home? Shall | add them TO the
account?' A nod, or gracious ''be so kind ~
the door is closed, the whip cracks-the bills
swell out 500 rix dollars for fine dresses;
1000 for gold and silver stuffs; 1000 for fine
wines. Such purchases make they, the power
full money -potentates, and then drive home to
scold about few pence and grumble over the
hard times.
1.-TWO farthiugs worth Of gingerbread
bread" demands little Jaune, in his ragged
coat, and with his nose-end red with the cold,
standing before the paradise of the hucksters
stall; gets called little friend by its red-brcast
ed cherub, receives two brown hearts, pays his
money coDtentedly, goes his way as happy as
the moneyed- d-potentates 10 their elegant car
riages, and like good hearted lad is as proud
as can be to bid his sister to share his feast.
At this time there is an end of all candor
and confidence in the family. Husbands and
wives, parents, children, brothers and sisters,
relations and friends, all conceal themselves
from one another, all have secrets from one
another, all have something to hide or with
draw from each others sight. And an observ
or might think that such things testified but
ipdifferently for the happiness of Swedish
homes if the mirror of the soul, the eye, was
not in the meantime become more loving and
friendly than ever. But the roeuish gravity,
and repressed breath; the spirit of secrecy goes
about sealing all lips until-all at once-as if
by magic stroke-amid the darkest night of
the year, millions of lights are kindled, and,
like festive board stands on the twenty-fourth
of December the whole kingdom Of Sweden,
from Lapmark down TO Skone, and millions
of voices exclaim the while, it is Christmas
merry Christmas
Such is Christmas Eve in Sweden. But the
light which is TINS kiudled extends much farth-
err ard, like circling wheel-pleasure follows
pleasure for long succession of days. There
is dancing in cities, in towns, in hamlets. Pco:
pie dine, people feast, people play. and amid
the sportive hours, more gladstone turn is
often given to serious life. Many grudge;
much ill-will disappears amid the borrowed
fire, }" and spirit dost not observe something?
Many happy bond is knit for life amid blind
show it to 70 one y And so the people 80
on till the twentieth day of Christmas, which
is also called Knot, and which puts one upon
the thread of Christmas pleasures. Christmas
ends then; and on this evening, conformable
with old Swedish custom, Christmas is danced
out.
God be praised for Christmas, and that
thou contest aud lightest up a portion of our
long dark winter with ray of that light
which once. in the darkness of the world, was
kindled at the cradle of child. have been
child, and have wept and laughed, aud wept
again, like all my little April-wooded compeers,
quickly forgetting the occasions both of smile
and tears. have become man, and have
experienced the SORROWS oflife, and the pleas
ures of the world; they are now only as a
dlmmed memory; but, like Dewly kindled
Ight-like a clear cracking winters fire.
flames up before my mind the delights of
Christmas Eve in my childhood. Many
pleasure; many breeze of Spring; many a
bright beamy Autumn sunshine, may still
cheer the aged; but the joy of Christmas, that
understandable, unmixed, innocently intoxicat-
Ing delight. experiences he never more Yet
hestil can enjoy it, in the gladness of child
rem and drink health to all good parents and
happy children for Christmas this year, and
every year until the end OF time +. b.