Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-12-29
body shall miss Christmas box or din

UOuy bldll Hiss II CnTlSGmaS DOX Or din
ner, but that all shall partake of the
general rejoicing and good cheer VIVA
appeals more readily to the sympathies
than child with an empty stocking, or
family at scantily furnished board
that sends up no smoking savors Who
does not recall the image of Cosette
placing her clumsy shoe in the chimney
corner with twinkle at the heart
strings? And does not every kindly
housekeeper in the land measure out
her plums and suet, with view to some
pensioners on her bounty, and feel q
sense of thankfulness that she may rem
der their cup less bitter on one day of
the year,
without the door let sorrow lie.
And if for cold it hap to die,
aof Wen bury it in Christmas pie,
And ever more be merry
sang the old poet; and does not every
one put care and complaint as far out
side the door as may be on this occa-
sion, and hide old grudges under the
holly, and strive to wear holiday face
in spite of Fate? Is there any record
Of den on Christmas day, and would
not misfortune seem doubly cruel at
this time, and is not happiness more re-
Cooperative?
What halo encircles Christm as-eve
''when stockings are hung by the Chin
ney with care" and Christmas trees
spring up, like Jacks bean-stalk, in
single night, and dreams are haunted by
Santa Claus and his reindeer, and the
ancient superstition declares that at
twelve o'clock even the oxen in their
stalls are to be found on their knees,
and
The bird of dawn singeth all night long"
The very name is melodious with hymns
and carols of centuries, and picturesque
with the costumes of every Christian
nation: The little German children
hurrying to church, each with her light
ed taper, the minstrels who sing their
carols before the carpenters shops IL
the streets of Rome; the representations
Of the Holy family in the Catholic
churches; the habit of decorating nave
and chancel, derived though it be from
heathendom; the practice of kissing un-
der the mistletoe, familiar in many an
English kitchen-all conspire to make
the night shine as no other night shone.
The habit of making gifts IS likewise
supposed to be relic of pagan rights
celebrating the birth of Sol, but why
may we not rather presume that the
of the gold, frankincense and myrrh
with which the inspired Wise Men fol-
lowed the star IN the east, and in mem
DRY of which little dough men were
formerly presented to their Gus
toners by the bakers CHI ist-
mas-eve is essentially the children's
night, an inheritance from the Babe
"whose birthplace was a manger," and
all over the land is repeated the drama
of their lovers hurrying to lay offerings
at their feet; for them the christmas
tree puts forth its buds; for them Santa
Claus springs into being, ull-statured.
Who does not keep half score of such
nights, from the experience of ones
own childhood. embalmed in the men,
DRY, fragrant of evergreen boughs, when
one seemed to he living in delightful
world of mystery on the verge of fairy
land; when even the avenues of days
leading up to precious season, via
sacro, was paved with good intentions,
self-sacrifice, and patient industry pick
ing its finger? What a charm there
was in saving pennies at that period
what ecstasy in spending them! Does
not the fire burn brighter to childish
eyes on that night, and the stars seem
to inger in their course, and Jack
Frost overdo himself in the matter of
wreaths and fantastic etchings? For,
indeed, the ideal Christmas weather
should be tingling, the fields
draped in their shining ermine,
the leahess branches fringed with
crystals, the pane painted with
frond and fern, the wind bitter without,
the better to actuate warmth and cheer
fulness within. Imagine a Christmas
with roses blooming over the porch,
windows open, and festive people play
ing croquet on the lawn, and let us
thank our stars that we were born in
the North-land; yet quite as odd would
it appear to us to be set down in Paris
on Christmas day, where, though on
other fete days the shop-keeoers are
fined if they do not close their stores,
aud though it is put down as a holiday
in their calendar, and though France is
a Catholic country, we should find the
shops driving a lively trade, everybody
haggling and working and pushing as
usual, nobody trim, no Christmas hush
ip the air, no Christmas bells, no odor
of plum pudding-the French enter
tanning an unaccountable prejudice
against that great symbol of holiday
faring- and no Christmas chants re-
sounding through the churches, which
celebrate high mass only on the eve,
before a showily adorned altar-all of
which would seem as unnatural to us,
doubtless, as the old custom in some
churches, Of holding this festival in
May or April.
OregOn's Failure.
Oregon promises to be great wheat
producing state. A vast district of its
rich soil has not yet been placed under
cultivation. The total for all products,
including that now under cultivation,
and such as is suitable for tillage, is
placed at not less than 9, 752, 600 acres.
Allowing one-fourth of this amount for