The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-12-23
CHRISTMAS.
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.

OF hospitality expand into a broader and
more cordial smile-where is the shy glance
OF love more sweetly eloqueut-than by the
Winter firesde? and as the hollow blast of
~intry wind rushes through the hall, claps
the distant door, whistles about the case
ment, and rumbles down the chimney, what
can be more grateful than that feeling of
sober and sheltered security. with which
we look round upon the comfortable cham
Der and the scene of domestic hilarity?
The English, from the great prevalence
OF rural habit throughout every class of
society, have always been fond of those
festivals and holidays which agreeably in
terrupt the stiffness of country life; and
they were, in former days, particularly Oh
servant of the religious and social rites of
Christmas. 1t is inspiring to read even the
dry details which some antiquaries have
given of the quaint humors, the burlesque
pageants, the complete abandonment to
ninth and good fellowship, with which this
festival was celebrated. 1t seemed to
throw open every door, and unlock every
heart. 1t brought the peasant and the
peer together, and blended all ranks in one
warm generous flow of joy and kindness.
The old halls of castles and manor houses
resounded with the harp and the Christmas
carol, and their ample boards groaned I'M
uSl luC NciSu III VI hoopltal'py. LNSu ehS
poorest cottage welcomed the festive sea
son with green decorations of bay and
holy-the cheerful fire glanced its rays
through the lattice, inviting the passengers
to raise the latch and Join the gossip knot
huddled round the hearth, beguiling the
long evening with legendary jokes and Oft
told Christmas tales.
One of the least pleasing effects of mod
ern refinement is the havoc it has made
among the hearty old holiday customs. 1t
has completely taken Oft the sharp touch
ings and spirited reliefs of the embelish-
ments of life, and has worn down society
into more smooth and polished, but GER
tainly less characteristic surface. Many
of the games and ceremonials of Christ
mas have entirely disappeared, and, like
the sherris sack of old Falstatf are becom-
ing matters of speculation and dispute
among commentators. They tlourshed in
times full of spirit and lustihood, when
men enjoyed life roughly, but heartily and
vigorously; times wild and picturesque,
which have furnished poetry with its rich
est materials, and the drama with its most
attractive variety of characters and man.
ners. The world has become more worldly.
There is more of dissipation, and less of
enjoyment. Pleasure has expanded into a
broader, but shallower stream; and has
IDISdhcu VI tlosC uOSP dhu iuiOt
channels where it flowed sweetly through
the calm bosom of domestic life. Society
has acquired a more enlightened and ele-
CANT tone; but it has lost many of its
strong local peculiariteS, its home bred
feelings it's honest fireside delights. The
Evolutionary customs of golden haired an
tiquity, its feudal hospitalities and lordly
wassailings, have passed away with the
baronial castles and stately manor houses
in which they were celebrated. They COM
ported with the shadowy hall, the great
oaken gallery, and the tapestried parlor,
but are untitled to the light snowy saloons
and gay drawing rooms Of the modern
villa.
Shorn, however, as it is, of its ancient
and festive honors, Christmas is still a
period of delightful excitement in England.
1t is gratifying to see that home feeling
completely aroused which holds so power
full a place in every English bosom. The
preparations making on every side for the
social board that is again to unite friends
and kindred; the presents of good cheer
passing and repaSSng, those tokens of re-
gard, and quickenerS of kind feelings; the
evergreens distributed about houses and
churches, emblems of peace and gadness;
all these have the most pleasing effect in pro-
ducing fond associations, and kindling be-
nevolent sympathies. Even the sound of
the Waits, rude as may be their mnstresy
breaks upon the mid watches of a Winter
night with the effect of perfect harmony.
AS have been awakened by them in that
still and solemn hour, when deep sleep
talleth upon man." | have listened with
hushed delight and, connecting them with
the sacred and joyous OCCASION have almost
tancied them into another celestial choir,
Announcing and pppI W i'll Ia
kind.
How delightfully."- the imagination, when
wrought upon by these moral Influences,
turns every thing to melody and beauty.
The very Growing of the cock, heard some
times in the profound repose of the coun-
try, telling the night watches to his
teathery danes, was thought by the COM
mon people to announce the approach of
this sacred festival
"Some say that ever 'ganst that season
comes
Wherein our Savour's birth is celebrated.
This bird of dawnng singeth all night long;
And then, they say, no spirit dares stir
abroad;
The nights are wholesome-then no planets
strike,
No fairy takes, no witch hath power to
charm,
90 nalloW q ana so gracious Is the time.
Amidst the general call to happiness the
hustle of the spirits, and stir of the affec-
tons, which prevail at this period, what
bosom can remain insensible? 1t is, indeed,
the season of regenerated feeling-the sea-
son for kindling, not merely the fire of hos
pitality in the hall, but the genial flame of
charity in the heart.
The scene of early love again rises green
to memory beyond the sterile waste of
years; and the idea of home, fraught with
the fragrance of home dwelling joys, re
animates the dropping spirit; as the Ara
ban breeze will sometimes watt the fresh
ness of the distant fields to the weary pill
grim of the desert
Stranger and soiourner as | am in the
land-though for me no social hearth may
blaze, hospitable roof throw open its doors,
nor the warm grasp of friendship welcome
me at the threshold-yet feel the influence
of the season beaming into my soul from
the happy looks of those around me.
Surely happiness is reflective, like the light
of heaven; and every countenance, bright
with smiles, end glowing with innocent en-
joyment, is a mirror transmitting to others
the rays of supreme and ever shining
benevolence. He who can turn churishly
away from contemplating the felicity of
his fellow beings, and can sit down dark
ling and repining in his loneliness when all
around is joyful, may have his moments of
strong excitement and selfish qualification,
but he wants the genial and social sympa-
thies which constitute the charm of
merry Christmas.