The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1877-12-21
Christmas Chimes.

/ uOth llOL ftHb u lfOl ~ eAAA0 llu SLEdlUS OF
sorrow mingIe with the carols which
commemorate the birthof the child Jesus
of Bethlehem. Merry gatherings and
unbounded fun in our homes. ringing
halIeluiahs in garland-entwined churches.
Join together on this one day in a double
devotion of joy. Around Christmas
tide are clustered many superstitious
fancies, but all of them are beautiful.
One of theSYIdest is that of all 7 kers of
evil are PROSTATE from Christmas Eve to
Christmas night Shakespeare says, in
Hamlet"
Some say, that ever ganstthat season comes
Wherein our SavIours birth is celebrated,
The bird OF dawDing siagelh all night long
And then, they say, 10 spirit can walk
The nights are WHOLESOME then no planets
strike,
No fairy takes, nor wftcn hath power 10
charm;
SO hallow',I and so gracious is the time.
Christmas does not meet with the
same recognition here, Dt is there so
much observance of it a! in European
countries, but the fact nat each year
there is a growing tendecy to more
heartily celebrate the time is another
proof that history repeats Itself, and
that the efforts of the Purians to oblit-
crate it from the calendar, has been
futile, for although they dmounced the
Observance of all such days, excepting
Sunday, as superstitious and unscrip-
tural, and yet it had its ef5ed for genera
tions, get these old days which bring
before the memory the tlree great
events in the life Of the Man of
Nazareth" especially the fist, are re-
suming their influence over he people,
and a few years hence Merrie Christmas
may be celebrated as heartily among
ourselves as it was in " England of We
olden time" when
All halle with uncontrolled delight
And general voice, the happy night,
That to the cottage, as the crown,
brought tldlngs of salvation down
Twas Christmas brOached the mgAtiest ale,
Twas Christmas told the merriet tale;
Christmas Gambol oft could cleet
The poor mans heart through half the year.
Many seldom or never recall the fact
thatit is the anniversary of tleSaviour OF
men-the Divine Philanthppist; but
His character has unalteIsbyshaped the
character Of observauces of his anniyer-
sary. Being the Prince of Peace and
good will, the day that oomemorates
His entrance into the word has become
the day, more than all ohers, of love
and fraternity. 1t IS the day when, if
ever, one yields to the spirit of human
sympathy, because it is inhonor OF one
whose sympathies were as wide as hu-
manity. 1t Is the day when there il
universal impulse t,ward good
deeds, because He fpm whom
the day IS called went bout doing
good. Thus whatever tne may
think of Christ. .bis - sssz6aMMN;.,.
the nobility and pc
Greatness and goot 90 - -
illustrated set in motihiS sits aIid' I1Si'
influences that go on Multiplying for
ever. Reason may deny them or their
origin, but they live nevertheless. They
are manifestations of Immortality among
men-the form in which man may surely
live through all the generations.
Germany and England are the two
countries which pay the greatest atten-
ton to Christmas, and as it is from the
/ loins of these two nations that America
4 sprung, it is not surprising that the cele-
4 bration Of this festival should be grow
ing in favor among her people. 1t Is a
curious fact that in the two countries
mentioned there is a great diversity in its
mode OF Observance. Santa Claus and
the Krisskringle are entirely unknown
to English children. They get their
presents in R mere matter-Offact way,
and expect all of their friends to bring
them Christmas box" and until the
last few years the glones of the Christ
mas tree had not been revealed to them.
But it is in the homes of Germany and
/ England that the brightest side of Christ
mas enjoyment can be seen. In the
morning, all 20 to church. Even those
who go at no other time will not fail to
visit church on Christmas morn but all
strict religious observance of the day
ceases at the close of the service, and after
dinner, very important part of the pro-
ceedings, which has to be provided with
: ri H1sl % r,Itrr,1 dino
and mince pies being Indispensable, anc
in the wealthier families huge boar
head is provided, and ali who sat under
the hospitable mahogany of an Englisl
gentleman on that day, will have very
good idearof what substantial squar,
meal is like. In their Christmas partie
there is a notable relaxation of those rules
of etiquette which are on other occasion
so strictly adhered to, for one day in tn
year old and middle-aged people becom
children again; all Join in Sir Rogers d
COverly, blind-man's buff, snap dragon
and other games of 8 like character
The mistletoe hangs in the centre of tn
room.
And many a maiden's cheek is red,
BY lips and laughter thither, led
And thttering bOsoms come, nd go
Under the dried mistletoe
These Christmas merry-makings al
jolly gatherings, and there is one featul
about them very pleasant te look upol
, The care that is taken of the poor an
needy-even criminals are not forgotten
and are provided with some amusemen
/ and a good dinner. Once in the eye
of the year a universal brotherhood al
\ charity prevails among all. &" a Merl
q Christmas to youI' is the salutatic
b that rings out from CHEEKY lips on eve
h hand, and the happiest are those tn
q have the mest bounty to spare.
Then leave your door upon the latch
For whosoever comes;
II The poorer they, more welcome give,
And scatter out your crumbs;
Soon winter fall upon your life,
u The day of reckoning comes:
t, Against your sins, by high decree
i, Are weighed those scattered crumbs.
h Significance of the Fall of Ka
a Kars is 80 well known throughout t
east that its surrender into Russi