The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-01-22
LETTER FROM WILLIAM.
CESrRAL Texas, January II IS

CESrRAL Texas, January II 1s-9
EDIroR- CLAIIoN: Christmas in Trxas
Il very considerable institution. believe
1t is more ola time Of revelry than With
you 50 far a. ! have seen, there is a license
for drinking any amount Of egg-nog and
other viand,; and whisky straight is a
staple article of Christmas consumption
II Georgia, when 5 on aud | were there,
there wrre great shooting Of guns and
bursting of lire-coatS on stumps. and boring
hole iu trees aud filing them with powder,
aud firing them of, &c, with drinking Of
some e1Z-uogg. made of good old peach
brandy; but there was no mean whisky
Here, whisky becomes Il staple, and i
doing more 10 injure Texas than all else
whisky and six--hooters will effectually
stop tine progress OfadvancIng civilization
Mr.. jones says, that If you see boy in his
teens drinking whisky and carrying a
pistol YOU can write bis history at once
Having some experience in writing. | once
thought OF preparing few histories of that
Kind, but ffud. on reflection that the last
chapter would be too sad for popu-
lar reading.
| intend, however to write something
about Christmas, and / must do so. This
day is "A Church Festival and dates AS far
back A. \ ID. l3S. At first it was amovea-
bic festival, occurring i'm January, May or
October; hut in the 4rh century Pope Juni-
d. 1T ordered an investigation, and the
25th ot december WAS selected. Since that
time this day has been universally ad pied
by all Christian communities. In old times
in England, up to the 18th century there
was appointed Lord Of III isrue or Captain
of mischief. The duties of his Office are
sugge~ted by hi titlr, rather than ty any
documentary declarations.
Church -cryicc, Christian worship, and
mcrrm,ut have always been mingled in
the celebration of this holiday. OF late. ii
is lameutabIe fact that drunkenness and
Crime find plsce among the pecuiiarities
Of Chris mas fr.liCs.
M. Jones has thought much on this sub
feet, and has read some very large books
about it, sometimes opposed to, and some
tunes in favor of the average Christmas.
He says il a letter to me: l trust you may
have a merry Christmas, for notwithstand-
ing the almost in>epa arabic evils connected
win the day, / would not abolish the hol-
iday II | could. Laws should not be sus-
pended and crime of all kinds, committed
duriug Christmas, should be punished with
unwouted and uurelentiug severity. 1t
should be day, not Of settling difficulties
BY the shedingot blood, but by general
forgiveness. 10y all. of every wrong, real or
supposed, that is cherished by every one.
As / approach the end of my lie, l draw
more aud more on the past tor comfort, and
ind NO other period that so frequently
comes up To make me glad as Christmas.
] find myself whiriing ia the cance, or talk
ing softly TO the object OF my affections,
now separated from me by "A gull across
which | cannot see; and only this day,
while mu>jng, surprise myself by speak
ing audIbly these words, ''Shall we meet
again p Teen dreams came TO me of forms
long since in dust. but who appear To me
and say, they are WatchiUgaud waiting at
the beautiful gate. 3Iy life i row worth
liTtle to my>cli and u the world, aud " hat
lights up nv path growing DINNER and
DINNER. canuos be altogether rs less. Let
them, the young rejoice in their youth
aud let children have pleasant Christ
m~S So long sports are temperate ana in
nocent- | do not propose TO encourage
young men TO spend during Chrlstn as, for
fine clothes, means Of Teveling or costly
presents, whatever they have been able to
save during the year. like the giving OF
pre-t hts. 1t Is a beautiful custom, but
must always be restrained by the donors
aDttltN. II Il Young uldll - III lbNG " IN
Young lady and wishes to make her pres
cnt, il is much better e. select gold thim-
bic or a pair Of Kid gloves than gold
watch or costly chaIu, for presents carry
with them an obligation. and. il you place
ANY one under obligation which he or she
feels i more than can be returned, you are
hated by him or her instead OF loved. This
is a law of human nature, and applies 10
ladies Is wei aS to gentlemen. II a young
man gives his sweet heart gold watch,
She never sees it without thinking of two
things. first his inability To make the gift.
and SECOND Of the obligation imposed on
herself; aud she may keep thinking that
way, until she sets her lover down for
simpleton, and learns TO dtspise him.
whereas il he had given her pair of nice
kids she would feel soft aud warm towards
the giver every time she drew the gloves on
her hands.
Ihave never been rich, William, but those
10 whom have given most are those VIII o
have treated ne unkindlv; and never do
you attempt 10 conciliate man or woman
BY gifts or doing favors, bu6 rather ask
them to do you service. Merry Christmas.
Almost any person would have supposed
that the above letter would have been ac-
q panied by a small present. lnd@ed'
when did receive but one christmas gift,
/ cannot remember. | cannot controvert
Mr. Jones position about the value of
presents, but wish to say that should re-
ceive large present, | will endravor TO
be an exception TO his rule. | would
ike TO see the tx pertinent lTttu- ndu
present srnt to me. Christmas. 1876, from
Mississippi--a study g"wn, m ade by one of
the finest and sweetest women on the earth,
Mrs. BaTney Trice, OF Verona; and have
been grateful al. the time since. We may
meet no more on earth .'Shall we meet
Beyond the river.'
The weather is bitter cold here. 4
snorther' is now blowing. cannot describe
a norther. 1t is "A Texas noFther. Bro.
Phillips went as missionary t. Africa, and
stayed twelve years. He was preaching
after he came back, and was Describing the
country of the negro. He came to jungle
and began with thus and that, and then an
other tree. but fiualiy said, Brethren, il IS
a Jungle" So with a norther. 1t is all
can say.
Our Legislature meets next week. What
1t will do remains to be seen. Retrehch-
ment and reform are the words that MI the
air. Mr.. Jones says, wnen you near so
much about Tetrenchment and reform,
expect considerable retrencbuent bat very
IMtle5reform.i He says (b1t. intended that
eS secret) that retrenchment and reform
has nearly ruined Mississippi. am afraid
OF it In Texas. Some great public interests
should be fosLered by liberal appropriations,
thar may be dwarfed by retrenchment and
reform. May THE CLARION live many
years and prosper. ~ WILLIAM