Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1881-12-22
Tbs term Christmas is a conpoun

NVt, iUo oty uAo">Sy w
Christ" and Mass" The former
szplaiaa itself ADD the latter is the
word rs derived from the Latin nat
fsre, 70 aend or dismiss and az is still
Lee! IN the Roman Catholic churches,
constituting part Of public worship.
Christmas, the festival held in COM
nenora,ion Of the Nativity Of Christ.
dates most probably from The latter
par. Ct the second century. since
which time it has been celebrated at
var!ous periods Of the year and by tho
observation Of greatly differing csre-
monies and even to-day Christian
churches do not, all alike, receive itin
Ia religious aspect. During the last
hundred years, however. the nature
.; the festivities have been almost en-.
..rely banged, and it has come to be
quits SO much social as . religious
holiday. In its new aspect. while it
aae al,aost totally ceased to render
more iervens. piety and religious feel
ina. i. has taken upon itself the prac'
tjca! task Of warming up the natural
Mart OF man, or at least Of such as
ave : heart that ia not hard, grasp
,oE. or covetous.
Christmas comes to do us good; to
.en,ird III Of the sacred occasion it
oolaneuo.stes; to commend US to a
god, torgiving and charitable disposi.
lion. 1t bids us open our shut up hearts
irssly and to treat all as if they were
saual and bound to the same purpose
sud with like tastes. dispositions and
characters. It is tho most democratic
e all holidays and is q most success
:ol levsllsr.
Who is it that begrudges Merry
Ubr.stmas" TO bis neighbor or his
t-snd7 Who is it that does not wax 9
with feeling akin to those 0: child
toad's days on crisp Christmas
norn;ng? To whom does not the sky
sson brighter, the ait fresher, faces
eseetsr, voices kindlier and greetings
p-rmsr Oh Christmas Day, than 90
any other one Of the three hundred
ed sixty-hvs2
Their. is . peculiar favor impaired
By tho oven that baxss the Christ
Luas cake, OF roadts the Christmas tur.
tsy; there is a peculiarly soothing sf-
.eos cotton of the Christmas drink. ii
- dliacult to find anything quarrel.
.osae in Christmas srog, though posi-
:,ly acne the LOSS dangerous. there is
n csmarkabls absence of biliousne esq
s'.er tcs Christmas feast. while 9th er
ccceons OF far lees gormandizlng Ia
sosceeded BY hillary aud ca.h4s.io
!:aughts.
Nature seems thus to take natu-
.aly to this festival and those to
~bom it does not cous in al the full
noss Of i. hearty, happy. merry ma
:,,.::.-s have not part in common. with
-ae. OF soul or refined feeling; they
so Dot Morbid nisanthropes, or else
.,,1. set up some idol, gain, ambition
G: .2s Ike; are not to be depended
a,.oa for anything that adds TO the
rc14fos. and happiness OF any save
1850 o@a cold, selfish selves. Dick.
%, in his Christmas Carol" persoR'
sScs t.is sids Of human nature in tho
sc,aaAate- Of one "Scroogs Of whom
,,2 ssys;-"0hl But he was tigb. =
S4tsd Inland at the grindstons,. ScreoSs
as@usssias wrenchiag, grssp'ng scra'
a.og. olutching, ccpstoas old sinner
AID and sharp as flint, from which
- ,tssl Lad aser struck out generous
.s-a secret and self.sastained and col
e,A-y a. an oyster. The cold within
sl:s fhose his old features, nippsd bis
;,oaaSsG nose, shrivsllsd has cheek.
:sisanaG his gait: maids his eyes red,
~ aain lips blue; and spoks ont
9s,owdly in his grating voice. *'''
"a ,srrisd his own temperature al
~aga about with him; ba iced bis
do IN thA dpg7days; and did'n.
:;;,s.s ii ons degree at Christmas. NM
s'cy,JD weather. dad not know where to
.,rs Sir1.. Fra heaviest rain, and
aayY, sad bail and sleet, could boast
cftss advantage over him in only
eua respect. They often "camt
.eyss'' yandsemsly, and scrooge new
en- md" That Is Dickens type Of q
Dan, who wonld ssy Of Christmas
Fab, Rumougt" How plessorabI'
Ia hsooabt. that aatbouth soroog'