Daily Republican., 1881-12-26
CHRISTMAS.
.aru PEACE, GOOD WILL
TO NAN
.,,v,,v OF Chrisf-The First
the Dny-Dihe''
,uetnods OF Celebrating
tn Auniy iyersar

ihe''eIb' Ib'nndred wears ago, in Bethle
CsTTL L5a, The Messiah had been
lH@ @aj hy the Father himself, and
u', nsts had .ore.old his coming. Inc
IN nation groaning under the ty'
W.; roman oppression, we're eager
" ,,,in, n The appearance. They look.
MI,t,Mt MIi,n to come surrounded with a
lE.r host, and with power TO Tree
w., ;.,u honda -: with such nigh as
,.,,ops they over ookeu tho hi""Ge'
'''V.i .S, h,hp IN swaddliug clothes. lie
ini,rtcd, scorncd and put to death;
W .rIJn his bir;b dates our Christmas,
.'.on wv" ofioy and happiness through
,Lp riyilzrd world,
MIA 'at first observance of the day was IN
second century, about the time OF
ymperor topmodus wnen an an
'hyru was sung the night before.
~sycar IA A. d., during the reign
Mnrtiar, while that ruler was AT
on,dia. he earned that II number
rori.tians were assembled IN tht
rrr.labra,c fhe nativity ofChrist;
oripreh til. church doors 10 De cIos,
ned the bniidlng eet on fire, and al
wut.hipers persisted III the liamts'
m, ,terrIbIc act instead of having the
lr he desired, Of supprcsSing any
,oer Observance Of the day, was the
,.,, If causing people to more ialth-
uy celebrate each recurring aElVtr
n anil the present time, when ther"
nm nation or a country on tDe lace
r4 Lobe VIII re til name of Christ is
rn,p, ,,at IT," day is not observed II
Mt Wlnnr ..
lm5ry il.,,trc cNt q rmans, Christ
a, Yas rr rHth nith the greatest
~fNi,i,!, ucr unl'IlXed with superSi
n and Igo.n tue,u Ne have the Christ
rrip. rJA corrupt Il into kriss
knDgle. luH rnurcu cntehvoilred 10
rroef these SHprrSt,tloA9, but many
t,h4m are hli..ed down to the present
AZ, AID tl"ro are very few Children
hal DO not brtievc ina Vtrilah,r hriST,
hat pAys liaanhual visit on Chris mas
ne In IT. cii.rts to draw the minds
ftAe ppoule Iuatcue observance Ol the
az, TIE church originated CArlStmaS
ksIvsaud dramas, in which many ln-
sdeuso OF uur SaviOur'I life were pJr |
py0L Hence also trignated at a iattr
berin! rle c!l lstlnas trees, adorned with
IL AID Gifts. and also the custom
b gYiusdnd receiving presents MANY |
n tie gaues an | ceremOnialS OF Christ
hsS have entirely disappeared, ana be-
ome matters OF dispute speculation
.,. e.. - ~ II
bfOus tOretathers the world has become
bore worldly, and there is more OF dis
iptOu than enjoyment.
TIE traditiouary customs OF golden
lesr'rd antiquity aud its olden time
ESpitl.lt.es have passed away with ihe
b. III which lhey were celebrated.
Fls was,ai, howl, the minislnger with
tie Christmas carol Of midnight hour,
have become things of the past; they
with the rude games OF that period
E5mportea with the shHdowy hall, the
great oaken gallery and the heavy tap
|esteritI rooms Of the barrpill castle,
/ but are un,j'tsd for the light Snowy
parIJi>, aud gay drawlnG roons o! the
moi ri dwrli!n.. Sho.u however rs
BIZ is OF lis ancient and festive honorS, 1t
Is still period ot delightful excitement
fn almost every home.
ltis u beauufu. a.rauEemtnt derived
from the days Cl yorr, and whloh s'lIl
femaiDS with us, that this festival
Which commentaries the annUuhce-
Irpt Of the religion OF peace and love,
fas been made the season for gathering
tp-tther OF family connexions, anu
Drawing closer again those Danu' OF
kjUi!el hcarIs, which the cares, the
pleasure. and sorrows OF the world ait
Fontiamliy onerating to cast loose "f
Ealing tack the children Of a family
EA0 have llpEched forth in life, aud
wandered widely assuuGer, once uurtto
NtMbte seuratll the root Ot the olu
bone and Surround the parental table,
FAt'r 10 grow yonUg and loving agaln,
EN4g the enheariug momehloos ul
f.ll9hJCd.
iLepIepnraions that are being made
Itl every side for the day hat Is To uuit'
Friends and kinArea-the presents nt-
tween loved ones as tokens OF regard
IaId kind leel,ss the eNerErcelio una
We SEQ around our streets, mat VII!
|Sorn be distributed in our houses ana
EHirches as emblems Of peace ana & ad-
kleSs-all these have the mos pleasing
Eiitct in producing fond as'ociaLi.hs'
|ant kinlling benevolent sympathlcs.
1t seems that at this lime our thoughts
pare more concentrated, our friendly
|sympathies more aroused and we reel
|stDSihly the cLarm OF each others So
fcsiy; VIC are brought more closely TO-
seher by dependence on each other loi
tsllOyment.
Heart calleth unto heart, and We
aFaW our pleasures from the sparks OF
Alman kindness which lie in the qulo'
lecesses of every breast, and needs pu'
'le teuder look, or the kindly spokei
word TO fan them to q blaze.
There are few hearts amidst this gen
eFal call to happiness, that can reinail
eaIlous or unsepsibse; the hustle VI tht
spirit, the stir of the affections when
Prevail at this period, will touch tb'
.atent spark and warm it into lie an.
love.
1t is indeed the season of rcgenerate'
feeling, the season for kindling no
merely the fire Of hospitality aroun'
the home hearth, but also the gepla
lame of charity in the heart.
Hard indeed must the heart of ina
man be who cannot increase his owl
happiness by making Others happy AM
ne wbosa nativity gave us this DAY 9
Joy has told us "the poor ye have a.
ways with YOU; then what more III
hng season than this to search the1
out, to assist them in their necessities
ana help them to also pass a happ.
Christmas.
There is yet another class of hons
Where Christmas is not what 1T on.
was; it brings in its train y eertal
anount of pleasures, but they are owe
SAadowed py a cloud, tor since the la'
anniversary ~ shadow of death has b2e
there, ard taken away the little one 10y
~ so well. No neei now to make II
shristmas tree, for the one for Whol
u was made has passed away; or it ma
nave been the father, or the ,nothc
VINO has been callsd, and as the berea
eu ones make their preparations for II
approaching festival, memory carrl
.aen to the many happy occurrences
ne day they have passed with Il o
mat are no longer here, and the fou
talnS of the heart break nm. and hnu I