The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-12-21
Christmas.

Again Christmas is near at hand
to be accorded universal Observance
throughout the civilized nations Q
the world. The subject is nearly
score of centuries old and nOthin,
new can be said of it as to the char
acteristics or nature of this mos
solemn of Christian festivals
Throughout the habitable globe, il
whatever land the sunshines upon /;
Christian people, and where any ar.
gathered together in praise ant
glory Of mankind, there will he re
joicing and gladness, and full heart
ed tribute of gratitude and love and
alteration, from next Mondays dawn
until the day shall pass away as
every day must into the immeasura
bic depths of time. The history and
traditions of Christmas Day are
coevel with Christianity, aud will
imperishably endure with that sub
lime faith in the living God and
Holy Trinity which above all else
exalts the nature and purifies the
soul. Blended with the sacred mem.
cries and devout observance of the
holy day are the cheeriest delights
and merrlest epjoyments Of the
household, in which all participate,
from the generation prattling in the
cradle to the most advanced toward
the life everlasting which is the des-
tiny of every one. Merry Christmas
knows no exclusiveness of class,
recognizes no special privilege of
age, tolerates no aristocracy of rank,
denies to none its blessings or its
tender mercies-even though all are
not alike vouchsafed to celebrate its
advent and to revel in its festivities.
1t is the most joyous day of all the
year to the young, the sweetest to
youth, the fondest to parents, the
dearest in its wealth of precious
"Reminiscences to the aged. 1t is the
hearts depot of the year, to which
the treasures it bestows arc brought
and thence dispensed to fill the
hearts of the favored with the keen
est relish of grateful emotion. It
comes laden with the felicitous
recollections of the train of Christ.
mas days that have gone, and is
radiant with the jubilation of the
present. Curious expectation pre-.
cedes it, and exultant realization is
the inefable charm of its too brief
and too feeting hours. The Christ.
mas morn is the harvest time of the
jocund group about the thrifty
Christmas tree; thanksgiving and
lpraise follow the peal of the Christ.
has bells in the Holy Temples con-
secrated to Him whose nativity the
day commentaries; bounteouscheer,
good fellowship, and the warmth
which endears and casts out unkind.
ness, accompany the sun in his
journey to the decline; and the fes.
tive joys of tho waning hours are as
the hriN;s close of a feast of glori-
Gus y lara.ion.
1t is at such gracious time as
this that the reunions of families
and offriends more especially occur,
and when presents are interchanged
and visits are made, and there is
welcoming of old familiar faces. 1t
is at such a season, with all the ten.
der and holy thoughts that it brings,
that the worries and yexations of
the every-d world are for while
forgotten, and everywhere around
us, in the presence of the wonderful
Nativity it commentaries, there is
an Indictment to better things. AL.
though the greetings are iu many
tongues and the manner in which
the day is kept differs in the many
that celebrate it, the purpose
is the same and the sentiment which
animates it. When all hearts are