The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-12-24

day, yet the decision was uniformly ae-
cepted. and from that time the nativity of
Christ has been celebrated throughout the
church on the same day.
1t has also been tradition that Christ
was born about the middle of the night.
The custom in Roman Catholic churches
of ushering III Christmas day by the cele>
bratiOn of three masses-one at midnight,
the second at early dawn and the third in
the morning dates from the sixth century
Christmas has always been at once a
religious, domestic and merry making
festival in England, equally for every
rank and every age The revels used to
begin on Christmas eve, and continued
often until Candlemas, (Feb. p every
day being holiday, till 18th night (Jan.
g.. The tenants were entertained at the
hall; and the lord of the manor and his
family encouraged every act conductive
TO mirth.
On Christmas Eve the bells y ere rung;
On Christmas Eve the Mass was sung:
That only night in all the year.
Saw the stoled priest the chalce rear
Then open wide the bsrons hall.
To vassel, tenant, serf and all;
Power laid his rod of rule aside
And ceremony doffed his pride
The heir, with roses in his shoes
That night might village partner choose
All hailed with uncontrolled delight
And general voice, the happy night
That to the cottage, as the crown,
Brought tidings Of salvation down.
England was merry England when
Old Christmas brought his sports again.
Twas Christmas preached the mighnest ale!
Twas Christmas told the merriest tale!
A Christmas gambol oft would cheer
A poor mans heart through half year.
A glowing fire. made of great legs, the
principal of which was termed the yule
log, or Christmas block, which might be
burnt till Candlemas kept out the severi-
ty of the weather, and the abundance
was shared amid music, Conjuring, rid>
dies, hot cookies, fool plough, snap drag
on, jokes, laughter, repartees. forfeits
and dances.
The common custom of decking the
houses and churches at Christmas with
evergreens is derived from ancient Druid
practices. 1t was an old belief that sylvan
spirits might flock to the evergreeus, and
remain unnipped by frost until milder
season. The holly. ivy, rosemary, bays,
laural, and mistletoe furnished the favor
lite trimmings, which were not femoved
until Candlemas. Chaplets of these were
worn about the head, practice to which
ito kiss under the mistletoe" is an allu-
sion.
Christmas time brings its joys and its
sorrows. To the wealthy who can afford
to purchase whatever will make them
happy and comfortable, there is only joy
To the poor who are struggling for ex-
istence, there is only misery
There are many people in Rock Island
who will look upon the advent of Christ.
mas and New Year holidays with tearfu
eyes and sad hearts. Many chubby
little innocent ones will hang uE
their little stockings this evening only
to find them empty tomorrow morning
They known Santa Claus only by name.
For some inexplicable reason, to them,
the generous old gentleman passes them
by, and their Christmas dinner will be 8
meagre affair and the only music that viii
greet their ears will be the hoarse winter
winds. The pictures that will greet theil
vision tomorrow will be the frost painted
window panes of their cherries homes
The day viii be spent in wondering VIII
the good Santa Claus thus cruelty neglect
ed them, and tomorrow night the littl'
ones will huddle in their miserable
beds and weep themselves to sleep
The parents with saddened hearts will o
necessity be compelled to witness thu
misery of their children and invent sub
terfuges for the non appearance of Kri
Kringle, while mentally they curse the
festival in which they and theirs have nj
part because Of what the world is pleased
to term circumstances.
We know that many who read thes
lines will gather around warm fires 10
night. Their homes are beautifully sup
piled with the Injuries of life. The fir
in the well filled CRATE will glow ruddil.
and the little ones will be tucked away il
warm beds with the assurance that SAINT
Claus will surely come before IN ornin!
with many handsome presents. And oil
tomorrow the family will sit around tn,
family board filed with savory food, an.
each will tell of the beautiful presents re
ceived, and happiness, joy and comfor
will rule supreme.
Do you ever think of the suffering
want and misery of the little ones, an,
the older ones, too, who, while you ar,
enjoying yourself at your Christmas din
ner, sEe perhaps partaking of crust AM