The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1885-12-24
CHRISTMAS CHEER.
The Gladdest Feast Of all the Year
Draws Nigh.-.liist0ry Of the Day..
OhseryanePs.


at night to the whiteheaded man totterlng
and infirm with the weight of years, look
forward to with eager hope and Joy and
cheer 1t is day when all sorrow. toll
and care should be laid aside
For no matter how sad the rest OF the year,
1hs l. no time to fret and greye
The golden day of all days is near
This is the blessed Christmas eve.
The festival of the Christian. ch urch
observed on December 90. is ia memory
of the birth of JESUS Christ. There is,
however. a difficulty in accepting this as
the date OF the nativity, Dece mber being
the height Of the rainy season in Judea,
when neither llocks nor shepherds could
have been at night in the fields of Beth
leham. The christian communities
which keep Christmas-as the Roman
Catholic, Greek, Armenian, and indeed,
all the Episcopalian and Lutheran
churches would probably agree in lay.
ing more stress on keeping u day in
memory of the Nativity, than on success in
selection of the actual and precise date of
the event. Good Friday and Easter lose
nothing Of their respective observances by
the vaIiableness of these feasts in differ
ent wears. But whether or not the date
is exact, since the fifth century. the 25th
day of December has been generally
agreed upon.
In all civilized countries the annual re-
currence Of Christmas has been celebrated
with festivities of various kinds In none,
however. was it more joyfully welcomed
than in England. where still the "old
honor" has not altogether fled In that
country it was the custom on Christmas
eve after the usual devotions were over,
to light large candles and throw on the
hearth IL huge log called the "Nulc Log
| or "Ch,istmas Block" AT court and in
! the houses of the wealthy, the "Lord Of
| pointed to Superiniend the Ievels; in
| Scotland "A similar fnnctuary used to be
| appointed under the title of abbot of
Unreason," until the year 1865, when
| Parliament abolished the office. The
reign of the Lord of Misrule" began on
| All Hallow eve, and lasted until Candel--
| mas day. The favorlte pastimes over
which he presided were gaming, music,
con jurlng dipping for nuts and apples,
dancing and domestic games, The houses
and places of worship were decked with
evergreens, especially with misletoe, tc
which u traditionary sacredness has at
tao he'd since the days of the Druds,
| As might be expected, this festival has
| been attended and illustrated by many
fine and admirable outpouriugs of devo'
ton in the way of services and of chris
tian oratory, hymnolocy and art. 1t is 6
| feast which is honored all over the world
| The Germans are fond of it and celebrate
it with brilliantly illuminated evergreen
tree singing and dancing, etc. In France
| and Spain and other European countries
| it is kept as holy feast, though there is
much JOY manifested In America it is
glad day to all, especially to the little
| ones. 1t is an event in the ecclesiastical
calendar, probably the most important of
the year; tits u national holiday, a time
of cheer and gladncss. 1t isa
DAY or ALL DAYS,
| when great happiness or appointment
pervades~ almost every home. Custom
has made not only the children, but all
to look forward to Christmas for soMt
token of friendship, and on that day more
| than all Others is the hidden esteem made
manifest, and often where it is least ex,
pected. Idle words of friendship are So
often used, that distrust follows almos
pccted ChrIs'mas token is n messenger
the sincerity Of which ia never questioned
1t is well that this is true. for it is often ,
solution, gratifying at least. With thcs,
the question will solve itself bu
with the children the JOY an,
happiness or sad disappointment
rests with the parents. The littl
ones as they trip up and down the street
and gaze into the shop windows file,
with toys and trinkcts that eXctes til,
childish admiration. are reminded that
Santa Claus will soon be here with hi
cargo of toys and candies to fill TIL
stock ings that are hung up to receive hi
gifts The Itch, it is true, never forge
their children for the few dollars that
takes to satisfy their wants is but a droI
in the bucket. Those who are too apt t
be forgotten are the children of the poo
or laboring class. There probably isn't
laborer in the city, though his wage
may be small, that cannot afford fe,
cents or dollar to his wife to buy the lit
tie boy or girl, if nothing more than the
slightest trinket. In so doing a penny wi
bring more sunshine and happiness into
home than dollar in an
other form. 1t is true that ther
are in Rock Island, as in all cite,
parents, whose life has been such n fail
ure, or misfortune has fallen upon lhei
so thick and fast, that they are unable t.
suitably clothe and feed their children
In such instances it may be beyond the
reach, but good fathers and mothers VIII
have the means AMI know of such circun
stances. should not let the opportunit
pass of at least making these children i
such homes happy. No child in our ci,
should have cause to shed a tear o
Christmas morning on account Of the at
senCe of Santa Claus 4 few cents frol