Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1885-01-03
THE CHRISTMAS INGLE.

ID ast#..tf 49,
Many of our national festivals have be-
come obsolete. or have fallen into deere
pitude and decay, retaining not even the
shadow of their original substance.
Christmas, however, still holds some
what of its original place amongst us,
and, from its glorious associations, well
itmay. As we write, we can almost
feel the huge bundle of labor falling
from the shoulders of the nation, and
see the millions of bright eyes and happy
hearts giving silent yet universal thanks
to Him, who from his lowly birthplace
in Bethlehem, eighteen hundred years
ago, inspired the song of songs, "Glory
to God in the highest, and on elrth
peace, goodwill toward men,"
This great festival belongs not to city
or country only-it is the hcart-welling
patrimony of all Christendom. 1t comes
with all the geniality that the social
heart can gather in and be merry with.
1t tunes the tongue Ofyouth, till myraids
of young voices sing, out of the abun-
dance Of their joy
'Cbristm awake and greet the happy morn
When Christ the Savior of the world was
born"
1t blunts the edge of keenest, deepest
sorrow, and whispers to the mourners,
/ tnat, over and above all human care
and grief, there is JOY in the natal day
of Him who became moral and walked
and talked m the earth till darkness fed
iaway, and Gods great light shone forth
, for all time and ever. There will be
vacant chairs in many Christmas ingle,
trnly, but it is only the common lot of
things. The pulsations of the universe
will be the same; pain and sickness will
not cease, nor death hold back his fatal
shaft. But over the whole there will be,
Z as there ever has been, calm serenity.
making pair less poignant, and the
hand of tie destroyer less cold and aw-
full. These are no imaginings; we have
felt much of it deeply and keenly.
We need hardly say, on the other
hand, that joy will be mora joyous and
giadness more gladsome. Every heart
that possibly can, will assurediy make
holiday at such a season. The vast COM
mercial world will nominally, if not gen
orally, close its books; the banks will
suspend payment for this day; and the
the million workers in the mart aid
workshop will throw down their tools
and breathe the pure air of freedom and
pleasure for season. In our very work
houses the poor will forget their poverty
this day, and even in the prisons sill
be heard unwonted sounds of cheerful
ness.
There was one Christmas. Eve of our
boyhood (how vividly it comes to recol-
lection) which found the writer of this
paper, ut the cleaning at bis labor in
the huge metropolis: our dear old native
ingle and pleasant Christmas festival
was twenty-four miles away in the Hert
p fordshire lanes There was no railway
then, nor any coaches running this late
in the evening. Our employer did not
relish these holidays at all, and said as
much to us, when we begged to be re
leased early in the afternoon, so as to
be able to walk home before dark. He
might have consented, for that boys
heart of ours was at home alrea1 a1y, and
embracing the dear mother, who was
sure to be ready with open arms to re-
ceive her weary footsore child. Eight
o'clock came, and in five minutes after
ward we were on our way home-light
of spirits also. The thronged streets
were soon threaded, and with quicken
ed steps we found ourselves at the out
skirts of London as the clocks struck
nine. The next strokes of time fell up
on our ears from far-of country church
yard, and they numbered twelve, and
the half of our Journey at the same time.
1t was a clear, frosty night, and the
wide world lay under its broad blanket
of snow. Few sounds came either to
cheer or sadden us; but we were going
home, and that was the inspiriting tails
man. Now and again the solitary rattle
of sheep bell, from a neigh kboring
turnip-field or farmstead as we passed
along broke the monotony of silence.
BY and by, on reachiug a quiet village
town, We were cheerfully surprised to
hear the first notes of a Christmas an
them in which We had joined when a
boy in the country. Tired as we were
and anxious not to linger-the hour,
the occasion, the blending of a number
of fresh, vigorous voices in the pure
buoyant air, held us silent and happy
till The last echo died away. We could
see the old house at home good mile
off A candle was in the window 1--WE
see it now) to let us know that the dea
folks were waiting; and ere the old clock
struck three in the morning we were
snug in the Christmas corn r.
And thus it ever is. Distance can
scarcely prevent it; money will be hus.
banded to accomplish il; money shall be
set apart for it, ifsomct,ung if less worthy
should be postponed. "Ee Will be with
you at Christmas, God willing" is tho
burden of the national Osluiln for weeks
before the day dawns.