Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1885-12-24
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Christmas.

those whose kindly hearts need no special
impulse to lead them in Chari'y's sweet way
or to do pleasant deed for the pleasures
sake, to such the hallowed Yule Tide only
comes as season of inefable enjoyment at
the sight of the hearty and spontaneous
cheer and good Fellowship around them.
The joys Astounding seem to spring forth
unbidden; the smile bears impress of q deep
or sentiment; the tones assume softer ca
dence as they fall upon more willing and
sympathetic cars; the grasp of the hand is
warmer, the glance of the eye kindlicr and
to the soul that aspires and is turned to-
wards the delights of Chrismas.tme, the
world seems u better abiding place.
Then "Begonc dull care" remembering at
least for the season that "a light heart lives
long" be light generous and good
for the sake of the Day, remembering that
"angels are bright still. though the brightest
fell" and that though the cares of the year
may vex snd disturb you, you are entitled
to and that despite of all it is intended tina,
you shall enjoy the season of the advent OF
Peace and Good Will.
He that cannot afford to be genial and
carry with him whcresoc'er he goes on glor-
ious Christmas Day, u CHEEKY disposition,
presence that warns one like the first brigh,
smile of Spring should shut himself in, an
Anchorite in the land and times of good.
fellowship; his presence will be only the
more clearly marked on SO bright Holiday
n cloud, the outlines If which are scarcely
distngushable against the starry sky, as
sumcs threatening cast in the bright sun.
light and the morose and sullcn may rely
upon the seasons brilliant light to set on,
their angularities with unusual vividness
while to those whose privilege it is to retlcc,
this blessed light, comes the recompense fol
days of sadness and gloom, when TO ever
them, it became hardship to be pleasant
agreeable and kind.
Little Folks it is especially your day; tho
nearer you arc 70 the cradle the closer doe.
the spirit oftte Christmas Festival wait up
on you, on this day alone are your thoughts
directed to Him, Babe, and the fewer tn,
steps that you have taken from the frs
shining portal of life, the more naturally anC
ins'lnctively will yol turn in your child''
love for One 80 little. Cherish then your
childish love for Christmas; your innocen
faith will possibly serve you better and keel
you nearer right, for rights sake, when you
grow older than much that is taught by
men and your rcmembrances of Christina
may soften your heart to virtue and steel i
against vice, when more pretentIous inhu
ences shall fail.
Nor PREPARED -Brer Mottcr calls upor
us for information concerning the noctura
chanticlcering which is popularity assumed
to take place in increased measure just pre-
ceeding Christmas. He wants the facts
which through his misfortune are not d.
rectly attainabe by him and on these facts
he will erect an hypothesis. The facts de
s,red are as follows: Eat what hour docs
the growing begin how long does it con
tinue do the notes Yary from those giver
forth at other times or arc they delivered
in sort of minor tone indicating a condi
ton of "goncness" do they beal the I'M
press of regret. or do they indicate u hope
az if in anticipation of the dawn? we nect
facts upon which to build a theory. \
Now brother wake up and give us the facts.
Not prepared; We repeat; when We wrote
the unfortunate line which subjected ut tc
the above catechization, we had just over
head sort of prize contest between two
brazen throated BOOSTERS at about the witch
ing hour of midnight and We at once fell il
with the popular superstition, believing tina
it was all because Christmas was approach
ing.
We are bound to say that since that time
our attention has not been called to singl,
cock-a-doodle after nightfall but as VT
are able to account for the silence of tn,
particular two that we did hear once, it il
not just to the said popular superstition tt
draw too decided conclusions, Those two
Roosters belonged to us and have since beer
sacrificed upon the altar of our most excel
lent and reliable appetite; further,thcre is q
disease now prevailing amongst the chicken
something in the nature Of phthisic, or in
fucnza and in our opinion the full power o
the limos il utilized in Oxyrenatinp Tin,
blood and growing, even to sustain Il mos
respectable superstition is not 10 be though
Of. Further, and finally ,inasmuch as chick
ems are NO less unreasonable and inconsls
tent than man, it is to be expected that in tn
matter Of any acts on their part to be done tt
the end that q superstition shall be strength
ened they should make it interesting by hav
ing it seemingly contradictory. No supersti
ton stands when it once becomes explicabe
it is only so long as there is doubt and no pos
sibility of direct and scientific demonstration
that any superstition may possibly stand
We are not in the possession of any fact
in this particularly interesting superstition
hence we are as yet Unsafe possession of TIL
superstition and we are unwilling to forcg
the pleasure thereof by q search for facts up
on which Brer Mottcr would erect an by
pothesis that would probably take all tn
poetry out of the subject.